Customer Reviews

Stravinsky: The Great Ballets - Firebird / Petrouska / Rite of Spring / Apollo

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

With an assist to Igor Markevitch for his work in "Apollon", this is one of Bernard Haitink's very best records and probably says most about what kind of music the conductor best interprets.

His work in the three great Stravinsky ballets, "L'oiseau de feu" (The Firebird), "Petrushka" and "Le Sacre du printemps" (The Rite of Spring) are the best renderings I have ever heard of these scores, far surpassing the composer's work on Columbia/Sony, in my opinion.

While I have never been a great fan of Haitink and believe he lacks the personality to compete in the CD world in the Romantic symphonies of Brahms, Beethoven, Tchaikovksy and others, I believe he is particularly in his element here and in another similar Philips twofer of the music of Claude Debussy.

What is the corollary between the two? Both are 20th century composers whose music is more suggestion than statement. The gentle delicacies of "The Firebird", in particular, meet best with the Haitink sensibility to be linear, literal and understated. While these qualities do not translate well in highly charged Romantic music, they are extraordinarily appopriate in these scores, which have been overblown and overplayed countless times on CD by more Romantic conductors like Bernstein.

As if the interpretations and performances themselves were not enough, the recordings of these wonderful "modern" scores -- "The Rite of Spring" is often cast with Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" as the first piece of "modern" music -- are equally extraordinary. The clarity and sound spectrum of these recordings is among the best I have heard from the analog era translated to digital CD. The orchestras play very well throughout and follow Haitink's sensitive leadership at all times.

I have been critical of Haitink's way with Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams in other of my reviews, but I must say here is the essential Bernard Haitink and a demonstration of the very best work he can do. If you have the slightest interest in these scores, I urge you to buy the low-prices classic recordings of Stravinsky's earth-changing music.

If you're looking for a great recording of "The Rite of Spring," look no further. This is it. Stravinsky's other ballets are included and they are excellent as well, but after hearing this particular version of the 'Rite' on the radio, I knew I must have it. I've heard many other interpretations and Haitink has come up with the sine qua non of all Rites. The orchestra delivers an almost superhuman effort. The conversations between various instruments and sections come across with utmost clarity--even during complex moments. No detail has been muddied or lost. The percussion section is outstanding. Better than outstanding--they're amazing! The end result is the most powerful, chilling and riveting 'Rite' you'll ever hear. My highest recommendation.

The bulk of this Philips two-fer is filled up with performances from 1973 in excellent analog sound from Bernard Haitink and his second orchestra, the London Phil. I wish I could say they are exceptional readings or exceptionally well played. The Rite of Spring swings between sounding eerie, listless, and crudely explosive. The Petrushka, in the rare 1911 original scoring for huge forces, is mostly quick-step with little digging beneath the surface. The Firebird is enticingly dreamy, although it runs out of steam in the demonic parts--the whole thing feels like leisurely scene-painting. Even so, these are good performances with plenty of striking moments to offset their neutrality, and the London Phil.'s strings sound especially sweet in the Firebird.

The performance of Apollo under Igor Markevitch, which takes up half of the first disc, dates from 1963 with the LSO. There's no doubt that it's elegant and balletic, but Markevitch was declining, and frankly there's a lack of energy that is distressing. I've rarely heard a more wan reading. Apollo is a quiet, reflective ballet which often comes off as static, so it's too bad Markevitch didn't find another way.

For the listener just beginning to learn the genius composer's
works, this is one of the best, if not THE BEST places to begin.

The selections are chosen from the most popular, most well
known numbers from Stravinsky, early in his career. Of course,
in addition to these well picked, well recorded numbers, there
will perhaps be another 10 CD's (if not more) you will eagerly
want to hear, obviously.

I think these 2 CD's are on par, if not slightly better,
than the versions recorded with Stravinsky directing, on
the 22 CD EDITION on the Columbia/Sony label, in terms of
musicianship and recording quality.

Great value, as always, from Philips.

This is an excellent two CD compilation of Stravinsky's great orchestral works, blessed with superb performances of the London Philharmonic under Bernard Haitink's paton. Most noteworthy are Haitink's riveting interpretations of "Rite Of Spring" and "Petrouchka", which easily hold their own against other superb versions from the likes of Abbado, Bernstein and Boulez. The sound quality is fine, though I don't think it's a substantial improvement over the original analogue recordings.

Great stuff. Two discs of Stravinsky's best known music, and Apollo Musgate, which I had not heard before I bought this disk. So; great value, and an excellent introduction to the Guv'nor. Bernard Haitink does a fine job. The Rite of Spring scares the screaming heebeejeebees out of me. I don't believe people who say they've got used to it; maybe it's Haitink's fine conducting which re-injects the violence and evil into this war-horse. Fine performances of the others as well. Experience with Stravinsky's Russian predecessors serves Haitink well for the Firebird. Highly recommended.

This 2 disc serving of Stravinsky is a real bargain with 150 minutes playing time. Haitink's performance of the Rites of Spring is one of the best that I have heard and will hold its own against any other version in the catalogue.Performances of the other three ballets are highly polished yet get to the essence of what Stravinsky had in mind. An outstanding entry in the Philips Duo series on a par with Colin Davis' work with Haydn's London Symphonies and the Brendel-Marriner collaboration on the Mozart Piano Concerti ( all in the Philips Duo series).