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
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 cover

Mahler: Symphony No. 5

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
The Tchaikovsky Project: Pathétique, Romeo & Juliet cover

The Tchaikovsky Project: Pathétique, Romeo & Juliet

Semyon Bychkov, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 cover

Mahler: Symphony No. 7

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons
Schubert: The “Great” C major Symphony cover

Schubert: The “Great” C major Symphony

Orchestra Mozart, Claudio Abbado
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde; 3 Rückert Lieder cover

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde; 3 Rückert Lieder

Julius Patzak, Kathleen Ferrier, Wiener Philharmoniker, Bruno Walter
Elgar: Symphony No. 1; Cockaigne (In London Town) cover

Elgar: Symphony No. 1; Cockaigne (In London Town)

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo
Bruckner, A.: Symphony No. 7 cover

Bruckner, A.: Symphony No. 7

Bernard Haitink, Chicago Symphony Orchestra