Customer Reviews

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Symphony in 3 Movements

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Stravinsky's version of "Symphony of Psalms" is MUCH, MUCH better than the Bernstein version picked over it in the Penguin Classical guide. It's odd that Stravinsky himself liked Bernstein's interpretation of his famous piece, considering his openly stated horror of 'interpretations' (such as Karajan's and Stokowoski's) and his life-long quest to write conductor-proof music, because his own version couldn't be more different; it has all the rough edges, rhythmic vitality, sense of danger, and precisely controlled tempos that Bernstein's lacks. Bernstein's version is for sleepwalkers only.

In fact, "The Firebird" is the only piece Stravinsky conducted himself which I've heard conducted better by others (Dorati's version picked over it in the Penguin Guide is one of them). Stravinsky's own Symphony in C is peerless, so is the Rite-of-Spring-like Symphony in 3 movements. After I'm done listening to and being disappointed by everything else and want something that really digs deep and 'balances my soul,' as it were, I always come back to good old Stravinsky; and man, am I glad he's there!

I can't agree with that opinion about Stravinsky's bad conduction. I've heard most of the few versions available of his Symphony of Salms, and when I got this one, I had to trash the others. The deep and profound double fugue is astonishing; the phrasing of the melody puts other versions to shame. It's both spiritual and scaring, and the sound competes with modern versions. I would also recommend Stravinsky's version of his Rite of Spring, on the same series, the only version you can really hear the true primitive and percussive character of this piece. The opportunity of listening masterpieces like these conducted by the composer and still having an excellent interpretation and sound quality is one in a lifetime. Don't miss this one.

OK, so this recording was made a long time ago, and it shows.

Never mind! You will never hear grander performances of these three works. Who better to interpret Stravinsky's music than the composer himself?

The two orchestral symphonies are wonderful, but the prize on this recording is the Symphony of Psalms. The first time I ever heard the piece was at a San Francisco Symphony concert with Stravinsky conducting-- an electrifying experience. This recording, though it's of a different performance, captures that moment perfectly. I can close my eyes and see Stravinsky's tight, coiled beat-- can watch the concertmaster's eyes as he was transfixed by the composer's every move-- can see the awe-struck chorus members as they nervously blended with the orchestra.

And I can relive that moment when the sound died finally away and the audience leaped as one person to its feet.

If music can change people (and it can), then this music will change people forever.

I have listened many times to this particular recording of the "Symphony in Three Movements", "Symphony in C", and also The "Symphony of Psalms"

First of all, I must say that it is probably one of the best performances you can find on CD of these works. Stravinsky himself conducted the concerts in the 1960s.

The music itself cannot be easily evaluated.

The Symphony in three movements is sort of an artist interpretation of some camera footage of world war II by stravinsky. The three movements evoke quite an image of this great cataclysm of the twentieth century. My favorite is the second movement, which is dissonant but somehow (sickeningly?) sweet.

Symphony in C is a must hear for anyone interested in Stravinsky's music. He wrote the symphony during a very troubled time in his life. His wife's health was deteriorating, and eventually she died, however Stravinsky himself tried to keep his symphony clean of this type of sorrowful emotion. It is possibly one of his most "easily admired" works, having been composed in C, a very basic key with less chromatic dissonance.

Symphony of Psalms is another great work. A Very fascinating approach to the text of the psalms. Stravisky points out that the psalms are not just a happy-go-lucky set of poems, but rather contain even fearful images and much intensity.

If you are interested in twentieth century art music in the very least, you simply must listen to this CD.

Stravinsky's reading of his Symphony in Three Movements with a pickup group of Los Angeles studio musicians called the Columbia Symphony Orchestra is white hot and the best version around so far. His Symphony in C and Symphony of Psalms are also excellent. This disc is an excellent refutation of the old canard that Stravinsky couldn't conduct.

