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?
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/31NMTBG9ZJL._AA180_.jpg)
(http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RG9WD871L._AA240_.jpg)
Ansermet is good, for modern recordings I like this one:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PJPSDFPGL._AA240_.jpg)
available for a ridiculous $2.99 from BRO.
Monteux conducted the première, this is the 1911 version.
(http://www.jpc.de/image/w300/front/0/4907826)
Also very impressive: an ultra sensual and colourful rendition by Stokowski - again the original (1911) version.
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J2PCF22PL._SS500_.jpg)
Q
Quote from: MISHUGINA on August 22, 2007, 06:05:09 AM
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
Boulez/Cleveland/DG. Conveniently paired with a reference-quality Rite.
My favorite Petrushka`s are
Scherchen with LPO (very dramatic version)
and
Ansermet with Suisse Romande Orch. (very colourful version).
Quote from: karlhenning on August 22, 2007, 07:09:59 AM
(http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RG9WD871L._AA240_.jpg)
Ditto
Boulez, Abbado.
My choice: Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic, one of the most enthusiastic recordings of Ancerl.
Quote from: bhodges on August 22, 2007, 10:02:34 AM
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.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on August 22, 2007, 08:35:48 AM
Ansermet is good, for modern recordings I like this one:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PJPSDFPGL._AA240_.jpg)
available for a ridiculous $2.99 from BRO.
Strongly second this choice. A great Firebird as well.
Chailly as rec. above as well as Haitink/BPO (though it may be out of print).
Quote from: O Mensch on August 22, 2007, 10:17:34 AM
Boulez/Cleveland/DG. Conveniently paired with a reference-quality Rite.
Made me a fan of Boulez the conductor that one.
What about Stravinsky's own recording? Amazon sells it for $7...
It's the best recording I've heard.
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.
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PDG0XJCZL._SS500_.jpg)
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
8) 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.
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.
For Petrouchka, I find there is no substitute for this one
(http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/4ab3a19e0802547378d90f0be18c3a07/2589910.jpg)
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.
Quote from: Todd on July 20, 2012, 11:14:43 AM
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.
Which version did you see, 1911, or 1947? Is the latter more chamber-like? The Davis (1947) did have a curiously mid-sized sound. I guess, with the music, I was expecting more crazy stuff, but it's really a very strange piano concerto,... huh, in a way like Messiaen's 'Canyons to the Stars'. The Philips sound from 1979 is really quite vintage sounding, very luscious and fruity.
I do find the structure of the ballet music disconcerting,... which of course befits the subject. I'd like to try Nagano with 'Petrouchka''s natural partner, Bartok's 'Miraculous Mandarin'.
Quote from: snyprrr on July 20, 2012, 08:28:55 PMWhich version did you see, 1911, or 1947? Is the latter more chamber-like?
The concert was the 1911 version, if memory serves. (It's been 7-8 years, so I can't recall.) The work is supremely light even for the size of the orchestra. Even with the huge orchestra, it rarely sounded big 'n' beefy in person. Stravinsky knew his business.
There is a 1953 (mono) recording by Ferenc Fricsay and the RIAS (coupled with the Sacre) that's a must have IMO, like most of what Fricsay recorded in his short career.
I like Chailly and the Concertgebouw, coupled with Pulcinella. Chailly is a great Stravinsky conductor. I wonder if he still does Stravinksy in Leipzig...
Quote from: Herman on July 21, 2012, 12:42:19 PM
I like Chailly and the Concertgebouw,
The idea of hearing the Concertgebouw in this music is very appealing to me. Petrushka is my favorite work by Stravinsky, by a long shot, but I haven't yet gotten any recordings other than Stravinsky himself and Karel Ancerl's with the Czech Philharmonic.
I auditioned Bergen/Litton on Naxos Music Library and found that, despite some really ear-catching phrasing and accents, the voltage wasn't quite high enough.
Quote from: Brian on July 21, 2012, 02:36:12 PM
The idea of hearing the Concertgebouw in this music is very appealing to me. Petrushka is my favorite work by Stravinsky, by a long shot, but I haven't yet gotten any recordings other than Stravinsky himself and Karel Ancerl's with the Czech Philharmonic.
