Stravinsky: Firebird, Petrushka, Rite in one evening - live 21.09.17

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sir Simon Rattle conducts Stravinsky's Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring - live from the Barbican Hall.
Simon Rattle achieves a long-held ambition to conduct the first three great Stravinsky ballet scores written for Diaghilev's Ballets russes in a single evening. As he says: 'The LSO is a Stravinsky orchestra par excellence, ready to meet the challenge of performing these three great scores in the order in which the were written. I'm sure that we and the audience will learn a lot about Stravinsky in the process."
Llive from the Barbican Hall.

Stravinsky The Firebird (original ballet of 1910)

Stravinsky Petrushka (1910-11, rev. 1947)

Stravinsky The Rite of Spring (1913).


London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle

[pastoralguy]

I'm really looking forward to hearing this concert on the radio tonite. Although it's an exhausting play I think The LSO will rise to the challenge magnificently.

[ardcarp]

I wish I could be there!

[Petrushka]

I will be there in the hall for this. Should be a great evening!

[Petrushka]

Reminder: 7 o'clock start!!

[Darkbloom]

It will be interesting to hear how the LSO influences his interpretation. I have heard him do the Rite and the Firebird live and they were both fairly broad and felt like a showcase for the BPO rather than the music itself.

[pastoralguy]

Excellent so far. Only Petruska and Le Sacre to go...

[ardcarp]

Fantastic. Much as I like the Mussorgsky songs in he interval, I'd rather have had a talk. Did I hear somewhere that Emile Jacques Dalcroze (he of music and movement) had some influence on the choreography/conception of the three ballets? Anyway, arguably the greatest achievements of 20th century music. Discuss. Part 2 starting soon....

[DracoM]

Firebird was stunning, and revelatory.

[ardcarp]

Even though it stands up least well as a concert piece (IMVHO, of course) I just love the absence of 'linking material' in Petrushka. I always like to shut my eyes and imagine scenes. And if imagination fails, one can always view various different versions on Youtube. Were I a teacher trying to interest kids in Stravinsky, this...or bits of it...would surely be the easiest to sell.

Oh dear. More interval music.

[DracoM]

Yes, it overloads the palate. WHY on earth do they always do that?
Because it costs more to have a speaker than to pay royalties for a recording maybe?

[pastoralguy]

Fantastic concert!

[ardcarp]

[Petrushka]

Terrific concert in the hall though Firebird was torpedoed by some of the most disgraceful coughing I've ever heard in a concert. It was coming from immediately behind me and was ruinous. Not sure how much of this came across on the radio though all was well for the remainder of the evening. Empty seats behind explaining why.

[Barbirollians]

How was the Rite ? A performance by the CBSO and Rattle in Sheffield in 1987 I have never forgotten - their recording sadly did not come close .