| biography |
Igor
Stravinsky's early ballets were a defining point of musical modernism
and continue to exert their thrilling power
by Thomas May
From our perspective at the close of the 20th century, we have
a clearer view of the various revolutions in music that so dramatically
punctuate the modern era. These have included both frustrating
dead ends and exciting breakthroughs. And as for the latter, there
can be little doubt that Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) presented
the century with some of its most colossal examples. In fact,
the achievements of his long, richly creative career still maintain
their startling power and charge, and they continue to inspire
a host of composers at work today.
[read
more...] |
| recommended
recordings |
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Pierre
Boulez Edition - Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Petrouchka /
New York PO, Cleveland Orchestra |
Composer:
Igor
Stravinsky
Conductor: Pierre
Boulez
Ensemble: New
York Philharmonic Orchestra, Cleveland
Orchestra
Sony Classics - #64109 / January 24, 1995
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here for more information |
|
With the New York Philharmonic on its best behavior, Pierre
Boulez uncorks a reading of Petrushka that is vibrant,
energetic, and full-voiced, with razor-sharp rhythm and ensemble.
The solos, played by the likes of Julius Baker (flute) and
Paul Jacobs (piano), have never been more effectively done.
The recording, with the sizzling sonics typical of CBS's multitrack
heyday, offers an X-ray of the score; the remastering is excellent.
Pierre Boulez's interpretation of The Rite of Spring
is perhaps...Read
more
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Stravinsky:
The Rake's Progress / Gardiner, Bostridge, Terfel
|
Composer:
Igor
Stravinsky
Conductor: John
Eliot Gardiner
Performer: Ian
Bostridge, Peter
Bronder, et al.
Ensemble: London
Symphony Orchestra, Monteverdi
Choir
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #459648 / August 10, 1999
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here for more information |
|
This release makes one wonder if there is any music John
Eliot Gardiner can't conduct well. Here, for what is probably
the first time on CD, Gardiner goes for Stravinsky, and while
a nitpicker might point out that Rake is Stravinsky's
"Mozartean" opera, let's face it--it's real Stravinsky. Gardiner
manages the composer's angles and strange rhythms superbly,
and he concentrates on the lower instruments as well (the
engineers assist nicely throughout), leading a fleet, ironic
performance of this...Read
more
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Stravinsky:
L'histoire du Soldat / Stokowski, Milhaud, et al
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Composer:
Igor
Stravinsky
Conductor: Leopold
Stokowski
Performer: Jean
Pierre Aumont, Madeleine
Milhaud, et al.
Vanguard Classics - #92 / June 23, 1998
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here for more information
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For all his flamboyance and showmanship, Leopold Stokowski
was a serious visionary in many respects, not least for his
advocacy of new music and new recording technologies. This
disc is a case in point. Stokowski's 1967 performance of Stravinsky's
evergreen ballet/fable was the first American recording made
with the Dolby noise reduction system. It was issued on two
LPs: one with English narration, the other in French. Vanguard's
remastering of the English version sounds crisper than ever.
The...Read
more
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Stravinsky:
The Firebird; Scriabin: Prometheus / Gergiev |
Composer:
Igor
Stravinsky, Alexander
Scriabin
Conductor: Valery
Gergiev
Performer: Alexander
Toradze
Ensemble: Kirov
Theater Orchestra
Uni/Philips - #446715 / October 20, 1998
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here for more information |
|
For raw, pagan splendor and over-the-top excitement, it's
impossible to beat Gergiev's account of the complete 1910
Firebird. His Kirov charges attack the piece as if
the notes were still fresh on the page, yet play it with smashing
virtuosity-- clearly, the score's exorbitant demands pose
absolutely no challenge to these musicians. This is not an
unrefined reading of the piece, but it is not overly refined
either. It is, in short, a Russian Firebird rather than a
French one. The Philips...Read
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more recommended recordings
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| works
& recordings |
- A
Sermon, a Narrative and a Prayer
- Abraham
and Isaac
- Agon
- Apollo
- Apollo:
Pas de deux