There's also a 2005 SACD recording by Mariss Jansons coupling Petruchka with Rachmaninoffs Symphonic Dances.
The Chailly recording is available on a Double Decca with the Firebird Suite, Jeux de Cartes (which Naeme Jarvi also recorded with the RCO), Apollo and a Cleveland Rite. No Pulcinella.
Abbado/LSO
Boulez/Cleveland
Ozawa/Chicago
Quote from: pbarach on July 22, 2012, 05:35:54 AM
Abbado/LSO
Boulez/Cleveland
Ozawa/Chicago
It seems 'Petrouchka' gets the same recommends as 'The Rite',... is it really that way? The best 'Rite' is also the best 'Petrouchka'? Everyone is picking the usual suspects,... not that I'm complaining, just curious.
I borrowed Muti and Rattle. Haven't gotten to Rattle, but I'm not sure I liked Muti's as much as I liked his 'Rite'.
IS there a recommendable DVD of people dancing this?
Quote from: snyprrr on July 22, 2012, 06:05:17 AMThe best 'Rite' is also the best 'Petrouchka'?
Not really. My favorite Rite is Salonen's DG recording. Barenboims Teldec Rite is also superb. (The best version I've heard is actually a 1998 performance with Salonen conducting the Concertgebouw, but it's not on disc as far as I can tell.) Others may differ, of course.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 22, 2012, 06:59:44 AM
IS there a recommendable DVD of people dancing this?
There are one or two on DVD, which I haven't seen, like this one:
[asin]B00006L74J[/asin]
and then there is this one, unfortunately not on DVD
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15143.msg533581.html#msg533581
Quote from: Todd on July 22, 2012, 07:57:10 AM
Not really. My favorite Rite is Salonen's DG recording. Barenboims Teldec Rite is also superb. (The best version I've heard is actually a 1998 performance with Salonen conducting the Concertgebouw, but it's not on disc as far as I can tell.) Others may differ, of course.
There were some great reviews of Barenboim mixed in accidentally with the Boulez '92 reviews on Amazon. Yes, Barenboim sounds real good. Teldec has 3 'Rites'! (Barenboim, Inbal, Mehta)
Mehta has, what?, 5 'Rites'?
1)NYP/CBS '78
2)NYP/Teldec '89-91
3)VPO/Orfeo '85-6
4)LPO/ ???
5)LA/Decca
Incredible! Anyone on these? aye... wrong Thread,... we should just combine. ::) ::) ::)
Quote from: Drasko on July 22, 2012, 12:21:48 PM
There are one or two on DVD, which I haven't seen, like this one:
[asin]B00006L74J[/asin]
and then there is this one, unfortunately not on DVD
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15143.msg533581.html#msg533581
I've found this but unfortunately they won't ship to the UK.
http://mountararat.ecrater.com/p/4310967/nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-tribute-to
Quote from: Drasko on July 22, 2012, 12:21:48 PM
There are one or two on DVD, which I haven't seen, like this one:
[asin]B00006L74J[/asin]
and then there is this one, unfortunately not on DVD
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15143.msg533581.html#msg533581
The other one is part of Kirov Classics with a very good Chopiniana / Les Sylphides. The Petrouchka, however, is a modern reinterpretation that sheds no light on what Stravinsky, Fokine or Diaghilev had in mind at the time.
The one pictured above comes closer. Petrouchka is beautiful, strange ballet that is virtually impossible to capture on camera, since it a lot of it consists of milling crowd and carnival scenes. The part with the Moor, the Ballerina and poor Petrouchka, however are made for the camera.
I checked my copy, and this Liepa Petrouchka is filmed in a movielike way, rather than like you're sitting in a theatre, and there are three or four cameras. So in a way it is partly more realistic than most actual performances, and at the same time less so, since you can assume there were a lot of cuts and extra takes, which takes away some of the excitement of a real performance. But perhaps you get a more immediate thrill in return for this.