Igor Stravinsky conducts three of his own masterpieces in this compilation of recordings from the 1960's. SYMPHONY IN THREE MOVEMENTS was inspired by wartime newsreels. The vitriolic outer movements show definite jazz and big-band influence - which the CBC orchestra glories in - while the second movement is of a classical tranquility and grace. The elegant SYMPHONY IN C was meant as a tribute to Haydn and Bach; but the haunting, unresolved bitonal chord that dissolves into silence in the end makes the work quintessentially modern. And the SYMPHONY OF PSALMS, one of the great religious works of the 20th century, is heavenly music; Stravinsky and his forces give it an austere reading of almost chamber-music clarity. These performances leave nothing to be desired. This CD has become one of my most prized recordings.

Who better to interpret a composer's music than the composer himself? This CD is an excellent introduction to these 20th-century masterworks. THREE MOVEMENTS bristles with explosive energy and PSALMS is austere and perfectly controlled, the lines of polyphony in the second movement coming through with extraordinary clarity. Not only is this a great recording, but it is an important historical document which tells us how Stravinsky intended these works to sound. As such, it could be an important reference to other conductors. I enjoyed this recording very much and I highly recommend it.

This is Vol. 9 in Sony's complete Stravinsky cycle, and although the whole canon has been reissued at super-budget price in one box, it's nice that this installment is so cheap at Amzon Marketplace. It stands out as one of the conductor's best, full of life and high spirits -- more than any rival, he seems able to penetrate the dry husk of neoclassicism to find the sweet juice inside.

The Amazon reviewer thinks that these are easy scores to conduct (!), but it's hard to give them personality, drama, and distinctiveness. Stravinsky makes that look easy in his Symphony in Three Movements, recorded in Hollywood in 1961. He was an alert, mindful 78 at the time, capable of making complete sense of the intricate cross-rhythms and counterpoint within the score. The playing is bright and forward, as is the recording. There's no hint of sonic aging, evxcept perhaps for some over-brightness in the highest frequencies. Even that has been taken care of in Sony's remastering.

The other two symphonies were done in Toronto with CBC forces between Dec. 1962 and March, 1963. The Symphony in C came first, in a reading more subdued than the Symphony in Three Movements (among the competition, Solti, Rattle and Boulez are more forceful), yet once more there's an air of alertness and rhythmic zest. This is one instance where going to the source really pays off -- Stravinsky fins buoyant simplicity in daunting complexity. The recording is slightly dull, though, and the Canadian musicians aren't the equal of their California counterparts.

Several other reviewers find the Symphony of Psalms to be the high point of the disc. I'm not so sure. Stravinsky was profoundly religious, but his bent was toward ritual -- one thinks of Russian icons whose severe saints are frozen in time -- and one must allow that this is a generally brisk reading without overt sentiment. The orchestration is quite tricky to balance, and one hears better execution from Bernstein, Boulez, and Rattle. I also find that for once Stravinsky's conducting is technically wanting (for example, he keeps to mezzo forte quite a lot, not summoning very soft or very loud dynamics).

Granting all that, the reading is nimble and never bogs down. Its lack of solemnity is refreshing. Not to mention that this is how the composer hears his mastrpiece, one of the greatest works commissioned by Koussevitzky and the BSO. The chamber chorus sings professionally and with sweet tone, a real asset, although I find the recording a touch murky. Stravinsky doesn't strive to make the ending of the third psalm emotional, but it's quite moving in its unwavering gaze toward eternity.

In all, a great program that finds Stravinsky at his very best on the podium, defying the rigors of old age.

Years ago I purchased a similarly titled CD only to discover that it was a copy off a record! No such shamery hear - the recording is clear and lucid and you get the full impact of Igor's incredible voicings and orchestrations. As a fellow composer and sound engineer involved in the recording of my own pieces for film, radio and television I live in this world of classical and orchestral recordings. Finally, a detailed and balanced recording of arguably one of the most important classical composers ever. Higly recommended.

Stravinksy was certainly passionate about his music and world's happenings, here exhibited by Symphony in Three Movements composed around world events of 40's.

Symphony in C was done during time of great illness for the composer, yet he persevered under commission.

Finally the Symphony of Psalms, based on his coming to faith in latter life, which is based around Psalm 150 and here energetically performed by Canadian choir. His choice of Latin is spot on I believe, giving an aura of poetic movement and grandeur to the piece. The allegro is favorite, with its vision of Elijah's chariot climbing after the swinging low descent.