- Apollon
musagète
- Ave
Maria
- Babel
- Ballad
for Violin and Piano
- Ballet(s):
Excerpt(s)
- Berceuse
- Berceuse
for Violin and Piano
- Blessed
Virgin
- Bluebird
Pas-de-deux
- Bridal
Songs (5)
- Canon
on a Russian Popular Tune
- Cantata
- Canticum
sacrum ad honorem Sancti Marci nominis
- Capriccio
for Piano and Orchestra
- Cat's
Cradle Songs (4)
- Chanson
russe for Cello and Piano
- Chanson
russe for Violin and Piano
- Chant
du rossignol
- Chant
du rossignol: Excerpt(s)
- Chants
du rossignol et Marche chinoise for Violin and Piano
- Chorale
Variations on "Von Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"
- Circus
Polka
- Concertino
for 12 instruments
- Concertino
for String Quartet
- Concerto
for 2 Pianos
- Concerto
for Piano and Winds
- Concerto
for String Orchestra in D major
- Concerto
for String Orchestra in D major: Arioso
- Concerto
for Violin in D major
- Concerto
for Violin in D major: 4th movement, Capriccio
- Concerto
in E flat major "Dumbarton Oaks"
- Credo
- Danses
concertantes
- Divertimento
for Violin and Piano
- Double
Canon for String Quartet
- Duet
for 2 Bassoons
- Duo
concertant for Violin and Piano
- Duo
concertant for Violin and Piano: 5th movement, Dithyrambe
- Easy
Pieces (3) for Piano 4 hands
- Easy
Pieces (3) for Piano 4 hands: no 1, March
- Easy
Pieces (3) for Piano 4 hands: no 2, Waltz
- Easy
Pieces (3) for Piano 4 hands: no 3, Polka
- Easy
Pieces (5) for Piano 4 hands
- Ebony
Concerto
- Elegy
for JFK
- Elégie
for Viola solo
- Epitaphium
- Etudes
(4) for Orchestra
- Etudes
(4) for Piano, Op. 7
- Etudes
(4) for Piano, Op. 7: no 1, Con moto
- Etudes
(4) for Piano, Op. 7: no 3, Andantino
- Etudes
(4) for Piano, Op. 7: no 4, Vivo
- Fanfare
for a New Theatre
- Faun
and shepherdess, Op. 2
- Firebird
- Firebird
Suite
- Firebird
Suite: Berceuse
- Firebird
Suite: Danse infernale
- Firebird
Suite: Excerpt(s)
- Firebird
Suite: Finale
- Firebird
Suite: Prélude et Ronde des princesses
- Firebird
Suite: Scherzo
- Firebird
Suite: The Palace of Katschei and His Enchantments
- Firebird:
Berceuse
- Firebird:
Danse infernale
- Firebird:
Death of Kashchei
- Firebird:
Excerpt(s)
- Firebird:
Final Hymn
- Firebird:
Introduction
- Firebird:
Kashchei awakes
- Firebird:
Part 1
- Firebird:
Part 2
- Firebird:
Rondo
- Firebird:
Suite
- Fireworks,
Op. 4
- Four
Norwegian Moods
- Four
Songs
- Greeting
Prelude
- In
memoriam Dylan Thomas
- Instrumental
Miniatures (8)
- Introitus
(requiem aeternam): TS Eliot in memorium
- Japanese
Lyrics (3)
- Japanese
Lyrics (3): no 1, Akahito
- Japanese
Lyrics (3): no 2, Mazatsumi
- Japanese
Lyrics (3): no 3, Tsaraiuki
- Jeu
de cartes
- Jeu
de cartes: Excerpt(s)
- L'histoire
du soldat
- L'histoire
du soldat: Devil's Dance
- L'histoire
du soldat: Excerpt(s)
- L'histoire
du soldat: Scene 1
- L'histoire
du soldat: Soldier at the Brook
- L'histoire
du soldat: Suite for Chamber Ensemble
- L'histoire
du soldat: Suite for Chamber Ensemble - The little concert
- L'histoire
du soldat: Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano
- L'histoire
du soldat: Tango
- L'histoire
du soldat: The Royal March
- L'histoire
du soldat: The Soldier's March
- L'histoire
du soldat: Three dances
- Le
baiser de la fée
- Le
baiser de la fée: Divertimento for Orchestra
- Le
baiser de la fée: Excerpt(s)
- Le
baiser de la fée: Pas de deux
- Le
roi des étoiles
- Le
rossignol
- Le
sacre du printemps
- Le
sacre du printemps: Acte rituel
- Le
sacre du printemps: Cortège du sage
- Le
sacre du printemps: Danse de la terre
- Le
sacre du printemps: Danse sacrale
- Le
sacre du printemps: Excerpt(s)
- Le
sacre du printemps: Glorification de l'élue
- Le
sacre du printemps: Jeu du rapt
- Le
sacre du printemps: L'Adoration de la terre
- Le
sacre du printemps: Les augures printaniers
- Le
sacre du printemps: Part 2
- Les
cinq doigts
- Les
cinq doigts: Excerpt(s)
- Les
noces
- Little
Songs (3) "Recollections of My Childhood": The Jackdaw
- Little
Songs (3) "Recollections of my childhood"
- Mass
- Mavra
- Mavra:
Oh, my dearest one "Parasha's Song"
- Monumentum
pro Gesualdo di Venosa ad CD annum
- Movements
for Piano and Orchestra
- Mélodies
(2), Op. 6
- Octet
for Wind Instruments
- Ode
- Oedipus
rex
- Orpheus
- Pastorale
for Soprano and Piano
- Pastorale
for Violin and Piano
- Pastorale
for Violin, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet and Bassoon
- Pater
noster
- Perséphone
- Petites
Chansons (3)
- Piano-rag-music
- Pieces
(3) for Clarinet solo
- Pieces
(3) for String Quartet
- Poems
(2) of Konstantin Bal'mont
- Poems
(2) of Konstantin Bal'mont: no 1, The flower
- Poems
(2) of Konstantin Bal'mont: no 2, The dove
- Pour
Pablo Picasso
- Poèmes
(2) de Paul Verlaine, Op. 9
- Poèmes
(2) de Paul Verlaine, Op. 9: no 1, Un grand sommeil..
