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Would not want to be without this recording
Monteux's interpretation is not as driving, not as "barbaric" as the Ansermet/OSR interpretation, but how can one not be without the modern recording by the conductor of the original 1913 performance? This is another excellent recording from Roy Wallace and the Decca team in a nice transfer by HDTT, giving us a warmer, richer sounding recording hall with bloomier bass than Geneva. There is a bit of tape overload on climaxes, but this does not distract from the overall excellence of the performance and the recording.
Outstanding & Recommended!
Amongst the very best interpretation & absolutely stunning in DSD format! Strongly recommended!
Actually shocking
This was the first Rite I ever heard, around 1960. Even in mono (we hadn’t switched to stereo as yet) I thought it was deliciously thrilling. And this Monteux version really wasn’t supplanted by the roughly contemporaneous Bernstein NYPO recording. The previous HDTT release of this music was great, but THIS release is an entirely new and ear-opening experience. The high end is now crystal clear and overall the transient response seems much faster, making the sound picture much more involving. I can now hear (occasionally) a musician move in his/her chair, and in places sound reflected from the room’s walls is evident. I suppose what is really amazing is how much information actually resides in the original tapes—from nearly 60 years ago. There is some overloading apparent when some of the full climaxes are reached, but this in no way detracts from the visceral impact of this performance. In the past some reviewers have described the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra’s performance as a bit ragged, but I don’t hear that. This is a marvelously conceived performance fully observant of the score’s dynamics. This release is a VERY pleasant surprise, as were the recent Ansermet Scheherazade and Ormandy Shostakovich Cello Concerto 1 releases.
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring and The Firebird Suite - Pierre Monteux Conducts The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
great recording and performance of these Stravinsky classics.
Stravinski Monteux
Monteux conducted the opening of the Rite in 1913. Its almost like being there.
Description:
Title: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring and The Firebird Suite
Artist(s): Pierre Monteux & The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Recording Info: Transferred from a 2-track Tape
Recorded 1957 by Decca in Paris released by RCA
Engineer: Roy Wallace
Producer: John Culshaw
The Rite Of Spring
1 First Part - The Fertility Of The Earth 15:40
2 Second Part - The Sacrifice 17:15
The Firebird Suite (Version 1919)
3 Introduction 3:20
4 Danse De L'Oiseau 1:30
5 Danses Des Princesses 3:55
6 Danse Infernale Du Roi Kastchei 4:15
7 Berceuse 4:50
8 Finale 1:57
Previous titles re-mastered in higher resolution for better sound quality
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