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Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Pulcinella (1919-20) Le Chant du Rossignol (1920) Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano), Anthony Rolfe-Johnson (tenor), Simon Estes (bass) Ensemble Intercontemporain Patrice Fontanarosa (violin); Patrick Gallois (flute); Bertrand Grenat (oboe); Yves Couëffe (trumpet) Orchestre National de France/Pierre Boulez reissue – recorded in IRCAM, Paris in December 1980 WARNER APEX 2564 62088-2 [60:51]

Boulez’s Stravinsky readings have polish and elegance, drawing phrasing of brilliance and beauty. The story of Diaghilev’s one-act, eight-scene ballet, relates the amorous adventures of the Commedia dell’arte character, Pulcinella. Stravinsky’s music is neo-classical in idiom and based on themes by Pergolesi (1710-1736). Pulcinella is a happy fusion of the art of both composers. Stravinsky "recomposed" Pergolesi’s harmonies and arranged them for a chamber orchestra according to the 18th century spirit. The score also includes music for three solo voices. Personally I thought the Overture rather stolid, too studied. I was concerned that I would miss the spontaneity, the essential joie de vivre of other performances. But I need not have worried for Boulez makes the suite really sparkle. All three soloists enter into the comic spirit of the ballet, colouring their voices uninhibitedly and enjoying the broad humour immensely. Stravinsky’s ballet Le Chant Rossignol (The Song of the Nightingale) after Andersen’s tale The Emperor of China’s Nightingale, was first performed in February 1920 with only limited success. Originally, its music was intended as an opera on which Stravinsky worked in 1909 but progress was interrupted by ballet commissions. In the end the composer transformed the music into a symphonic poem, voices transferred to instruments, and it was this transformation that Diaghilev used. The three sections are: a very oriental ‘Chinese March’, evocative flutterings of the real nightingale outraged by its mechanical equivalent in ‘The Song of the Nightingale’ and the colourful ‘Antics of the mechanical nightingale’. Another presence is the melancholy surrounding the dying emperor before the real nightingale returns to beguile. The score harks back to the vivid colouring and exciting dissonances of The Firebird but with something of neo-classicism too. Boulez’s impressive reading excites and enchants. A welcome reissue of polished, exciting readings of two Stravinsky favourites. Ian Lace Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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