Igor Stravinsky
The works that make up the essential Stravinsky collection are 'The Rite of Spring', 'Petrouska' and 'Firebird'. Stravinsky made concert suites of his music and also updated a lot of his works in 1946-47 due to some copyright issues, so there are several versions of the various works and things can get confusing to say the least. Since most of the recordings below contain two or more of these works they are summarized at the end.
As a sidenote, Sony has a Masterworks podcast that it produces on and off, and they had a fascinating series on some of the Stravinsky recording sessions from 1961. You can access the podcast thru iTunes, and you are looking for the episodes from 2007 with Stravinsky in the title, or go to Sony Masterworks Podcast to visit the website and listen.
The Firebird
The ballet music for Firebird comes in the following versions: 1910 Original Ballet, 1911 Concert Suite, 1919 Concert Suite and the 1945 Concert Suite. To make things simple, the 1919 Suite is the most popular and contains selections from Firebird. The 1945 Suite has all the music from the 1911 and 1919 Suites and contains almost all of the music from the 1910 version but without the interludes. The 1945 is the one Stravinsky himself recorded in the 1960's. The 1910 and 1945 are interchangeable since they have about the same music, and the 1919 is a great selection of the best parts.
The Bernstein has the 1919 Suite with 'Rite' while Rattle conducts the 1910 Original in his 2CD bargain set. Gergiev and the St. Petersburg Kirov Orchestra however gets the nod for the best all out recording of the 1910 Original and comes with a great work by Scriabin.
Stravinsky recorded a lot of his works in the 1960's for CBS and Stravinsky Conducts: Firebird features the 1945 Suite along with other works. There is also a 22CD set of everything Stravinsky conducted for Columbia, and is in a bargain box set available used. Do note the reviews about the documentation in the set being skimpy, but still a great value.
Rite of Spring [Le Sacre du Printemps] / Petrushka
Once again there is more than one version of Petrushka, and many of the recordings are paired with 'The Rite of Spring'. The main difference is in the orchestration, the 1947 version is for a smaller ensemble.
The 1911 original version by Monteux, who conducted the premiere of the work in 1911, is an RCA recording classic from 1959 and the sound quality is remarkable for its age. There are two releases of the same recording, with 'The Rite of Spring' [a 1951 mono recording], or on the RCA Living Stereo release with Franck's 'Symphony in D' [THE recording to get of Franck's work], so choose your coupling.
Boulez with the Cleveland Orch. has two recordings of 'Petrushka' and 'Rite', one from 1969 on Sony and his digital remake from 1992 on DG. While the DG recording has the upper hand with superior sonics, for the best performance, the CBS era recording is really the way to go, and comes with the best version of 'The Rite of Spring' too.
If you prefer to get the 1947 Version of Petrushka, you have a choice between Stravinsky's recording, or the excellent one by Bernstein with 'Pulcinella'.
Ozawa with the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras has a excellent recording of 'Rite' and 'Petrushka [1947] ' on the BMG High Performance label.
As a sidenote, Sony has a Masterworks podcast that it produces on and off, and they had a fascinating series on some of the Stravinsky recording sessions from 1961. You can access the podcast thru iTunes, and you are looking for the episodes from 2007 with Stravinsky in the title, or go to Sony Masterworks Podcast to visit the website and listen.
The Firebird
The ballet music for Firebird comes in the following versions: 1910 Original Ballet, 1911 Concert Suite, 1919 Concert Suite and the 1945 Concert Suite. To make things simple, the 1919 Suite is the most popular and contains selections from Firebird. The 1945 Suite has all the music from the 1911 and 1919 Suites and contains almost all of the music from the 1910 version but without the interludes. The 1945 is the one Stravinsky himself recorded in the 1960's. The 1910 and 1945 are interchangeable since they have about the same music, and the 1919 is a great selection of the best parts.
The Bernstein has the 1919 Suite with 'Rite' while Rattle conducts the 1910 Original in his 2CD bargain set. Gergiev and the St. Petersburg Kirov Orchestra however gets the nod for the best all out recording of the 1910 Original and comes with a great work by Scriabin.
Stravinsky recorded a lot of his works in the 1960's for CBS and Stravinsky Conducts: Firebird features the 1945 Suite along with other works. There is also a 22CD set of everything Stravinsky conducted for Columbia, and is in a bargain box set available used. Do note the reviews about the documentation in the set being skimpy, but still a great value.
Rite of Spring [Le Sacre du Printemps] / Petrushka
Once again there is more than one version of Petrushka, and many of the recordings are paired with 'The Rite of Spring'. The main difference is in the orchestration, the 1947 version is for a smaller ensemble.
The 1911 original version by Monteux, who conducted the premiere of the work in 1911, is an RCA recording classic from 1959 and the sound quality is remarkable for its age. There are two releases of the same recording, with 'The Rite of Spring' [a 1951 mono recording], or on the RCA Living Stereo release with Franck's 'Symphony in D' [THE recording to get of Franck's work], so choose your coupling.
Boulez with the Cleveland Orch. has two recordings of 'Petrushka' and 'Rite', one from 1969 on Sony and his digital remake from 1992 on DG. While the DG recording has the upper hand with superior sonics, for the best performance, the CBS era recording is really the way to go, and comes with the best version of 'The Rite of Spring' too.
If you prefer to get the 1947 Version of Petrushka, you have a choice between Stravinsky's recording, or the excellent one by Bernstein with 'Pulcinella'.
Ozawa with the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras has a excellent recording of 'Rite' and 'Petrushka [1947] ' on the BMG High Performance label.
Russian Modern Composer
1882-1971
Famous Works: Rite of Spring & Firebird
Biography Links:
Wikipedia
Stravinsky Conducts: Firebird 1945 - MP3 Album
Stravinsky Conducts: Rite of Spring and Petrushka 1947
Works of Igor Stravinsky Box Set
Simon Rattle: 2 CD Set, Petrushka 1910, Rite of Spring, Firebird 1947
This set is a bargain MP3 Album for $9.49
Boulez: Rite of Spring / Petrushka 1911 - Sony - MP3 Album
Boulez: Rite of Spring / Petrushka 1947 - DG - MP3 Album
Monteux: Petrushka 1911 and Franck: Symphony in D
Monteux: Petrushka 1911 and Rite of Spring [Mono recording]
Ozawa: Rite of Spring and Petrushka 1947 - MP3 Album