My favourites are the Ancerl and the Kondrashin/Concertgebouw (1947). - I haven't heard the Chailly or any later recordings. The Fricsay recording I know is rather frustrating as it is the concert suite - great performance, to be sure.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 23, 2012, 12:31:15 AM
I've found this but unfortunately they won't ship to the UK.
http://mountararat.ecrater.com/p/4310967/nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-tribute-to
I'm not sure if that is a big loss, it's a vhs rip. I doubt it is any better quality than what is on youtube or what you can download for free from balletoman:
http://balletoman.com/video/650-nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-in-tribute-to-nijinsky.html
Quote from: Herman on July 23, 2012, 02:52:29 AM
I checked my copy, and this Liepa Petrouchka is filmed in a movielike way, rather than like you're sitting in a theatre, and there are three or four cameras. So in a way it is partly more realistic than most actual performances, and at the same time less so, since you can assume there were a lot of cuts and extra takes, which takes away some of the excitement of a real performance. But perhaps you get a more immediate thrill in return for this.
That seems to be quite similar to above discussed Nureyev/Joffrey Ballet. Have you seen that one? Nureyev is superb in the title role. If you haven't already seen it you can either on balletoman site or on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLCSurR6sQ
Quote from: Drasko on July 23, 2012, 08:52:30 AM
I'm not sure if that is a big loss, it's a vhs rip. I doubt it is any better quality than what is on youtube or what you can download for free from balletoman:
http://balletoman.com/video/650-nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-in-tribute-to-nijinsky.html
That seems to be quite similar to above discussed Nureyev/Joffrey Ballet. Have you seen that one? Nureyev is superb in the title role. If you haven't already seen it you can either on balletoman site or on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLCSurR6sQ
I was familiar with Nurejev's Spectre and the Faun, but not the Petrushka. The soloists are excellent, and it's funny how they opted for a similar setting. I would say for bits like the Coachmen's Dance you really want the Russian version. In Russian ballet companies there's a special cadre of men and women who constantly work on these folk dances; the Joffrey men are clearly challenged.
BTW the Liepa version is available on Youtube, too.
Quote from: Brian on July 21, 2012, 02:36:12 PM
The idea of hearing the Concertgebouw in this music is very appealing to me. Petrushka is my favorite work by Stravinsky.....
I also like the Chailly. If you're into the Concertgebouw in this work there's another fine recording from three decades earlier (1962) under the baton of the exceedingly underrated Hans Rosbaud:
[asin]B0002ANQX6[/asin]
It's only the suite however, but most of the music is represented. Sonically it isn't up to the digital Chailly (certainly a success, however) but interpretively the work is elevated to wonderful heights. Colorful, moody, and zesty is all the right places. Right up there with the best on records.
Quote from: Herman on July 23, 2012, 11:37:37 AM
I was familiar with Nurejev's Spectre and the Faun, but not the Petrushka. The soloists are excellent, and it's funny how they opted for a similar setting. I would say for bits like the Coachmen's Dance you really want the Russian version. In Russian ballet companies there's a special cadre of men and women who constantly work on these folk dances; the Joffrey men are clearly challenged.
BTW the Liepa version is available on Youtube, too.
Didn't know that, thanks. Just watched the Liepa and completely agree, his ensemble (is it Bolshoi, on youtube there's no mention) is much better in fairground scenes. On the other hand Liepa Jr. himself is really no match for Nureyev. Ideally both are worth having even though both are essentially the same choreography (reconstructions of original Fokine).
Here's where I stand. I say I could care less about it, but here I am obsessing, so, it must be important... uh. I currently have Colin Davis/Concertbebouw (Philips), Haitink Berlin (Philips), and Boulez/Cleveland (DG), none of which have won universal acclaim, though merits all they have.
I believe this is a scrappy, violent, eerie, PUPPET music (after all), and, so, I can't really bear to hear this as "music". There have to be CHARACTERS for me. Every instrument, every note, every bar, has to sound like a play going on for it to interest me, and, of course, I want to hear EVERYTHING going on.
I don't care if we have two sets of criteria for the two versions. I does seem difficult nailing down sometimes which version is being performed (Nagano/Erato?), so, the more the merrier.
Here's what I've heard, and would be interested in:
Dorati/Chicago- apparently, he STARTS with the 1947 version, and then liberally does a mixing of whatever he thinks is
appropriate. I listened on YT, and was struck at the monolithic ediface of this version, with it's very quiet
passages. I thought this one better than Boulez/NewYork, though they both seem to have the same idea.
