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The Rite of Spring

As the earth blooms and the sky sings, the mere thought of Spring has inspired poets and composers through the ages to celebrate the resurgence of life with sweet, bouyant thoughts. But not Igor Stravinsky. His 1912 Le Sacre de Printemps (“The Rite of Spring”) was inspired by a vastly different muse. Surely one of the most important works in the annals of art, its impact still reverberates across all types of music.

I like that quote from Peter Guttmann..

I have The Atlanta Symphony (Levi) and recently bought the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra SACD with Yuri Simonov. (Excellent performance and great sonics). I'd like to hear Bernsteins too. Do any of you have one you'd highly recommend. Thanks - Mark

classical1
rcprince
3,075 posts
 
I agree with those of you who are not that impressed with Stravinski's own recording. It often happens that the composers are not the ideal conductors of their own works, unless they also are trained conductors (like Bernstein, Boulez, etc.). I found another version in my collection, Inbal and the Israeli Philharmonic, which I like as an interpretation.

By the way, for interesting reading, I endorse the book "First Nights-Five Musical Premieres" by Thomas Forrest Kelly, which has an excellent account of the disastrous premiere of this work.
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
If one enjoys the Davis performance of the Rite, it's well worth also hearing the Tilson-Thomas/BSO performance. So many good performances, all pulling different information and emotions from the score. For raw power and energy, I always enjoy the Solti/CSO. For more of the dance rhythms and nuance, I come back to the Monteaux. Overall, I agree with Rprince about the Davis/Concertgebouw.
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mrmitch
359 posts
 
Boulez' interpretation with the Cleveland Orchestra. A more "sensitive" approach than the others I've heard, which you would expect f rom Boulez, being as how he has c onducted so many of the Impressionist composers' music( he's really good at anything by Debussy). I have it on a Great Performances budget CD, which was mastered ADD.--Mrmitch
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Aida_w, Stravinsky made it a point to conduct most of his works. Besides enhancing well his already significant income, it was a way for him to finalize the score and -- by forging an performance archetype -- to close any interpretive loops and exercise supreme control over the music. Nothing wrong with that. . . except that while he is deemed by more than a few to be the greatest composer of the 20th century, his conducting prowess are dutyful at best, and fall far short of any exalted renown. For a particularly bad example of J. S. at the podium, listen to his recording of his own Cantata. . . used to be available many years ago on CBS Masterworks. G.
classical1 OP
168 posts
 
Thanks for the interesting insights and recommendations for this great piece. -Mark
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