Igor Stravinsky: The Composer, Volume VIII

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The eighth volume of the Musicmasters portrait of the 20th century's most celebrated musician is entitled New Directions, but most of the works on this recording--Capriccio, a brief piano concerto; the Cantata of 1952; and the Septet, written a year later--represent, alas, Stravinsky's exuberant neo-classicism. As usual, Robert Craft conducts with intelligence and elegance. More interesting musically are the Three Songs from William Shakespeare and In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas. The last of many styles Stravinsky appropriated in his long career was serialism, and the results, as one would expect, are entirely personal, entirely enchanting. --Joshua Cody

Tracks:

Capriccio: Allegro - Mark Wait
Capriccio: Andante Rapsodico - Mark Wait
Capriccio: Allegro Capriccioso - Mark Wait
Cantana: A Lyke-Wake Dirge: Versus I: Prld
Cantana: Ricercar I - Mary Ann Hart
Cantana: A Lyke-Wake Dirge: Versus II: 1st Interlude
Cantana: Ricercar II - Thomas Bogdan
Cantana: A Lyke-Wake Dirge: Versus III: 2nd Interlude
Cantana: Westron Wind - Mary Ann Hart/Thomas Bogdan
Cantana: A Lyke-Wake Dirge: Versus IV: Postlude - The Gregg Smith Singers
Septet: I. Allegro
Septet: II. Passacaglia
Septet: III. Gigue
Three Songs From William Shakespeare: Music To Hear (Sonnet VIII)
Three Songs From William Shakespeare: Full Fathom Five
Three Songs From William Shakespeare: When Daisies Pied - Catherine Ciesinski
In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas: Dirge-Canons: Prld
In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas: Do Not Go Gentle
In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas: Dirge-Canons: Postlude - Jon Humphries
Abraham And Isaac - Stephen Varcoe

Amazon.com

The eighth volume of the Musicmasters portrait of the 20th century's most celebrated musician is entitled New Directions, but most of the works on this recording--Capriccio, a brief piano concerto; the Cantata of 1952; and the Septet, written a year later--represent, alas, Stravinsky's exuberant neo-classicism. As usual, Robert Craft conducts with intelligence and elegance. More interesting musically are the Three Songs from William Shakespeare and In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas. The last of many styles Stravinsky appropriated in his long career was serialism, and the results, as one would expect, are entirely personal, entirely enchanting. --Joshua Cody

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful exploration of lesser known Stravinsky works .......2006-11-11

I would give it 5 stars if the sound quality were better and the performances were consistently outstanding. But the sound ranges from very good to good and the performances range from excellent to very good. Also, not all of the works are Stravinsky's stongest --- the Capriccio's first two movements are great - clear and satisying structure, enthusiastically played --- then the third movement concludes but it seems premature. I need to listen to this again. The Septet is a great piece -- a great insight into his counterpoint --- but again he doesn't break any stylistic territory, rather savors the language he has developed.

What is most fascinating about this CD is how it reveals how Stravinsky's counterpoint, starting in his mid to late neoclassical phase, changed from strongly instrumental to vocal. There is not enough space to explain in detail my point but I advise listening carefully to the Cantata. A tough work in that The Lyke-Wake Dirge, which with its recurrence gives the whole work a rondo-like structure, is quite plagent and suggests a more neo-rennaissance style (think Byrd meets Monteverdi mixed into the Stravinsky cuisinart!).

Also, the vocal seems strained at times and I think it is in part that the timbre of the instrumentation and their lines really test the singers ability to stay on pitch. Nevertheless, the performance could be better (again it is a good one, just not outstanding or excellent).

Overall, if you are a Stravinsky fan or looking to explore less recorded works of his -- highly recommended. If you are looking for a recording to introduce you to Stravinsky I would steer you to recordings of his most famous works - Petrouchka, Firebird, Sacre du Printemps, Rake's Progress, Dumbarton Oaks, Appollon and Muscagete (sp?) and Boulez's recordings of some of Stravinsky's serial works.

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