Description

CD-1211(2) STRAVINSKY CONDUCTS STRAVINSKY: CONCERT PERFORMANCES, 1951-1957. CD 1: (1:08:00) Concerto in D for Violin and Orchestra. Heinz Stanske, vln.; Le Baiser de la Fée/The Fairy’s Kiss (rev. 1950); Four Etudes for Orchestra (1945 version); Concerto in D for String Orchestra — all with Southwest German Radio Orchestra, Baden-Baden, 4/22/1955. CD 2: (1:02:00) Petrushka—orchestral suite (1947 version). Southwest German Radio Orchestra, Baden-Baden (10/14/1951), Maria Bergmann, piano. Agon — Southwest German Radio Orchestra, Baden-Baden (10/19/1957). Pulcinella—Suite for Small Orchestra (1949 version). Orch. della Radio Svizzera Italiano, Lugano (4/29/1954). Restoration Engineer: Maggi Payne (2008). All but Agon previously unissued. AAD. UPC# 0-17685-12112-8.

REVIEW

“Music & Arts‘ new twin-CD set of Igor Stravinsky conducting his own music in live performances supplements their 2-CD set [CD-1184] issued about two years ago. It always is important to hear composers interpreting their own music even though they might not be very good conductors. Surely that was the case with Stravinsky, whose podium technique left much to be desired, further complicated by his sometimes erratic interpretations, even of his own music. He preferred a lean orchestral sound and the German orchestra provides it. Stravinsky appeared often in Germany, and most of these performances were recorded in 1955 except for Petrushka (1951), Agon (1957), and Pulcinella (1954). Petrushka is presented as an “orchestral suite,” which omits the opening and closing pages as well as all of the drum rolls. Both of the Music & Arts issues are major additions to the catalog.”

—R.E.B., classicalcdreview.com, July 2008