Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring

[HolyStitt]

I am trying to find a version of Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring to start with.

Does anyone have any to recommendation?

[rockefeller center]

Go to a used record store and buy all the versions you can find.

I particularly like this recording (don't ask me why - I don't know):

Edited March 23, 2007 by rockefeller center

[mikeweil]

Did a comparative listening session with Mr. Bassman recently - my favourite was Eduardo Mata's with the Dallas Symphony on Dorian - great recorded natural sound, too!

[Chuck Nessa]

I've had about 20 recordings of it. Now I have performances conducted by the composer, Boulez (Columbia), Monteux, Horenstein and Fricsay. This piece should "disturb" you. All of these do in different ways. It can be an interesting journey. I have been exploring for 45 years.

[J Larsen]

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm going to buy a CD version of this this weekend. My record sounds like a bowl of rice crispies.

[J.A.W.]

I have Igor Stravinsky's own interpretation with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Markevich with the Philharmonia Orchestra London, Claudio Abbado with the London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez with the Cleveland Orchestra, and Bernard Haitink with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. I think I also have Ferenc Fricsay somewhere. Fascinating music I keep returning to.

[Don Brown]

I highly recommend the performance on DVD conducted by Pierre Boulez. It's a knockout - great sound and great camera work.

[sal]

I can't get enough of this one. Its one of my favorites.

[brownie]

Looks like the first (1963) Pierre Boulez recording of this Sacre du Printemps with l'Orchestre National which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of it in Paris is not available now.

It came out on the Ades label. An electric reading which does not seem to have been equaled!

It was Stravinsky's preferred recorded version of his Sacre.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

the definitive version of "Purtruska" is the Everest Stereo version pressed from 35 mm master tapes

[Claude]

I've heard about a dozen Sacres, and the Boulez/Cleveland on DG is my favourite.

On Stravinsky's own 1960's recording (Sony), the orchestra is not as good.

The recent recordings by Rattle and Salonen (I've listened to them because I wanted a version on SACD) didn't convince me either. Not that they are bad, but I always prefer the Boulez, with it's perfect balance of precision and wildness.

Edited March 23, 2007 by Claude

[Larry Kart]

Looks like the first (1963) Pierre Boulez recording of this Sacre du Printemps with l'Orchestre National which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of it in Paris is not available now.

It came out on the Ades label. An electric reading which does not seem to have been equaled!

It was Stravinsky's preferred recorded version of his Sacre.

In one of the Stravinsky-Craft conversation books, there are some fairly scathing (at times) remarks about this recording from S. (purportedly), though it is preferred to the recording it is being compared to, Karajan's.

[Stefan Wood]

I liked the Pierre Monteux version on RCA, the late 50's stereo version. Dynamic!

Edited March 23, 2007 by Stefan Wood

[Teasing the Korean]

A very highly regarded version that has not been mentioned yet is Antal Dorati with the Minneapolis Symphony on Mercury Living Presence.

[HolyStitt]

I would like to thank everyone for the feedback.

You have been a tremendous help.

[Larry Kart]

Looks like the first (1963) Pierre Boulez recording of this Sacre du Printemps with l'Orchestre National which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of it in Paris is not available now.

It came out on the Ades label. An electric reading which does not seem to have been equaled!

It was Stravinsky's preferred recorded version of his Sacre.

Further details about S.'s view of the first Boulez Rite recording, from "Dialogues": "Augurs of Spring" --"this is much too fast, as well as ragged"; "Spring Rounds -- "The ritardandos before 49 and 57 are ugly solecisms"; "The Sage" -- This is more than twice too fast"; [The performance overall "is less good than I had hoped.... Apart from sloppinesses -- surprising but of no importance -- there are very bad tempi and some tasteless alterations.... None of the three performances [Karajan's, Boulez's, and one with the Moscow State Symphony, conducted by a guy whose name I can't transliterate] is good enough to be preserved."

I was impressed by Craft's Rite on MusicMasters with the Orchestra of St. Lukes. I believe he recorded it again a few years later for Koch with the New Philharmonia.

Edited March 23, 2007 by Larry Kart

[Noj]

I only have this one, I assume it's not the best version.

[J Larsen]

With the qualification that when it comes to classical I really don't know what I'm talking about, the idea of Karajan doing this piece seems odd to me. Karajan strikes me as heavy handed. I don't see how Karajan and this piece could make each other sound good.

[Free For All]

I only have this one, I assume it's not the best version.

This one's not bad either......

[Claude]

I was impressed by Craft's Rite on MusicMasters with the Orchestra of St. Lukes. I believe he recorded it again a few years later for Koch with the New Philharmonia.

Craft's Koch and Musicmasters recordings of Stravinsky works are currently available on Naxos. The Sacre recorded in 1995 for Koch is with the London Symphony:

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.557501#

[Ken Dryden]

I have the LP version with Sir Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

I don't know if it has been reissued, but it remains my favorite recording of this ballet.

[Spontooneous]

The composer's 1960 recording, raggedy as it is, was the most important record in my musical development, period.

I've never liked any of the Boulez recordings. They sound strangely smooshy and soft-core to me.

I like Dorati, who's constantly interesting, even when I don't like his tempi.

There's an Abbado on DG that isn't bad, coupled on some issues with a great Petrushka.

The Markevitch, if you can find it, is never dull.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

WAS THIS EVER RELEASED AS A 78 RPM SET?

[Teasing the Korean]

Now, let's talk about best Rite of Spring cover art. As we all know, inferior cover art can spoil a listening experience every bit as much as a worn stylus.

The best two?

I nominate Dorati's first (mono) version with the Minneopolis Symphony. Orange tiki against a dark green background. His later stereo recording used a bland image.

And, of course, the Everest album (forget the conductor) with the photo of the guy holding the topless maiden in the air, presumably to be sacrificed.

I tried to find good images online but could not. You're welcome to post 'em if you've got 'em.

[Claude]

The Everest is nice indeed:

For worst cover art selection, I nominate the Lennie reissue with a painting by the Prince of Wales