Dohnanyi/Vienna- this ANALOG recording gets extremely high marks all around, and is coupled with 'Mandarin'. Of course I
want to know the skinny here! Tell me tell me
Nagano/LSO- I just imagine the sonic landscape here must be pretty good, and that's all I care about: hearing cool sounds
in this piece, and 'Mandarin'. Either this, or Dohnanyi? (I know what you'll say?)
Bychkov/Paris- I hear this one has a great recording AND vivid characterization of parts by Bychkov. Very interested.
Temirkanov/1990- I hear he revs up the horror movie aspect... is it true?
Mehta/???- eh?
MTT/???- eh?
I'm not interested, but you could tell me about Bernstein too :P
I NEED IT TO SOUND LIKE FANTASY PUPPET MURDER SEX MUSIC, LIKE MANDARIN >:D
Well, thaaanks ::)
I chose to make Petrushka a test case, and went All Philips: Davis/Concertgebouw, Haitink/Berlin, and Bychkov/Paris. All three have very different sounds and styles, good for surfing.
Then we also have the Boulez/DG by default. This seemed like a fine enough account, but the sound isn't as crystalline as the Haitink/Berlin, so, there doesn't really seem to be any "magic" in the Boulez.
Haitink sounds greeeat, though close quartered (which gives a very odd, cinematic sweep feel on a TV soundstage... I kinds like it).. Haitink isn't particularly unbuttoned, and seems to do best with the lilting themes of 'Chez Petrouchka', which reminds me a little of the "hebrew songs" of DSCH, the "moshe... moshele" bit, very sad.
Colin Davis's sound with the Concertgebouw is slightly recessed, sounding glorious, but Davis doesn't seem to be doing all that much with it. Haitink gets much more out of the above piece than Davis.
Bychkov hasn't arrived, but the samples indicate a boisterous and fruity Paris account.
I remember having Iwaki, and I know his has gotten some good notices; might have to re-investigate...
Quote from: snyprrr on April 02, 2017, 07:02:07 PM
Well, thaaanks ::)
I chose to make Petrushka a test case, and went All Philips: Davis/Concertgebouw, Haitink/Berlin, and Bychkov/Paris. All three have very different sounds and styles, good for surfing.
Then we also have the Boulez/DG by default. This seemed like a fine enough account, but the sound isn't as crystalline as the Haitink/Berlin, so, there doesn't really seem to be any "magic" in the Boulez.
Haitink sounds greeeat, though close quartered (which gives a very odd, cinematic sweep feel on a TV soundstage... I kinds like it).. Haitink isn't particularly unbuttoned, and seems to do best with the lilting themes of 'Chez Petrouchka', which reminds me a little of the "hebrew songs" of DSCH, the "moshe... moshele" bit, very sad.
Colin Davis's sound with the Concertgebouw is slightly recessed, sounding glorious, but Davis doesn't seem to be doing all that much with it. Haitink gets much more out of the above piece than Davis.
Bychkov hasn't arrived, but the samples indicate a boisterous and fruity Paris account.
I remember having Iwaki, and I know his has gotten some good notices; might have to re-investigate...
If you're listening to the 1911 version (with its, I'll admit, luscious double woodwinds as part of its orchestration) you are listening to a far lesser work than Stravinsky's 1947 revised edition.
The revision does do away with the doubled woodwinds, but it is vastly clarified, the piano part quite extended. For this version, still the liveliest most animated recording I've heard is the Stravinsky - Columbia recording from the 60's --
which is not the performance in the Stravinsky box set issue.Best regards
Quote from: Monsieur Croche on April 02, 2017, 10:42:27 PM
If you're listening to the 1911 version (with its, I'll admit, luscious double woodwinds as part of its orchestration) you are listening to a far lesser work than Stravinsky's 1947 revised edition.
The revision does do away with the doubled woodwinds, but it is vastly clarified, the piano part quite extended. For this version, still the liveliest most animated recording I've heard is the Stravinsky - Columbia recording from the 60's -- which is not the performance in the Stravinsky box set issue.
