Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Product Description
6CD .. Stravinsky//Pierre Boulez
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Christian K
Format:Audio CD
These recordings are as close as anything comes to definitive. Many people mention Boulez's ability to X-ray a score and yes - every detail is beautifully realized in these recordings. But most important: Boulez like no other brings the form to life. Boulez never over-emphasize the music. Everything is played effortless without pressure, and at the same time, as a composer himself, he knows exactly when a instrumental role is important and when it should be more in the background. He knows when a little cresc. will do the whole difference and so on. A good example is the recording of The Rite. I have around 35 recordings in my collection (including three of Boulez's older recordings), but this is the one I return to again and again, simply because it's the only one, where I can feel the work as a unified whole, and not a sequence of tableaux.
The box contains the three pre-war ballets, a disc with "symphonies" (the Symphony of Psalm is electrifying and one of the most beautiful interpretations of a work, I have heard), some of the early symphonic works and a couple of disc's with older recordings of chamber-works and songs - wonderful candy to the ear and many overlooked gems.
The only bad thing to say about this "complete" set is all the Stravinsky-works Boulez hasn't recorded yet. How great it would be to hear his version of Les Noces, Oedipus Rex, Agon or Requiem Canticles. Well - He's only eithy-five and has never been better. There is still hope.
Even if you have one or more of these recordings already: Go for it.
The box contains the three pre-war ballets, a disc with "symphonies" (the Symphony of Psalm is electrifying and one of the most beautiful interpretations of a work, I have heard), some of the early symphonic works and a couple of disc's with older recordings of chamber-works and songs - wonderful candy to the ear and many overlooked gems.
The only bad thing to say about this "complete" set is all the Stravinsky-works Boulez hasn't recorded yet. How great it would be to hear his version of Les Noces, Oedipus Rex, Agon or Requiem Canticles. Well - He's only eithy-five and has never been better. There is still hope.
Even if you have one or more of these recordings already: Go for it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Paul101
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
These are wonderful recordings - there is something about Boulez's approach to Stravinsky and the crystal clear quality of the recordings that really suits the music. The mix of pieces across the 6 CDs is very interesting - as well as familiar favourites such as the Rite of Spring there were some real gems that were new to me - on CD 1 there is a dynamic piece titled Fireworks and on CD 5 the incredible Ebony Concerto that seems to fuse classical and jazz styles. There really is so much to dip into and it goes to show what an amazing and varied composer Stravinsky was. Since I bought this set I have been listening to little else - many of the chamber scale pieces have a wonderful seperation of the instruments and it is fun to listening to the different lines and how they weave together. Highly recommended.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I remember Boulez at the Proms in several works, including some of his own and his teacher Messiaen.
He excelled in Bartok (like only Lehel)but in Stravinsky he always brought, and still brings, an understanding close to perfection.
This set has no single 'crowning glory' in what we might call the crown jewels but go straight to his Cleveland 'Rite of Spring'. When this came out on CBS it was compared to Stravinsky's own and both sit together. The composer is more from the page than Boulez but is said to have admired what Boulez got out of the early ballets.In The Rite Boulez goes for the pulse and detail of the whole and this allows the amazing work to stand as a whole experience. One can almost 'see' the ballet but who needs dancers. Boulez avoids the flashy and ponderous. He understands Stravinsky from the inside.
This shows again in 'Symphony of Psalms', where he takes the composer's own slower pace than marked in the last section of the work. Gondola pace. This remark will not be lost on Stravinsky afficionados.
But if buyers have doubts, check out the smaller works and how Boulez elevates the Dylan Thomas Dirge Canons and Song to greatness, the 'Symphonies of Wind Intruments' to the key work it is and the strange cantata 'Roi Etoiles' to the recording it has always deserved.
Stravinsky conducting his own work has one sort of magic. Boulez brings the professional conductor/composer musicianship to the works with accuracy, respect and love.This is another sort of magic.
He excelled in Bartok (like only Lehel)but in Stravinsky he always brought, and still brings, an understanding close to perfection.
This set has no single 'crowning glory' in what we might call the crown jewels but go straight to his Cleveland 'Rite of Spring'. When this came out on CBS it was compared to Stravinsky's own and both sit together. The composer is more from the page than Boulez but is said to have admired what Boulez got out of the early ballets.In The Rite Boulez goes for the pulse and detail of the whole and this allows the amazing work to stand as a whole experience. One can almost 'see' the ballet but who needs dancers. Boulez avoids the flashy and ponderous. He understands Stravinsky from the inside.
This shows again in 'Symphony of Psalms', where he takes the composer's own slower pace than marked in the last section of the work. Gondola pace. This remark will not be lost on Stravinsky afficionados.
But if buyers have doubts, check out the smaller works and how Boulez elevates the Dylan Thomas Dirge Canons and Song to greatness, the 'Symphonies of Wind Intruments' to the key work it is and the strange cantata 'Roi Etoiles' to the recording it has always deserved.
Stravinsky conducting his own work has one sort of magic. Boulez brings the professional conductor/composer musicianship to the works with accuracy, respect and love.This is another sort of magic.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
