PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in B Flat Op. 100,
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring (1977 recording)
Berlin Philharmonic
Herbert von Karajan
DG The Originals
463-613-2 78m ADD.
Crotchet
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The 'Originals' are produced by DG as reissues on CD (with improved sound)
of Legendary Recordings from their catalogue. It is good to see again a recording
which truly is a legend and in sound which is so good. There are many collectors
who find it hard to see any merit in the recordings of Herbert von Karajan;
however , if challenged I think you will find most of them will be prepared
to find an exception in his famous 1969 recording of the Prokofiev 5th Symphony.
This made a big impression when first released and I don't think it has been
surpassed since.
The Symphony was written in 1944 when the war at last was going well in the
fight with the Nazis and it has been described by the composer as a celebration
of the grandeur of the human spirit. It is a lyrical work tempered by Prokofiev's
late 'Soviet' style with at times heavy use of brass which can so easily
make it sound rather course. Karajan however manages to unravel all the complex
strands of the work with tonal sophistication which is outstanding. One of
Karajan's greatest strengths is his ability to hold the architecture of a
long complex work so that every phrase and every tempo sounds right. It is
many years since I had heard this recording and I found myself almost laughing
out loud at the intense good humour of the allegro marcato and the jokes
in the final movement. The two slow movements come across with great fervour.
The recording manages to improve on that of the original LP. This is a must
for any collection which includes 20th Century music.
I had never associated Karajan with Stravinsky, and famously Stravinsky had
put the boot in in relation to Karajan's 1964 recording of the Rite of Spring
in a most devastating way. The conductor did not perform the work for several
years and the present recording clearly was done after much soul searching,
and I suspect, after deep study of Stravinsky's own recording (which in tempos
and dynamics, but not timbre, it is close).
The Rite of Spring is a landmark composition and still represents a level
of modernity beyond enjoyment for many people. It was only a few years ago
that an old gentleman walked out of a concert at a recorded music society
when I played it! Once thought almost unplayable, it is now routinely regarded
as a virtuoso piece to show off the skills of a conductor and orchestra.
The work is famous for the strident savagery of the first part, however the
quieter sections in the later part can sound rather boring in some performances.
The richness of sonority of the opening passages, whilst pleasing to the
ear, raises the question of whether Berlin Philharmonic is the right orchestra,
at least under Karajan, for this rather lean score (as conducted by Stravinsky
himself). However as the performance proceeded I found myself enjoying it
more and more. The playing and balance is immaculate, every instrument can
be heard and when needed the orchestra attacks with crushing ferocity. I
found myself revelling in brilliance of playing and some of the strange tunes
which had passed me by in other performances. There was never any question
of dullness in the quieter parts. Whilst not perhaps the most authentic sound,
this proved to be a beguiling performance in a superb recording which is
most enjoyable.
Reviewer
Arthur Baker
Prokofiev
Stravinsky
Summary:
The Prokofiev is a true recording legend - a performance which is unsurpassed
and with improved CD sound. The Stravinsky also is a most enjoyable performance
in superb
