Stravinsky: Rite of Spring; Persephone; Firebird

 

 

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Probably one of my biggest regrets in my life was to be a few months too young to be on this recording with my boy chorus. Anyways, it is absolutely superb, especially Persephone (but then, I am partial, having sung it a few years later with the same symphony). This entire set is simply gorgeous.

This very first ballet by Stravinsky, ordered by Diaghilev and the Paris Russian Ballets, is based on a Russian tale about a magic bird that is captured by a hunter Ivan and that pleads for its release. It all starts with a very immense evocation of the empty tundra in which the hunter walks with careful steps and that he scans with his eyes and ears. The bird appears with a Russian dance that is light, energetic, bright and airlike. Ivan accepts to release the bird in exchange of one of its magical feathers. This whole bargain is evoked in variations on the theme of the bird, variations that are charming, captivating, fascinating to the point of mesmerizing Ivan who accepts the deal. Then this Ivan meets a Princess who is under the yoke of a magician, Kastchey. Ivan accepts to remain with the Princess in order to free her and he is imprisoned at once by Kastchey. But the Princess fascinates the magician with her sensual and powerful dancing that is hammering like the pulsating heart of the poor magician who is entranced and hypnotized into joining the dance. The dance then becomes a devilish macabre farandole out of which the magician cannot get any longer. During that time Ivan has found the egg that contains the magician's soul in a very soft and melodious lullaby that both depicts the soul in its tranquil captivity and the peace surrounding the hiding place of the egg. It is like the empty space of the cosmos that is only disrupted by the power of the bird's feather and its magic that breaks the egg. By liberating the soul Ivan liberates the Princess and himself and this cosmic void gets some musical flesh back as if the dance of the bird reappeared in the vast immensity of the plain. It is like a triumphing march of the liberated heroes to reconquer the world, though the very ending sounds somewhat unharmonic and frightening as if the world contained some new unknown danger somewhere.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Perpignan

This 3-disc set I think is one of the best Stravinsky purchases any music lover could make. Persephone is awesome, and I love the narration. The Firebird, however, is not the most exciting rendition ever, although I think the superb playing and balance of the orchestra give MTT's interpretation of the music its meaning. The standout in the set is The Right of Spring. Not only do I think it is the best recordings of it ever made, I think it is also one of the best recordings ever released of any work...ever. You will never hear tighter orchestra playing than in SFSO's Right of Spring. MTT knows exactly what he's doing at every moment; every inner voice is heard, and the flow and progression from movements feels so natural yet exciting. For those of you out there who are misinformed about the best brass sections in the country, choosing to side with the archaic has-beens of the CSO, or the egotistical competition junkies that pass for section players in the NY Phil, let me inform you, San Francisco Symphony has the best brass sections right now. Listen to the trombones, and you will hear a demonstration in power and control by Mark Lawrence and Paul Welcommer. The horns demonstrate accuracy as well as perfect blend, and Dave Kreibel cuts through the orhcestra demonically in the Procession of the Sage movement. Then there are the trumpets. Principal trumpet Glenn Fiscthal basically teaches a masterclass on modern orchestral piccolo trumpet playing with this recording. MTT asked Glenn to, quote, "Play as loud as you can" on specific parts of the piece, namely the 2nd, 5th, and 6th movements of Part 1. The effect is astounding. The woodwind playing also sets a new standard for other orchestras to be compared to. Every part blends perfectly, and the soloists are phenomenal. The percussion...wow, I know I am going on and on, but they are simply amazing, making their instruments truly earth shattering. Overall though, the most impressive thing about this recording, is that the technique that goes into the playing of The Right of Spring is totally inaudible, and the listener is treated to a cohesive and exciting musical experience. The most impressive thing about the orchestra, is that no section stands out beyond another, they each match one another with artistry, and the overall effect is a storm of sounds that goes beyond instrumentalists simply playing their parts, but to the true musical and emotional meaning of The Right of Spring. These aren't simply musicians playing notes, this is an orchestra crying out and summoning the destruction of the earth. Every music lover needs to have this Stravinsky set in their collection.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Le Sacre, Good for the Others
MTT has done an excellent job on this CD. I give Le Sacre de Printemps 5 stars, it is exciting, pulsating, primal ... a real portrait of a pagan sacrifice. Read more

Published on Jan 24 2002 by philistine

5.0 out of 5 stars Tilson Thomas does yeoman work for Stravinsky again
Like his earlier collections of Stravinsky, Michael Tilson Thomas has again done yeoman service for the composer, coupling familiar works of Stravinsky with lesser known... Read more

Published on Oct 26 2001 by Keith Peters

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Recording
Probably one of the best recordings of Le Sacre du Printemps and L'Oiseau Feu and the best recording I've heard of Persophone, Michael Tilson Thomas and the brilliant San... Read more

Published on Oct 4 2001 by Hermes Camacho

4.0 out of 5 stars Overengineered
I picked up this set after hearing on the radio an incandescent live performance of Tilson Thomas conducting Le Sacre with the Concertgebouw. Read more

Published on July 13 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars The rite to an opinion
While I understand that everyone is entitled to their own viewa and opinions, I don't understand how anyone can think this set overrated. Read more

Published on April 26 2001 by Paul Swindale

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, but somewhat overrated
Having borrowed these recordings, I was very impressed at first by both the performance and the quality of the recording, which probably played a lot in favour of the grammy... Read more

Published on Jan 23 2001

2.0 out of 5 stars Three months later-vastly overrated.
I have to comment on an earlier review of mine in which I called Perséphone is absolutely beautiful; it isn't, and not even Stephanie Cosserat's voice can save it after... Read more

Published on Dec 14 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Persphone, especially: WOW...
I agree that this is an absolutely wonderful set, however I think that the thing that makes it most special is Persephone. Read more

Published on Sep 19 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good recording
I'd likely give this review a higher rating if I liked Stravinsky - I don't. But it gets excellent marks nontheless for the superb playing by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San... Read more

Published on Aug 18 2000 by Christopher M. Adams

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Recording
This is the best recording of the Rite of Spring on CD ever! The engineering is top notch (much better than most recordings these days), which befits the Rite and the Firebird... Read more

Published on May 11 2000 by David Gottner

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