Petrouchka / Petrushka

[MISHUGINA]

Stravinsky's Petrushka is on top of my very, very favorite piece of classical work ever created. There's so few works as charming as this one. I've only heard Pierre Monteux/LSO which is currently my favorite, but alas it's only in mp3 form. There are two choices I have in my mind right now; Bernstein/NYPO and Chailly/RCO. What recordings should I get?

[head-case]

[karlhenning]

[PerfectWagnerite]

Ansermet is good, for modern recordings I like this one:

available for a ridiculous $2.99 from BRO.

[Que]

Monteux conducted the première, this is the 1911 version.




Also very impressive: an ultra sensual and colourful rendition by Stokowski  - again the original (1911) version.



Q

[bhodges]

Stravinsky's Petrushka is on top of my very, very favorite piece of classical work ever created. There's so few works as charming as this one. I've only heard Pierre Monteux/LSO which is currently my favorite, but alas it's only in mp3 form. There are two choices I have in my mind right now; Bernstein/NYPO and Chailly/RCO. What recordings should I get?

Of the two you mention, I've heard the Chailly, which is superb: not only one of the best of Petrushka, but one of his best recordings in general with the RCOA.  It is coupled (or it was) with a very fine Pulcinella, if you like that piece.

Of the others mentioned, I've heard Abbado and Ansermet and they are both very good, too.

--Bruce

[MishaK]

Boulez/Cleveland/DG. Conveniently paired with a reference-quality Rite.

[prémont]

My favorite Petrushka`s are
Scherchen with LPO (very dramatic version)
and
Ansermet with Suisse Romande Orch. (very colourful version).

[Joe Barron]

Ditto

[BorisG]

Boulez, Abbado.

[val]

My choice: Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic, one of the most enthusiastic recordings of Ancerl.

[MDL]

Of the two you mention, I've heard the Chailly, which is superb: not only one of the best of Petrushka, but one of his best recordings in general with the RCOA.  It is coupled (or it was) with a very fine Pulcinella, if you like that piece.

Of the others mentioned, I've heard Abbado and Ansermet and they are both very good, too.

--Bruce

Thumbs up for Chailly/RCO. Fabulous Decca sound.

[hornteacher]

Ansermet is good, for modern recordings I like this one:

available for a ridiculous $2.99 from BRO.

Strongly second this choice.  A great Firebird as well.

[Rabin_Fan]

Chailly as rec. above as well as Haitink/BPO (though it may be out of print).

[Valentino]

Boulez/Cleveland/DG. Conveniently paired with a reference-quality Rite.

Made me a fan of Boulez the conductor that one.

[sadness]

What about Stravinsky's own recording? Amazon sells it for $7...

It's the best recording I've heard.

[Lilas Pastia]

Don't miss on the Klemperer recording. It's scary, mean, vicious, sharp as an axe and utterly enthralling. Klemperer was a huge champion of Strvinsky and gave some important premieres of his works. Great sound, late sixties vintage.

[snyprrr]

I believe I had Iwaki/Virgin a long time ago, and don't remember the performance, but now I'm listening to Colin Davis/Concertgebouw (Philips), and, frankly, I have nothing to compare it to. It sounds... uh... fine. Here are timings, for anyone interested:

Scene 1:

1) 6:59
2) 2:45

Scene 2:

1) 4:17

Scene 3:

1) 3:16
2) 3:10

Scene 4:

1) 1:09
2) 2:43
3) 1:24
4) 1:08
5) 2:07
6) 1:30
7) 0:41
0:44
9) 1:08
10) :47

I'm just curious if the first track is not the most maniacal, but it does have a breezy, open air fair feel. The instruments have nice juice to them. The piano sounds well.

Anyhow, what do you think about recordings? I'd also like to know any comments you might have concerning the music itself: do you like it?, how does it compare to 'Le Sacre' for you? I'm currently treating it as 'new' music,... I'm not sure what to make of it,... it's kaleidoscopic for sure.

[Todd]

I love Petrouchka.  It's on par with Agon in terms of quality, and just about matches Rite.  I heard Petrouchka in concert years ago, and I was surprised at how large the orchestra was; it barely fit on stage, though it usually doesn't sound so big in scale on disc.  Don't know the Davis, but Boulez's DG recording has long been my favorite.  So clean, so precise.  That's essential in this work for me.  As it happens, I relistened to Paavo Jarvi's recording last week, and it is one of the best things he's done, and one of the few recordings I've heard that effectively hints at the work's scale.

[Fafner]

For Petrouchka, I find there is no substitute for this one



It is a mid-50's Decca recording (golden age of audio, and all that).  Orchestral ensemble not up to modern standards.  French charm way beyond modern standards.

Probably it is hard to find as an individual release, I have it in a big Monteux Original Masters set.