Best regards
sO, THAT'S THE ONE with 'Le Sacre' on the old CBS "blue spine" disc? Yea, I do get tired of making excuses why others just can't seem to surpass him. I think it's because they're more concerned with recording quality, and all that fancy business, instead of just going balls-to-the-wall.
IS got pretty "good" sound- why do all modern recordings HAVE to bow to the gods of hi fidelity?, or, rather, why can't a crisp clean recording without too much fairy dust (engineer tricks) be rendered? That's why I chose three recordings by the same label, just to hear... and all of them have such wildly different interpretations of how to record a piece like this... the Haitink is pretty up front and clear, but he's not the most natural.
anyhow... Igor, huh? ok
Quote from: MISHUGINA on August 22, 2007, 06:05:09 AM
Stravinsky's Petrushka is on top of my very, very favorite piece of classical work ever created. ...... What recordings should I get?
Levine/ChicagoSO is wonderful...delicious solo work, wonderfully lively, with all the humor, pathos, tongue-in-cheek, etc....
An historical favorite - [NA on CD, IME] Mitropoulos/NYPO....great stuff, outrageous - the NYPO '50s wild men at their best....great solos, great honky, quacky 2ble reed work...a real hoot. too bad never re-issued.
Quote from: Heck148 on April 06, 2017, 05:13:39 AM
Levine/ChicagoSO is wonderful...delicious solo work, wonderfully lively, with all the humor, pathos, tongue-in-cheek, etc....
An historical favorite - [NA on CD, IME] Mitropoulos/NYPO....great stuff, outrageous - the NYPO '50s wild men at their best....great solos, great honky, quacky 2ble reed work...a real hoot. too bad never re-issued.
Levine? huh
Quote from: snyprrr on April 06, 2017, 09:44:29 AM
Quote from: Heck148 on April 06, 2017, 05:13:39 AM
Levine/ChicagoSO is wonderful...delicious solo work, wonderfully lively, with all the humor, pathos, tongue-in-cheek, etc....
Levine? huh
I haven't heard this, but judging from the
Levine/
CSO accounts of
Holst and the two frequently-done
Prokofiev symphonies, yes, I am sure it is a good fit.
Levine's Oedipus Rex with the CSO is (mostly) excellent, marred only by tremulous Iocasta.
Quote from: Draško on April 06, 2017, 10:33:29 AM
Levine's Oedipus Rex with the CSO is (mostly) excellent, marred only by tremulous Iocasta.
I just tried to listen to the one many deem the overall best, Colin Davis, and wheeew, I could not get through that lady singer!! Tremulous? This was spasmodic!! And, I haven't yet tried to hear Norman, but, ack, that look of her scares me and can only imagine she's like the rest...(but, they say she's not?
Oh, I tried you, Oedipus Rex, last night, you remember, ... it was just bad, just bad... all those men singing in that man voice, and then that lady scared you... there there, snyprrr, go to sleep... go to sleep...
Hey now!!
Bychkov's really got a nice take. The sound is 1stClass. The instruments are fruity and tangy. He's relaxed, yet there is tension. There's nice air around the orchestra without it becoming... you know, "SuperSynphonicSpectacle",... which, is a good thing!
Yea, a modern Paris version, very nice. And, 'Divertimento' is also primo.
Compared with Haitink- same label, same YEAR!!1991- we have two very different sonic projections (Haitink's sound is spectacularly in the orchestra claustrophobic cinemascope cool; Bychkov, perfectly normally judged). There are both extremely tender in the Petrouchka music, with Bychkov maybe even getting an extra drop out.
Good stuff
So, I think I have set things like this for myself:
Dorati/Detroit 1947/1911 hybrid
Bychkov/Paris-Philips 1947
Chailly 1947
Haintink/Berlin 1911
Boulez/Cleveland 1911
Dutoit or NJarvi 1911
Iwaki 1911- still not quite happy with the big strange sound
Rattle rounding it all out... Dohnanyi/Vienna Maazel/Vienna-RCA
Davis/RCO Nagano/LSO
For 'Petrouchka' I needed SOUND, so that's why there's a heavy emphasis on modern
I just did a comparison of the first Big Minute of 'Petrouchka', and here are the rresults:
1) Surprisingly, Dorati/Detroit had the most outrageously excellent sound, so crisp, and coming at you from all directions, hearing things you're just not hearing in most others. The excitement level is also almost in a class by itself.
