Chez Stravinsky

[lordlance]

Listened to Symphony in 3 Movements just recently and really enjoyed it. Despite being a later work it thankfully does not have the sparseness that so much of Stravinsky's late music seems to have (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus). 

Heard this interpretation:

[Atriod]

Sparse would be low on my list of descriptors I'd use for those three ballets

[lordlance]

Sparse would be low on my list of descriptors I'd use for those three ballets

They test my patience quite a bit. How would you describe them?

[Karl Henning]

Of the three, Agon may be the closest to earning the adjective "sparse," although that's not quite right. It's a richly diverse chamber orchestra. The first word that comes to my mind is a word my composition instructor at UVa frequently used: specific. I've always liked all three ballets, so I'm not sure what to suggest to someone whose patience they try. Orpheus has always struck me as warm and lyrical. 

[Atriod]

They test my patience quite a bit. How would you describe them?

Karl describes them perfectly, Stravinsky simply uses fewer instruments to portray what is happening but this isn't what I'd call sparse. Sparse is a term I'd use for some of the aesthetic movements that started to happen in the second half of the 20th century. Stravinsky was never part of this crowd.

[Atriod]

Of the three, Agon may be the closest to earning the adjective "sparse," although that's not quite right. It's a richly diverse chamber orchestra. The first word that comes to my mind is a word my composition instructor at UVa frequently used: specific. I've always liked all three ballets, so I'm not sure what to suggest to someone whose patience they try. Orpheus has always struck me as warm and lyrical.

Warm is the perfect description for Orpheus, especially in Esa-Pekka Salonen's incredible performance.

[vers la flamme]

Warm is the perfect description for Orpheus, especially in Esa-Pekka Salonen's incredible performance.

I have that, but I haven't heard it in ages. Interesting, Orpheus is a work I often felt as being very "cold". (Or maybe I'm thinking of Apollo; I haven't heard either of them in at least two years.) I will try and get to the Salonen Orpheus ASAP.

[Atriod]

I have that, but I haven't heard it in ages. Interesting, Orpheus is a work I often felt as being very "cold". (Or maybe I'm thinking of Apollo; I haven't heard either of them in at least two years.) I will try and get to the Salonen Orpheus ASAP.

Salonen's performance sounds very lyrical and he observes Stravinsky's dynamic markings perfectly, as in he doesn't overdo anything, this adds to its warmth.

[Karl Henning]

[Karl Henning]

As for Apollo, I'm revisiting DRD's recording with the Stuttgarters. Although I know the model was Lully, the piece has always struck me as evincing a Haydnesque unforced charm, that plus Stravinsky's knack for "bending" the source modernward in his particular musical smithy, has me puzzled that one could lose patience with it. That said, our esteemed @ritter finds it one of his least favorite Stravinsky works.

[Karl Henning]

[ritter]

That said, our esteemed @ritter finds it one of his least favorite Stravinsky works.

That is true, Karl. But I must confess that after I saw it danced (a recreation of the Balanchine choreography by the Spanish National Ballet a couple of years ago), the piece made much more sense to me, and I found things to admire in it. But still, of the three "Greek" ballets, Agon is a firm favourite of mine, I like Orpheus very much, and Apollo ranks a distant third in my preferences.

[Scion7]

The sublime 2-Piano Concerto.

[Karl Henning]

The sublime 2-Piano Concerto.

Great, great piece!

[Roasted Swan]

Got a lucky break at an auction last week.  This pencil sketch of Stravinsky conducting at the BBC in the 1960's was in a general sale and sold for really not very much.  The artist is Juliet Pannett who specialised in portrait drawings - often of musicians/composers etc.  Examples of her work are held at the National Portrait Gallery in London - although all of those are more "formal" carefully finished works.  I rather like the spontaneity and energy of this sketch - and its unmistakeably Stravinsky.  There are photos of him at Maida Vale at the same sessions (I assume);

[ritter]

Congratulations, RS! Very nice purchase. And yes, it definitely is a good portrait of Stravinsky, and full of energy and spontaneity. Great stuff!