Honegger: Pacific 231, Stravisky: Petrouchka

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This very welcome entry in Westminster's revival of Scherchen's treasured LP recordings features shorter works by Arthur Honegger. Pacific 231 is a famous cornerstone of 1920s modernism, a sound portrait of a railroad engine, encapsulating the mechanistic power of the new age. "Rugby" captures the ebb and flow of fast-moving physical effort. The "Symphonic Movement" has Stravinskyan dash and drive. Scherchen does all three with panache and also captures the tender beauties of the Pastorale d'été and the other works. Such care with miniature gems is typical of Scherchen's art, as is his very personal interpretation of Stravinsky's Petrouchka, with its driven, often manic depiction of the ballet's fairgrounds atmosphere and a palpable sense of menace in scenes like The Moor's Room. Like no other recorded Petrouchka, Scherchen's links the work to the barbarism of Le Sacre du Printemps, with which Stravinsky followed it. The mono sound shouldn't put you off; this was state-of-the-art in 1954 and still sounds good. --Dan Davis

Honegger: Pacific 231, Stravisky: Petrouchka, Music, Arthur Honegger, Igor Stravinsky, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Switzerland

Average customer rating:

Make It New

Scherchen At His Best

I love Petrouchka!

Honegger: Pacific 231, Stravisky: Petrouchka
Arthur Honegger , Igor Stravinsky , Hermann Scherchen , and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005RIH5
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

Honegger: Pacific 231-mouvement symphonique no. 1
Honegger: Rugby-Mouvement Symphonique no. 2
Honegger: Mouvement Symphonique no. 3
Honegger: Prelude pour "la tempete" de shakespeare
Honegger: Pastorale d'ete-poeme symphonique
Honegger: Chant De Joie
Stravinsky: Petrushka: First Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair
Stravinsky: Petrushka: First Tableau: Russian Dance
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Second Tableau: Petrushka's Room
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Third Tableau: The Moor's Room
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Third Tableau: Waltz: The Ballerina and the Moor
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: Dance of the Wet-nurses
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: The Bear and the Peasant
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: the Jovial Merchant with Two Gypsy Girls
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: Dance of the Coachmen and Grooms
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: The Masqeraders
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: The Fight: The Moor and the Petrushka
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: Death of Petrushka
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: The Police and the Showman
Stravinsky: Petrushka: Fourth Tableau: Apparition of Petrushka

Amazon.com

This very welcome entry in Westminster's revival of Scherchen's treasured LP recordings features shorter works by Arthur Honegger. Pacific 231 is a famous cornerstone of 1920s modernism, a sound portrait of a railroad engine, encapsulating the mechanistic power of the new age. "Rugby" captures the ebb and flow of fast-moving physical effort. The "Symphonic Movement" has Stravinskyan dash and drive. Scherchen does all three with panache and also captures the tender beauties of the Pastorale d'été and the other works. Such care with miniature gems is typical of Scherchen's art, as is his very personal interpretation of Stravinsky's Petrouchka, with its driven, often manic depiction of the ballet's fairgrounds atmosphere and a palpable sense of menace in scenes like The Moor's Room. Like no other recorded Petrouchka, Scherchen's links the work to the barbarism of Le Sacre du Printemps, with which Stravinsky followed it. The mono sound shouldn't put you off; this was state-of-the-art in 1954 and still sounds good. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Make It New.......2007-01-07

I recently tuned into this Petrouchka on the radio while driving into work. My initial reaction was, which new young conductor is this? Why have I never heard so vibrant and richly-coloured an interpretation before? The orchestral detail was quite stunning, and the energy as raw and compulsive as the best Stravinsky performances I've ever heard, whether on disc or in the concert hall. I was stunned when I discovered the recording date. Buy it, and the hairs on the back of your neck will bristle with excitement! No Stravinsky-lover can afford to be without this record.

Scherchen At His Best.......2004-06-09

These performances are among Scherchen's very finest accomplishments. Some of these were once available on Westminster's fabled "Lab Series" LPs. Those still sound a little clearer and more crystalline - but this CD is nonetheless an excellent transfer of some classic readings.

The main attraction here is probably the Petrushka. While I feel that Rite of Spring could more aptly be likened to Beethoven's Eroica as a pathbreaking score, Petrushka is very much a revolutionary work. Its ingenius orchestration was no doubt partly the result of Stravinsky's studies with Rimsky-Korsakov - but Stravinsky brought a special astringency and tart wit to bear that went far beyond that of his teacher.

While the Royal Philharmonic's playing is not faultless (limited rehearsal time?), this chiseled account is extraordinary. It is one of the three finest readings I have heard, along with Stravinsky's own and the virtuoso Amsterdam Concertgebouw recording by Hans Rosbaud. The latter was once on a Philips LP -it SCREAMS to be re-issued on CD.

Scherchen's "locomotive" Pacific 231 was a real sonic blockuster in its day. This and the other Honegger pieces still have impressive mono sonics, with fine interpretations to match. For a fascinating comparison, you might try Honegger's own readings of La Temptete, Pastoral d'ete, Pacific 231, and Rugby (along with a great Symphony #3) on Music & Arts 767. Others worth a listen include Munch's Pastorale (Valois), and Paul Sacher's Chant de Joie on a Pan CD.

But if I could have just ONE recording of each work here, this Scherchen CD would fit the bill very nicely.

I love Petrouchka!.......2002-01-18

It is so sad but so beautiful! Makes a world better. Long live Stravinsky!

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