2) Bychkov/Philips had the most vibrantly alive recording, open, airy, and free, yet also close enough, plus very good excitement.
3) Rattle/Birmingham is clear, deep, loud, and delineated and exciting. I was won over by his enthusiasm; orchestra may be the "worst" of the bunch, but that doesn't say much in such excellent company.
4) Boulez/DG has a certain quality one notices immediately comping from the conductor. You are hearing things, as is to be expected with Boulez (I loathe to say "x ray"). The recording voltage is surprisingly the lowest on this survey, but it really doesn't matter by itself. Still, it really does pale in comparison with Dorati- I was shocked! :)
5) Haintink-Berlin/Philips may have the most CinemaScope recording, lovingly in your face and "claustrophobic", but delightfully so. Orchestra,... natch. I like this one more and more, even if it should be too glossy, creamy, and smooth sounding, but, to me, it sounds like ear candy. Still, Bychkov technically "sounds betters", but, they are so different that you must have both!
6) Chailly's sound won't permit him to not rank highly, and, there is no arguing with the sound, as is it futile to argue with the orchestra. To me, Chailly sounds like somewhere in between Boulez-Haitink-Dorati, very delineated and etched, friendlier than Boulez- I'd say Haintink would be Chailly's foil in this survey, with Dorati delivering the final blow.
7) Dutoit/Montreal also comes with an identifiable sound, the Decca-Montreal Sound (I call it the "sunny day in Montreal" sound). It's one of the most distantly recorded, but it fills its space very well, as anyone who is aware of the sonic profile knows. There's much to like, but, next to all the rest, it can't be considered version for "everyman"- it's a "purpose" recording, fulfilling its purpose (amongst which is having another version of the 1911).
8) I have to consider Dutoit/LSO unlistenable(?) because of the early DG recording.
9) Oops, for Iwaki/Melbourne (Virgin), which has an interesting sonic profile- you should have to turn it up. It's very exciting, and must be considered a Dark Horse contender.
10) Also, Mehta/NewYork gets very high marks for a grand recording in the CBS '70s manner that holds up very well indeed.
Ansermet/OSR is well worth hearing, I don't know about the first minute. Also Monteux, Orchestre de la Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, Paris
I like Dorati. Also Ozawa. Dorati is slightly slower and the music is breathing. Ozawa's rendition is vivacious and colorful.
Quote from: snyprrr on June 14, 2017, 10:42:20 AM
So, I think I have set things like this for myself:
Dorati/Detroit 1947/1911 hybrid
Bychkov/Paris-Philips 1947
Chailly 1947
Haintink/Berlin 1911
Boulez/Cleveland 1911
Dutoit or NJarvi 1911
Iwaki 1911- still not quite happy with the big strange sound
Rattle rounding it all out... Dohnanyi/Vienna Maazel/Vienna-RCA
Davis/RCO Nagano/LSO
For 'Petrouchka' I needed SOUND, so that's why there's a heavy emphasis on modern
Understatement is perhaps not the order of the day for this work but with Rosbaud less is more. Great cover (LP).
(https://i.imgur.com/dLmr1iL.jpg)
Enjoying the recordings by Janson and Fedoseyev.
Quote from: Heck148 on April 06, 2017, 05:13:39 AM
Levine/ChicagoSO is wonderful...delicious solo work, wonderfully lively, with all the humor, pathos, tongue-in-cheek, etc....
An historical favorite - [NA on CD, IME] Mitropoulos/NYPO....great stuff, outrageous - the NYPO '50s wild men at their best....great solos, great honky, quacky 2ble reed work...a real hoot. too bad never re-issued.
That Levine seems to have been a Japanese only CD pressing? Shame its never been more widely released. I really enjoyed their Mahler/Brahms etc for RCA and would love to here this......
Quote from: Roasted Swan on January 02, 2021, 07:19:38 AM
That Levine seems to have been a Japanese only CD pressing? Shame its never been more widely released. I really enjoyed their Mahler/Brahms etc for RCA and would love to here this......
I haven't seen the recording in CD format in Japan or North America. As for the LP, USA 1978, JPN 1980.