Our Summer BAL 74: Stravinsky Les noces

[Pianoman]

It's always tended to be the Bernstein for me, as much because of the equally excellent performance of the Mass with which it is coupled. I do have a soft for the Pokrovsky 'experiment' with the midi electric pianos - it obviously makes for phenomenal accuracy (which IS might have approved of...) but they do sound a bit gimmicky in places, especially tonally. But the singing is wonderful; Pokrovsky really did his homework on the folk style, which is genuinely raw and exciting. The nearest thing in a 'normal' recording for me is the Currentzis, a standout performance coupled with his bizarre Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (Pat Kop) - worth downloading his Les Noces cheaply and forgetting the Tchaik...(imo)

[Pulcinella]

I've just listened to Eötvös's version of the 1917 score. Interestingly there's material in the orchestral part that doesn't appear in the final version, and it's brilliantly orchestrated for sure - if this had been the final version it would still be regarded as a masterpiece I think (and there would be more characterfully played recordings than this one), although it's obviously not as radical as the 1923 version and builds more obviously on its predecessors in Stravinsky's output, the Symphonies of Wind Instruments in particular. Well worth hearing though. Now: Ančerl. For my liking the instruments are too recessed compared to the voices (I believe they were actually on stage in the first choreographed version). It's a beautiful and colourful performance but I don't think it's going to dislodge Bernstein as my first choice.

You've lost me a bit here, Richard.

The Symphonies is a 1920 composition, so I'm not sure what you mean.

[Richard Barrett]

You've lost me a bit here, Richard.

The Symphonies is a 1920 composition, so I'm not sure what you mean.

I mean I'd forgotten that SoWI was later than Les Noces. So I guess the similarities are more likely due to Stravinsky not wanting to let go of some of the sonorities of the earlier version of Les Noces that he's set aside in the final version... OK off to the study with my revolver now, it's been nice knowing you all.

[Richard Barrett]

I'm back, not having remembered to stock up on bullets. Having listened to that 1917 version again, what I should have said is that it's striking how many of the orchestral textures are reminiscent of the Symphonies and no doubt fed into that work (rather than the other way around), but that it still sounds more or less like an orchestra most of the time, which the final version doesn't. Nevertheless, as someone who finds the Symphonies disappointingly short, I've been enjoying the sound of this piece very much.

[Pulcinella]

I'm back, not having remembered to stock up on bullets. Having listened to that 1917 version again, what I should have said is that it's striking how many of the orchestral textures are reminiscent of the Symphonies and no doubt fed into that work (rather than the other way around), but that it still sounds more or less like an orchestra most of the time, which the final version doesn't. Nevertheless, as someone who finds the Symphonies disappointingly short, I've been enjoying the sound of this piece very much.

That's good news!

During the 'Tchaikovsky Experience' (shared with Stravinsky) Radio 3 broadcast the Belgian(?) Radio recording of the first 2 tableaux of Les Noces in the 1919 version with pianola (Rex Lawson), cimbaloms, harmonium and percussion). Unfortunately, I was only able to capture it in the 192kbps mp2 from DAB. I don't think it has made it to YouTube. Rather better than the Craft offering with a standard piano substituting for the pianola.

I need to listen to both the 1917 and the 1919 versions (CD54 in the big Stravinsky Sony box). The CD cover certainly mentions pianola in the 1919 version, both on the front and on the back (notes written by Craft), though no player is credited. I think that the piano features in the 1917 version, if my reading of the orchestration/editorial changes is correct.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm back, not having remembered to stock up on bullets. Having listened to that 1917 version again, what I should have said is that it's striking how many of the orchestral textures are reminiscent of the Symphonies and no doubt fed into that work (rather than the other way around), but that it still sounds more or less like an orchestra most of the time, which the final version doesn't. Nevertheless, as someone who finds the Symphonies disappointingly short, I've been enjoying the sound of this piece very much.

Fscinating, as I hadn't realised that any of the pre-multiple pianos versions had survived. That said, without the "final" (whatever I mean by that) version we wouldn't have had Bartok's wonderful Sonata for two Pianos and Percussion, (albeit along with Debussy's En blanc et noir selectively among its ideas), nor possibly the Piano Sonata, Out of Doors, or the first and second piano concertos.

[Bryn]

That's good news!



I need to listen to both the 1917 and the 1919 versions (CD54 in the big Stravinsky Sony box). The CD cover certainly mentions pianola in the 1919 version, both on the front and on the back (notes written by Craft), though no player is credited. I think that the piano features in the 1917 version if my reading of the orchestration/editorial changes is correct.

I got the Craft recordings of the early versions of Les Noces back in the 1970s. I was surprised and delighted to come across the LP in a tiny record shop, now long gone, on Clock House Bridge between Penge and Beckenham. I have just come across the following YouTube offering. The introductory items fo Stravinsky, the composer Nicky Nabokov and then with Boulez.

Stick with it after the abrupt end. An alternative upload of the same performance follows.

Turns out there is an SACD of the Bosc performance(s?). I have just ordered a "Used - Like New" copy from Switzerland.

[Pulcinella]

I got the Craft recordings of the early versions of Les Noces back in the 1970s. I was surprised and delighted to come across the LP in a tiny record shop, now long gone, on Clock House Bridge between Penge and Beckenham. I have just come across the following YouTube offering. The introductory items fo Stravinsky, the composer Nicky Nabokov and then with Boulez.

Stick with it after the abrupt end. An alternative upload of the same performance follows.

Wonderful: many thanks.
The visual imagery is very clever indeed (how did they manage to get Stravinsky conducting in time superimposed?), and the version without singers, where we are facing the conductor, is an object lesson to any budding (and some existing) conductors in how to give a clear beat.
I can't find the rhythmic 'mistake' (11 beats or 8) in the printed score that Boulez tries to convince Stravinsky about; nor was it clear to me if Stravinsky admits/accepts it.
Utterly compelling viewing (for this committed fan, anyway!).

[Bryn]

Just to make things even more complicated, Craft also recorded the final version with members of the Gregg Smith Singers, et al for Music Masters Classics (1992). https://www.amazon.co.uk/Igor-Stravi...s=music&sr=1-1

[Pulcinella]

Just to make things even more complicated, Craft also recorded the final version with members of the Gregg Smith Singers, et al for Music Masters Classics (1992). https://www.amazon.co.uk/Igor-Stravi...s=music&sr=1-1

Aargh!
I thought that in general Craft's Music Masters recordings were the ones that ended up on Naxos, but in this case it's the Koch (2002) one that Naxos have reissued:

https://www.amazon.com/Stravinsky-Vol-VI-Symphony-Lamentations/dp/B00005YDJC

[Bryn]

I've just spent a while backing up some 16GB of DAB mp2s of the Radio 3 Tchaikovsky Experience from 4 DVD-Rs to both hard disk and USB stick. If anyone would like to hear the Flanders Festival in 2000 performance of the 1919 version of the first 2 tableaux with Rex Lawson playing the pianola part and James Wood conducting, PM me, and I will post a link.

[Richard Barrett]

So does anyone who knows the Bernstein recording have one they prefer?

[Pianoman]

Post 16 gives my views, though I think it’s as much down to the vocal contributions that I marginally prefer Currentzis

[Bryn]

Post 16 gives my views, though I think it’s as much down to the vocal contributions that I marginally prefer Currentzis

I would go along with that, except I also very much admire the performance of the Tchaikovsky, fresh and vital.

[Pianoman]

I know what you mean - hated it at first but I have to say I kept going back to it more than any other, which must say something...