Stravinsky (1882-1971) - Le Sacre Du Printemp(2 Versions): Zinman / Zurich Tonhalle O - Import 2 CD

Credits:

Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Description:

So different! On May 29, 1913, "The Rite of Spring," a monstrosity of 20th century orchestral music, thrilled the Paris audience. One hundred years after its premiere, its original form is vividly revived. The latest recording by Zinman + Zurich Tonhalle is a live concert held last June to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first performance of "The Rite of Spring. Although "The Rite of Spring" has been revised many times, the centerpiece of this album is the world premiere recording of the first draft from 1913, the first form in which the composer conceived the work. Using an autograph score from the collection of the Paul Sacher Foundation in Zurich, the album recreates the work in its original form before it was first performed. As Zinman said, "The first draft is softer and more impressionistic," and the orchestration of the details are different, showing Stravinsky's intention to make revisions in the course of repeated performances.The Zinman disc differs from the much-talked-about Roth-conducted Le Siechl reproduction released this year in that the form of the work as envisioned by the composer prior to its premiere is performed in its entirety, including what appears to be a notational error. In the same concert, the final form of the work, the 1967 manuscript, is performed after intermission, along with a 35-minute pre-concert lecture by Zinman, all of which are included on the 2-CD set. Zinman's mentor, Montoux, was the premiere conductor of the work, and Zinman assisted him in conducting the rehearsals for the 50th anniversary concert in 1963. Therefore, this 100th anniversary concert was a deeply moving experience for Zinman, and his matured stick was brilliantly played. The pre-concert lecture includes a narrative by Zinman (in English) and the host (in German), as well as a partial demonstration performance of the work.In addition to the differences between the first and final drafts and a demonstration performance by the bassoonists of the Orchestre National de France and the Tonhalle comparing the tone of the bassoon and the bassoon, the most notable features of the recording are: the manuscript in which Stravinsky added a 5-bar coda to the introduction of the second part when Anselme performed it alone with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich in 1922 (world premiere recording, in the collection of the Geneva Conservatory); the manuscript in which Stravinsky wrote the famous bassoon melody at the beginning of the Rite of Spring. The world premiere recording of the Geneva Conservatory's recording of Stravinsky's five-bar coda, and Zinman's orchestral arrangement of Juszkiewicz's "Wedding Song," the basis for the famous bassoon melody at the beginning of "The Rite of Spring," are also included. There are numerous differences between the original manuscript and the current version in terms of orchestration, bar divisions, and performance instructions. For example, the famous bassoon solo at the beginning of the piece is left to the performer's interpretation in the original version, without any deinamics instructions. The famous "Signs of Spring" also lacks the intimidating flavor of the current version, as there are no instructions for bowing down.There are also some important changes involving the musical content. In exercise number 28, 18 bars of music were removed in later revisions. Even the rhythmically complex 'Sacrificial Dance' shows a great many differences." (David Zinman) Sony Music