Igor Strawinsky: Ballette (CD)

Igor Strawinsky (1882-1971)

Ilan Volkov, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

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Jeu de cartes; Agon; Orpheus

Artists:: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov
Label:: Hyperion
Year of recording ca.:: 2008
UPC/EAN:: 0034571176987
Release date:: 25.9.2009

Product-Information:

Stravinsky’s ballet music contains some of the composer’s most dazzling inspirations, and his work with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes brought him to international attention before the first world war. But it was through his collaborations with Diaghilev’s protégé George Balanchine that Stravinsky evolved the individual ‘neoclassical’ style of his own that is arguably his greatest contribution to the musical language of the twentieth century.

Contemporary audiences were thrilled by the innovative nature of these works. Walter Terry wrote in the Herald Tribune at the premiere of Agon that it was ‘quite possibly the most brilliant ballet creation of our day … true, Agon is not warm, not overtly human, but its very coolness is refreshing and it generates excitement because it totally ignores human foibles, dramatic situation, and concentrates wholly on the miracle of the dancing body’.

Five of Stravinsky’s ballets have been recorded on two discs (the second to be released in January) by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under maestro Ilan Volkov. Volkov’s mastery of a range of Russian music is well-represented on Hyperion and has been greatly acclaimed on the concert platform.

Rezensionen

'Both works suit Volkov's sinewy, precise style down to the ground, and are quite thrillingly played' (The Guardian)

'A supreme disc' (The Scotsman)

' ' Ilan Volkov] relishes the ballet scores of Stravinsky…. He elicits diaphanous, knife-like clarity from his BBC constituents (Audiophile Audition, USA)

'Volkov explore[s] the subtle gradations of gray in Orpheus and, thanks to his rhythmic acuity, reveal[s] the dazzling counterpoint in Agon' (Philadelphia Enquirer, USA)

Reviews

FonoForum 12/09: "Ilan Volkov und das BBC Scottish Orchestra stellen die Groteske der hochvirtuosen, neoklassizistisch gefärbten Partitur nicht übertrieben zur Schau. Vielmehr mildern sie Schärfen ab und konzentrieren sich auf Transparenz vor allem bei den kammermusikalisch gestalteten Zwischenparts. Eine ungemein straffe Dramaturgie, die manchen Ereignissen einen starken Sog verleiht, prägt auch die Einspielung von "Agon". Strenger im Duktus ist das "Orpheus"-Ballett, das vom Scottish Symphony Orchestra in satten Farben und hoher Lebendigkeit gespielt wird. Wie in einem klingenden Daumenkino rauscht die mythologische Handlung vorüber, die Strawinsky mal wieder auf wenige "rituelle" Stationen verdichtet hatte."

Tracklisting

Disk 1 von 1 (CD)

1 Jeu de cartes (Card Game), ballet in 'three deals' for orchestra: Deal 1: Introduction - Pas d'action - Entry and Dance of the Joker
2 Jeu de cartes (Card Game), ballet in 'three deals' for orchestra: Deal 2: Introduction - March of the Hearts and Spades - Variations
3 Jeu de cartes (Card Game), ballet in 'three deals' for orchestra: Deal 3: Introduction - Waltz - Battle of the Spades and Hearts - Fi
4 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Pas de quatre
5 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Double pas de quatre
6 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Triple pas de quatre
7 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Prelude
8 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: First Pas de trois: Sarabande - step -
9 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: First Pas de trois: Gaillarde -
10 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: First Pas de trois: Coda
11 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Interlude
12 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Second Pas de trois: Bransle Simple -
13 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Second Pas de trois: Bransle Gay -
14 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Second Pas de trois: Bransle Double
15 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Interlude
16 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Pas de deux
17 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Coda
18 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Four Duos
19 Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra: Four Trios
20 Orpheus, ballet in 3 scenes for orchestra: Scene 1: Orpheus weeps for Eurydice - Air de danse - Dance of the Angel of Death - Interlu
21 Orpheus, ballet in 3 scenes for orchestra: Scene 2: Pas des Furies - Air de danse - Interlude - Air de danse (conclusion) - Pas d'act
22 Orpheus, ballet in 3 scenes for orchestra: Scene 3: Apotheosis of Orpheus