COMPOSERS: Stravinsky/Bartok
LABELS: Virgin
WORKS: Petrushka; Concerto for Orchestra
PERFORMER: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Hiroyuki Iwak
CATALOGUE NO: Virgo VC 7 91101-2 DDD (1990)
Sensitive to the work’s power and humour, the playing from this Australian orchestra in the Stravinsky is recorded in a clear, natural perspective. Honest quality rather than superficially impressive virtuosity comes over, too, in the Bartók, but not quite the same fire or polish; also rather more intonational blemishes. There’s strong competition, of course, even for the 1911 Petrushka: look out for Dutoit’s Decca version. But the present disc offers the only current coupling of these two masterpieces. Keith Potter
Stravinsky/Bartok: Petrushka; Concerto for Orchestra
Sensitive to the work’s power and humour, the playing from this Australian orchestra in the Stravinsky is recorded in a clear, natural perspective. Honest quality rather than superficially impressive virtuosity comes over, too, in the Bartók, but not quite the same fire or polish; also rather more intonational blemishes. There’s strong competition, of course, even for the 1911 Petrushka: look out for Dutoit’s Decca version. But the present disc offers the only current coupling of these two masterpieces. Keith Potter
Our rating
3
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:30 pm