Customer Reviews

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Rite of Spring has always been an impressive performance (and one of my favorite). An early Telarc digital triumph in the waning days of vinyl, it's even better in this stunning new SACD incarnation. The depth of field is uncanny, far better than on either the original vinyl or earlier CD version. The Tchaikovsky is perhaps less impressive but more than acceptable. Apart from the fact that both pieces are by Russians and can be VERY loud, I'm not sure I understand the pairing, though.

There was always something a bit annoying about the sound of the early Telarcs recorded on the Soundstream digital machine. Turns out it was because the sampling rate was 50kHz, and the downsampling to 44.1kHz added many unwanted digital artifacts. With SACD technology, they can upsample the original master to 2.8MHz and then get an artifact-free downsampling to the standard CD. Even if you don't have an SACD player, replace your old version with this one. It's that much better sonically. In fact, I cannot tell the standard CD from the SACD layer. (That difference is apparent for those originally recorded in SACD, however.)

This is a superlative performance by a world-class orchestra. They give it a powerful and chilling sense of horror this music and its subject demands. I vote this as the finest performance of the Rite I've ever heard.

The Cleveland Orchestra under Lorin Maazel made all too few recordings for Telarc, a Cleveland based company which offered sonics far superior to the orchestra's other label, CBS. The repertoire tended toward orchestral showpieces, doubtless intended to show off the then-new digital recording technology.

As usual with Maazel, the performances are technically spectacular, the interpretations wayward. Tempos in the Tchaikovsky are in the range or normality, but Maazel tampers with the orchestration. Percussion is added to the beginning of the finale.

I initially heard this recording of The Rite of Spring on an LP. The dynamics were not compressed and some of the louder passages literally bounced the needle out of the groove. Maazel doesn't tamper with the orchestration here, but his tempos are all over the map, with rubatos and ritardandos liberally applied (which is poles apart from Stravinsky's intentions). The thought of a ballet troupe having to dance to this interpretation boggles the mind. The beginning of the Glorification of the Chosen One is played at approximately HALF the tempo indicated in the score. This is certainly an exciting performance, but because of Maazel's eccentricities, I cannot recommend it as a reference version.

In the 1980s, it would have been hard to imagine these recordings sounding even more spectacular, but Telarc have outdone themselves. If you're looking to show off your sound system or the incredible playing of the Cleveland Orchestra, these recordings are a good fit.

I'll keep this short and simple: Buy it for both. This is world-class superb playing from Cleveland. Maazel's renderings are personal and viable. I disagree with nitpikers. Absolutely nothing wrong here. Both of these are studied, thoughtful, vibrant performances. The Tchaikovsky has jaw-dropping execution in the Finale. It is difficult to believe that such articulation and clarity is possible at Maazel's tempo! Not all re-issues are worth buying: this one truly is.

In addition, this disc again demonstrates that Telarc's early digital technique was amazing. The sound spectrum is smooth and captures every subtlety and nuance of dynamics and color by the instrumentalists. The sound field is very broad and smooth with startling depth.

Jack Renner had the finest ear for recorded sound in the industry. Thankfully his work allowed him to be a legend in his own time. All those Grammy's for technical excellence were for a reason! Now that the new owners have stopped all production and killed off Telarc, you should be buying these discs while you can still get them. Highly recommended for long-time listening.