Track Listing

1. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 1: The Shrove-tide Fair. Beginning
2. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 1: The Shrove-tide Fair. The Crowds
3. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 1: The Shrove-tide Fair. The Charlatan's Booth
4. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 1: The Shrove-tide Fair. Russian Dance
5. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 2: Petrushka's Room
6. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 3: The Moor's Room. Beginning
7. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 3: The Moor's Room. Dance of the Ballerina
8. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 3: The Moor's Room. Waltz (Ballerina and Moor)
9. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). Beginning
10. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). Dance of the
11. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). Dance of the
12. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). Dance of the
13. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). Dance of the
14. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). The Masquerad
15. Petrushka, ballet (burlesque) in 4 scenes for orchestra (1947 version): Tableau 4: The Shrove-tide Fair (near evening). Conclusion (P
16. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Introduction
17. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Dances of the Young
18. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Mock Abduction
19. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Spring Round Dance
20. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Games of the Rival T
21. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Procession of the Wi
22. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Adoration of the Ear
23. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 1. The Adoration of the Earth. Dance of the Earth
24. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice. Introduction
25. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice. Mystical Circles of the Young Gir
26. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice. Glorification of the Chosen Victi
27. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice. Summoning of the Ancients
28. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice. Ritual of the Ancients
29. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: Part 2. The Sacrifice. Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen Vic

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2036 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Whatever the limitations of Stravinsky's baton technique, no one else on disc conjures the same bustling excitement at the outset of Petrouchka. Overlapping, polyrhythmic textures in Petrouchka and in Le Sacre du Printemps come off with Mozartian lucidity, Mendelssonian lightness, and, well, Stravinsky-esque rhythmic exactitude (notwithstanding a few hesitant entrances). The clarity partly stems from the composer's use of his leaner revised scores, helped by close-up, analytical mike work by CBS. There are, of course, slicker, more sonically opulent versions of these 20th century landmarks. And then there are Stravinsky's. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews

From the Master
I had the great good fortune to attend a concert of Stravinsky's music partially conducted by Stravinsky himself in Beverly Hills, CA. I don't remember the exact year, but it would have been in the late '60s. In other words, just a few years before his passing.
He shared conducting duties with his long-time associate, Robert Craft.

Because of his obvious age and frailty, it was expected he would sort of ceremoniously conduct one or perhaps two of his shorter works, leaving the bulk of the concert to Craft. Imagine my, and the audience's astonishment when we saw in the program that Maestro Stravinsky would be the conductor for several works, culminating in the concluding work on the program, "Le Sacre du printemps".

When the time came for "Le Sacre", the maestro, assisted and with some difficulty, made his way to the podium, at which he, not surprisingly, sat. He gazed at the score for a long moment. Slowly, his gaze rose from the score to his orchestra, which he observed for a few seconds, which seemed like hours. The audience grew silent with expectation. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his baton. And it began. What followed for the next 30 plus minutes was one of the most electrifying, galvanizing, and thrilling performances of anything I have ever seen or heard in my life, before or since.

After the concert I made it a point to chat with several friends of mine who were in the orchetra. I suggested that the orchestra must have been well prepared by Robert Craft so that Maestro Stravinsky would be better able to conserve his energy. To a man (and woman) they assured me that absolutely the opposite was the case. The portions of the concert, including "Le Sacre" that Stravinsky was to conduct were rehearsed, in total, by Stravinsky himself. In addition, Stravinsky attended the rehearsals for the balance of the program and had no problem contributing whatever he felt was necessary to the procedings. They also found him to be extremely alert and utterly charming.

How can I recommend anyone else's performance of "Le Sacre du printemps"? There is only one, and this is it.

It's still a classic
Whatever reservations one may have about the transparency of the recording, although it's pretty good, Stravinsky's own reading of Le Sacre has a level of savagery and almost daemonic power that has been imitated many times since but never quite duplicated. Petrushka is also played in a very bracing, invigorating manner. The Columbia Symphony Orchestra was a select group of top-drawer musicians, many of whom came from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, who were recruited expressly for the purpose of making recordings. These musicians are the same as those on Bruno Walter's legendary accounts of the Bruckner 9th and the Mahler 1st and 2nd. At medium price this should be an essential part of every collection. Strongly recommended.

One of the finest scores of the 20th century...
I first heard this CD over a year ago, but have now finally got around to purchasing it online (as it's not available in Australia where I live) and have just finished listening to it right through. What can I say? On this particular CD, "The Rite Of Spring" is easily the most dynamic, moving performance of it I have ever heard. Even though these compositions will soon be near to 100 years old, it never fails to amaze me what Stravinsky could achieve with his orchestrations. While there is a good dose of complexity, there's also an excellent 'space' around the pieces and the music truly has the ability to make one sit up and listen. Thoroughly recommended listening.