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With all the talk of the Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” last week, this weekend, I went to dig out my Mercury mono with Antal Doráti conducting (MG 50058). However, I got sidetracked with his mono of Petrouchka. I think that is a picture of Nijinsky on the cover. My diversion did not disappoint. My copy is ridiculously clean for an old mono. I think I am the only one who has ever played it. There were some ticks, but they sounded like new record tick which I expect to wear down. They didn’t interfere with the music at all. I was treated to a powerful performance with breathtaking dynamics and tone. The detail was astounding. But I was impressed even more buy how it all came together as an experience of the performance. With mono sound like this, I have to wonder if Sakuma San was right about mono! To my ears, this is mono at its best! I am no expert on Petrouchka, but I would be very surprised if this performance was not also up there with the best.
So what are the other Petrouchka performances that rank? I have the Stravinsky. I would expect the Ansermet on Decca to be a contender. There are also later recordings by Bernstein and Ozawa. What are your favorites?
Dave
Follow Ups:
I have several, the Ansermet is my favorite. I remember I bought it in England on the Decca Eclipse label and it is very impressive, much more so than the London BB. That issue has a very warm tubey sound that worked perfectly with this music. I have the Danon on Readers Digest, and will have to give it another listen. I have been very impressed with the early Readers Digest boxes, so I don't doubt it's a stellar recording.
The three movement setting for piano is really great. Complete showcase for the capable pianist. Pollini (amongst others) has a really great recording of it.
Enjoy the music.
I have never heard a piano reduction of his piece. That is another one I should look for!
Dave
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The Prokofiev 7th is great, very driving Precipitato third movement.
The Schoenberg is very very good, makes the music more approachable.
Enjoy the music.
necessary--dark.
The sound IMHO is amazing as well.
...the Stravinsky category and found a nice looking copy of London CS6009.
Ansermet, 'Suisse Romande. Petrushka. It has a blue back. Label is wide band.
It's been a while since I listened. I'll have to make some time tomorrow. As it happens I don't have a photo of this one. I definitely should.
-Steve
Just listen to the "meaty" contra bassoon early in side two, along with the off-beat cymbals. When will digital ever get cymbals to sound as delicate and tangible as this?
Brings a smile to my face every time.
...and I think I have a very different regard for the work when listening to this recording than when I hear the Dorati/Minnesota performance.
Ansermet/Suisse Romande manages a sense of flow, warmth and mood throughout. And this manages to draw me in. Where Dorati's recording has me admiring the recording engineer more than I admire the music itself.
I think I can sum it up in a phrase; Analytical versus organic.
-Steve
my copy:
I rate this copy as a VG+ for vinyl. No scratches, ticks or pops. But there is some light crackle that remains in the background. Music sounds pure. So this continues to be my copy.
Bluebacks sound great. That looks like it would be a very good listen.
Dave
I like it a lot -- both the mono and stereo discs --but I like the Danon/Chesky even more. Probably my favorite classical piece, I have four versions on reel-to-reel alone, of which the Monteux/Boston and Goosens/London Symphony (Everest) get the most playing time. The Ansermet (coupled with Rite) on tape is a loser, unfortunately, badly overloaded/distorted.Don't ignore Stravinsky's own recording of this classic, BTW
Edits: 02/24/15
nt
Can we all agree, on of the best album covers of all time?
Yes, I have it and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Near Mint Mono and wonderful sound.
If you like classical mono, you might like this new set from Decca. Includes Ansermet's famous Petrouchka.
I think I would! Have you heard it?
Dave
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I have that one. Dorati/Minnesota. Another great recording. Clarity and dynamics are super on my copy. Program notes on the back of the outer jacket tell us this was a 1955 performance. One microphone!
The one thing about the three Stravinsky ballets is that as we listen to the records the music is taken out of context. There is no ballet in front of us. It makes me wonder if conductors don't intentionally read these pieces differently depending on whether the performance is to support a ballet or if the performance is play the music without any ballet going on.
Anyway, this Merc recording stands out as excellent.
-Steve
"It makes me wonder if conductors don't intentionally read these pieces differently depending on whether the performance is to support a ballet or if the performance is play the music without any ballet going on."
Indeed they do, with MUCH more freedom with no dancers to worry about.
On the other hand, wouldn't it have been great to see Nijinsky dance the role?
I think there is like 10 seconds of him in the role that was filmed. :-(
I agree, but I still hear a lot of dance in this interpretation. It definitely would be fantastic to see Nijinsky dance the role!
Dave
Petrouchka is a great piece. I must have a dozen or so different recordings I love the Dorati/Detroit on Teldec. I also like the Monteux/Boston Living Stereo but hard to get a clean copy these days.
The Bernstein/Israel Phil is also good.
TR
Teldec has some great sounding disks. It would be interesting to hear Dorati's later interpretation. I have some LS Monteux records that I really like. I will keep an eye out for it.
Dave
I find the music to be trite, noisy, and annoying. But, that's my opinion only, and not to take away from those who feel otherwise, and enjoy the music.
This piece's had more really good sounding recordings than probably any other. Loads of them. Here's one really good one, on Chesky vinyl:
Chesky CR42 Danon/Royal Philharmonic
Here's what the guy over on the Divinty Supreme LP Recordings website has to say about it:
"Of all the many thousands of orchestral records I have auditioned in the last 30 plus years, on hundreds of different systems, this LP has the closest, overall sound to "a live performance" that I have ever experienced..[.] It is simply more "alive" than any other orchestral record."
I looked at my Chesky record collection last night, even though I didn't think I would forget it if I had that one. It wasn't there. Oh well! The price stickers from Bonifant Books was still on some of the plastic sleeve covers. They were $2 each. That was a score! They closed many hears ago, but I have fond memories.
Dave
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I have quite a bit of Cheskys, but I don't think I have that one. I bought a collection of Chesky records from a used bookstore. It turns out that they were owned by a friend of mine who died. His son sold them to the bookstore for quick cash. I got them very cheap. Karma I guess? I will double-check to make sure I did not miss it.
Dave
You're right on! This is not just a great performance (I also recommend the mono Mitropoulos for a darker view of the score) but one of the best-sounding records of any time, mono or not. Enjoy!
Thank you for confirming my impression! That Mitropoulos sounds quite intriguing!
Dave
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