[Jos Geluk]

Scott Dorsey schreef:
Jos Geluk wrote:
Scott Dorsey schreef:

The old Mercury Living Presence recordings are done with spaced triads, which
give a sense of depth that I think is a little artificial but which some
people like. Also their Dorati recording of Petrouchka is just an amazing
performance.
I have a recording of Petrushka by Antal Dorati on Decca, with the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Is that the same one? The booklet says:
recorded June 1980 in the United Artists Auditorium, engineered by Mr
James Lock.

No, this one is from the mid-sixties. It's Dorati with the Minneapolis,
on Mercury. Should I get the Decca one to compare? Is it good?

I have no other recordings available to compare, but I like its clarity
and the way it sounds like some of the instruments are really close. The
flutes at the very start for instance sound nice clear and breathy,
instead of reverb-y and away in the distance. Only the solo piano
passages are a bit too far away and too close to the noise level, but
that could be my listening environment.
What struck me most about this CD, however, is the recording of Le Sacre
du Printemps that follows Petrushka. I knew the piece fairly well when I
first listened to it, and I was amazed by the sheer raw force of the
music, the earthiness and violence that reminds one of heavy metal, if
you like, but with better dynamics. In a way Stravinsky was saying: see
what absolutely obscene things I can do with an orchestra. The recording
brings that out quite well.
I have many times listened to the music with the score on my lap, and I
had no trouble identifying every instrument, no matter how loud and
chaotic the music. That alone has taught me a lot about orchestration.

So yes, I don't think you would be disappointed.

Jos.

--
Ardis Park Music
www.ardispark.nl