- Poèmes
(2) de Paul Verlaine, Op. 9: no 2, La lune blanche
- Preludium
for Jazz Band
- Preludium
for Orchestra
- Pribaoutki
- Pulcinella
- Pulcinella
Suite
- Pulcinella
Suite: 1st movement, Sinfonia
- Pulcinella
Suite: 2nd movement, Serenata
- Pulcinella
Suite: 3rd movement, Scherzino
- Pulcinella
Suite: 4th movement, Tarantella
- Pulcinella
Suite: 6th movement, Gavotta con due variazioni
- Pulcinella
Suite: 7th movement, Vivo
- Pulcinella
Suite: 8th movement, Minuetto e Finale
- Pulcinella
Suite: Allegro
- Pulcinella:
Excerpt(s)
- Pulcinella:
Se tu m'ami
- Pétrouchka
- Pétrouchka:
Chez Pétrouchka
- Pétrouchka:
Chez la Maure
- Pétrouchka:
Dance of the Ballerina
- Pétrouchka:
Danse russe
- Pétrouchka:
Excerpt(s)
- Pétrouchka:
Fête populaire de la semaine grasse
- Pétrouchka:
Suite
- Pétrouchka:
Three movements for Piano
- Pétrouchka:
Three movements for Piano - Danse russe
- Pétrouchka:
Waltz
- Rag-time
for 11 instruments
- Rag-time
for Piano
- Rake's
Progress
- Rake's
Progress: No Word from Tom
- Rake's
Progress: Quietly, night
- Renard
- Requiem
Canticles
- Russian
Peasant Songs (4)
- Russian
Songs (4)
- Russian
Songs (4): no 1, The drake
- Scherzo
fantastique, Op. 3
- Scherzo
for Piano
- Scherzo
à la russe
- Scènes
de ballet
- Septet
- Serenade
for Piano in A major
- Sonata
for 2 Pianos
- Sonata
for Piano
- Sonata
for Piano in F sharp minor
- Song
of the Volga Boatman
- Souvenir
d'une marche boche
- Storm
Cloud
- Study
for Pianola
- Suite
italienne for Cello and Piano
- Suite
italienne for Violin and Piano
- Suite
italienne for Violin and Piano: 1st movement, Introduction
- Suite
italienne for Violin and Piano: 2nd movement, Serenata
- Suite
italienne for Violin and Piano: 4th movement, Gavotta con due
Variationi
- Suite
italienne for Violin and Piano: 6th movement, Minuetto e Finale
- Suite
no 1 for small Orchestra
- Suite
no 2 for small Orchestra
- Symbol
of Faith
- Symphonies
of Wind Instruments
- Symphony
in C
- Symphony
in C major: 1st movement, Moderato alla breve
- Symphony
in Three Movements
- Symphony
no 1 in E flat major, Op. 1
- Symphony
of Psalms
- Tango
- The
Flood
- The
Owl and the Pussycat
- The
Star-spangled Banner
- The
dove descending breaks the air
- Three
Songs from William Shakespeare
- Threni
- id est Lamentationes Jeremiae prophetae
- Tres
sacrae cantiones
- Trois
histoires pour enfants
- Trois
histoires pour enfants: no 1, Tilim-bom
- Valse
pour les enfants
- Variations
for Orchestra "Aldous Huxley in memoriam"
- Etudes
(4) for Pno, Op 7: Excerpt(s)
- Pétrouchka:
Scene 4
- Agon:
Bransle Gay
- Agon:
Bransle Simple
- Agon:
Bransle de Poitou
- Agon:
Interlude I
- Agon:
Interlude II
- Capriccio
for Piano and Orchestra: Allegro capriccioso
- Chorale
- Concerto
for Violin in D major: 1st movement, Toccata
- Etudes
(4) for Piano, Op. 7: Excerpt(s)
- Etudes
(4) for Piano, Op. 7: no 2, Allegro brillante
- Mass:
Sanctus
- Ode:
Epitaph
- Rake's
Progress: No word from Tom
- Suite
no 2 for small Orch: Waltz
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
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