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
Irving Fine: Complete Orchestral Works cover

Irving Fine: Complete Orchestral Works

Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose
Petrushka cover

Petrushka

BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer
Mahler: Symphonie Nr. 1 cover

Mahler: Symphonie Nr. 1

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mariss Jansons
Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni cover

Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni

Brecon Baroque, Rachel Podger
Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (1920 Version) cover

Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (1920 Version)

Martyn Brabbins, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jascha Heifetz plays Beethoven (Sonatas & Concerto) cover

Jascha Heifetz plays Beethoven (Sonatas & Concerto)

Ludwig van Beethoven, Jascha Heifetz
Hector Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette cover

Hector Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette

Swedish Radio Choir, Robin Ticciati, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 cover

Mahler: Symphony No. 8

Riccardo Chailly, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra