Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Stokowski: Bach Transcriptions cover

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Stokowski: Bach Transcriptions

Released

Montreal-born conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin consistently conducts with illuminating authority.  His reading of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring complements his penchant for aggressive, vivid, and precise sonority; the performance is equal parts ferocity and panache. The Rite is here paired with the deluxe Bach orchestral transcriptions by Leopold Stokowski, the most famous of which — the “Toccata and Fugue in D minor” — most will recognize from its appearance in Fantasia.  While the transcriptions sound as though they were originally designed to titillate the Gilded-Age heirs and heiresses in the 1920’s Philadelphia crowd, they are retro-fabulous in the best way possible. Historical-performance enthusiasts will either look on in horror or give in to the mayhem.

Sean Wood

Suggestions
Stravinsky: Concertos cover

Stravinsky: Concertos

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Yan Pascal Tortelier
Britten & Shostakovich cover

Britten & Shostakovich

James Ehnes, Kirill Karabits
Stravinsky: The Firebird; The Rite of Spring cover

Stravinsky: The Firebird; The Rite of Spring

Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Tugan Sokhiev
Brahms, Stravinsky: Violin Concertos cover

Brahms, Stravinsky: Violin Concertos

Hilary Hahn, Neville Marriner
Mendelssohn: Ein Sommernachtstraum; Sinfonie Nr. 3 “Schottische” cover

Mendelssohn: Ein Sommernachtstraum; Sinfonie Nr. 3 “Schottische”

Ola Rudner, Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D minor cover

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D minor

Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 cover

Bruckner: Symphony No. 6

Bernard Haitink, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 cover

Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon Rattle
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3, 6 & 7 cover

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3, 6 & 7

Osmo Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra