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| Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring / Alexander Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra |
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List Price: $16.98
Our Price: $16.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Philips
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0028946803523
Label: Philips
Manufacturer: Philips
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Philips
Release Date: 2001-10-09
Studio: Philips
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Editorial Reviews:
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Gergiev's is a Rite of Spring with a difference. He stresses the primitive barbarism of Stravinsky's groundbreaking score--the strange wheezings of the winds, the wild yawps of the tubas, and the deep rumblings of the bass drum. It's a Rite that stands out at a time when so many internationalized western orchestras give the piece an overlay of sophisticated polish that can rob it of the shock factor that drove the audience at the Paris premiere to riot. There are also numerous personal touches that can be controversial, such as the pause before the final chord, which may bother some but which work in the context of the interpretation. Gergiev's Rite faces strong competition from recorded versions by Markevitch, Dorati, Monteux, and Stravinsky himself, but it's definitely among the top choices. The Scriabin's less compelling, though still fascinating. Gergiev's approach tends to sound sectional, as the overall line is subordinated to momentary thrills. --Dan Davis
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| Spotlight customer reviews: |
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Huh?
Comment: I agree with R.V. There is no reason to allow sloppy playing in a professional orchestra recording. You do it over until you get it right. No excuse. I have always had a soft spot for the Russian orchestras, but let's face it, they are not on the A-list equal to Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, etc. Also, for a modern day digital recording the mixing should be first rate and almost perfect.
There are just too many mistakes made in creating this recording to make it stand up with the others out there. Chicago/Ozawa, now that's a nice recording. Boulez/Cleveland, awesome. I don't like listening to my favorite pieces and hearing orchestra clams. They should be caught by a conductor who is paying attention even if the mood is wonderful, mistakes should not be recorded. People who know the score may be listening.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sloppy
Comment: I can't believe the rave reviews for this "Rite." In just auditioning the 30 second tracks I heard more errors, goofs, and a Tam-Tam in "Dance To The Earth that's everywhere but where it SHOULD be than I have ever heard before. I'll take Dorati on Mercury, Boulez/Cleveland on CBS, or Tillson-Thomas/SFO any day, no contest. As to Scriabin, the champ is still the out-of-print Abbaddo/BSO on DGG. Find it if you can and pay the price... it's WELL worth it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A major boo boo in the Scriabin
Comment: I have been visiting the review page for this CD for some time waiting to see if someone noticed the same mistake I did. Gowdie's review has got it right. The error immediately ruined the experience of the entire Poem Of Ecstacy for me. The lilting strings (E to D#)which cry amongst the harp is to me one of those magic moments in all of classical music. What an awesome following to the build up and it also sets up the big finale.
Sorry, the Stavinsky may be great but, a mistake such as this warrants a three star deduction.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Pinnacle
Comment: This is it -- if you are looking for a "perfect" 'The Rite of Spring', you owe it to yourself to buy this cd -- especially if you have a reference audio system. It will blow your socks off.
Deserves a "10" star rating.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A wild ride, and a sonic spectacular
Comment: Gergiev clearly aims to bring back the visceral impact of Le Sacre, and he is aided by extremely clear, detailed sonics that pull us directly into the texture of the orchestration. Sheerly in terms of the noises coming out of one's loudspeakers, this performance rivets the listener's attention. The impact of the bass drum, tam tam, and tuba, for example, is unprecedented. Gergiev has other cards up his sleeve. He re-invents Stravinsky's cross-rhtyhms, ever so slightly throwing off one's expectations. Sometimes this happens through minute pauses and underlinings, sometimes by raising and lowering the temperature unexpectedly. The softer passages sound nuanced and sophisticated, the barbaric ones deafeningly loud and assaultive.
The overall effect is intriguing, so I must agree with every reviewer who praises Gergiev for finding his own way. At the same time, however, there's an air of too much study, of mannered phrasing for its own sake. Every listener will have to decide for themselves, but personally, this sonic spectacular doesn't propel me forward the way Bernstein and Markevitch do in their classic recordings.
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