Your favourite Rite of Spring

[MrGongGong]

The Muti recording is very good, no doubt about it- but I'm really looking forward to the forthcoming CD from Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra- sounds like the perfect combination for The Rite.

come on mr P surely you realise it's not really "MUSIC" is it ?
all that dissonance must be far too upsetting

[Petrushka]

The Muti recording is very good, no doubt about it- but I'm really looking forward to the forthcoming CD from Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra- sounds like the perfect combination for The Rite.

They did this at the Proms a few years ago. Will look out for the recording as I agree with Mr Pee.

[Chris Newman]

I have already expressed my preference for Igor Markevitch with the Philharmonia as my greatest recording. In the concert hall I have been much impressed by Pierre Boulez, Colin Davis, Andre Previn, Michael Tilson Thomas and Igor Stravinsky himself at Croydon (though he took a low key approach concentrating on beauty and detail rather like on his CBS version). However, the greatest and most electric live performance of my experience was the LSO under Raphael Fruhbeck de Burgos at a Prom which he took over at short notice and conducted without a score. Not long after he and the orchestra recorded it with Petrushka. I never bought it as it escaped under my radar but I see it has just come out on the budget Alto label: is it anywhere as good as that Prom in the late 60s/early 70s?

[MrGongGong]

my favourite was the Mariinsky with the almost motionless Gergiev at the Southbank a few years ago
what struck me was the completely different balance between the strings and the wind
the clarity and differentiation between things like the Wagner Tuba and horn parts
so that the colours seemed much more vivid, also the tempi were quite different to what we have become accustomed to
the bassoon at the start sounded precarious rather than like a grade 5 study which so often happens these days
and there was a real brutality to the string playing

i'm off to see the ROH version at the weekend
will be interesting to see how that sounds

[Stanfordian]

I have many versions of The Rite of String and I strongly favour the wonderful version played by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle. It can be found in its entirety on the soundtrack to the 2009 Jan Kounen film 'Coco & Igor' (Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky). It was recorded live at the Philharmonie, Berlin in 2003 on the CD NAÏVE V 5223. I have been searching for the 'best' version for years and I believe Rattle's live performance (part of which is used in Kounen’s really enjoyable film) has proved to be the most satisfying. Excitement guaranteed and beautifully played and recorded. It has raw visceral quality and times an savage beauty.

[BBMmk2]

Sounds like I will have to change my cds! (or add!)

[ostuni]

I listened to 2 recordings on Spotify this afternoon. The first, Muti, as recommended by Prokkyshosty in #8 above: yes, wonderfully vivid, often over-the-top recording, and forceful performance. I love those really slow, before-the-beat timp grace notes in Rondes Printanières. The second, Gergiev, after reading the reviews quoted on Prestoclassical. Intriguing: also very forceful, in a rather more wilful way. Not the only one to own, but certainly a must-hear if you know and love the piece. A unique way with the final 2 chords! Anyway, the river people had secondhand copies going cheap, so that's more room to find on the shelves...

[Petrushka]

Has anyone else got the James Levine recording with the Met Orchestra? I know I like to hear the percussion in the Rite but the bass drum here will punch holes in your walls. Definitely a bit over the top but good to hear once in a while.

I've got the Muti on LP but for some reason never on CD. I remember it well and will rectify the omission.

[Alf-Prufrock]

I found I had the Muti version but had never heard it because I had bought the CD for the coupling, suites from Firebird and Petrushka conducted by Stokowski. I gave the Muti a spin and it is all that people here say it is - incredibly exciting and vivid with prominent percussion making it more savage than I'd heard it before, despite the virtuoso playing of the Philadelphia. Thanks for making me explore my own collection!

[prokkyshosty]

with prominent percussion making it more savage than I'd heard it before, despite the virtuoso playing of the Philadelphia.

Well spotted Alf, as the recording displays few of the qualities one typically associates with the "Philadelphia Sound". Which got me thinking... why isn't there a Chicago SO/Solti version out there that's on the tips of everyone's tongues? Seems like it would be a perfect match of conductor and repetoire? Does anyone have this particular CD?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stravinsky-Sacre-du-Printemps-Igor/dp/B0000DBJC9

At £25, with nothing else on it but the 35 minutes of Rite, that recording better pack a wallop!

[Petrushka]

Well spotted Alf, as the recording displays few of the qualities one typically associates with the "Philadelphia Sound". Which got me thinking... why isn't there a Chicago SO/Solti version out there that's on the tips of everyone's tongues? Seems like it would be a perfect match of conductor and repetoire? Does anyone have this particular CD?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stravinsky-Sacre-du-Printemps-Igor/dp/B0000DBJC9

At £25, with nothing else on it but the 35 minutes of Rite, that recording better pack a wallop!

The Chicago/Solti Rite of Spring was my introduction to the work back in 1975 and I played the LP to death. It has some close miking and doesn't nowadays pack as much of a punch as it did 36 years ago. Still good though. By the way, no need to pay £25 if you want this, it's somewhat cheaper further down the page.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravel-Stravinsky-Printemps-Debussy-Prelude/dp/B00000E3BA/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1306509019&sr=1-6

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Maazel's VPO version is surprisingly good, when one considers that the orchestra is not normally associated with this music (and may well have learnt it for this recording). Apart from a rather limp ending, this is a particularly vibrant performance.

[Barbirollians]

After all those rave reviews of the Muti and it being only £4.20 on the EMI Encore label I shall investigate it .

[Threni]

Well my favourite piece of course!

I own 26 recordings of it! (At the last count!) not uncluding recordings off radio 3. There must be about 10 of those!


My favourite CD of the Rite is probably Gergiev's theatrical style Rite. Obviously not as Stravinsky intended but it's very exciting.

Probably in second place is Salonen's with the LAPhil. I think this the "real" Rite as it doesn't have any Gergiev pyrotechnics!

However... my favourite overall has to be the Radio 3 airing of Salonen's concert with the Philharmonia a few months ago. That was outstanding and the best I've ever heard. I have three recordings of Salonen conducting it on CD but his live Rite was amazing. I have booked to see him at the EIF to see if it moves me the same as on the radio :-)

[rubbernecker]

I'm excited. Tonight, for the first time in my life I'm actually going to see it.

I also have about 20 recordings. I suppose my faves are Markevitch (mono), Solti and Dorati (both Decca stereo)