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In Reply to: RE: At 2:24, it's a long listen.... posted by Ivan303 on September 25, 2016 at 07:04:20
but I would have preferred just a touch of ritard (or slowing) in the bare, unison string descent leading up to them. No chance to prepare for the final ecstatic climax either, but then, our poor imaginary dancers would topple over. But then again, they're imaginary.Otherwise, even the over-played music, (esp. from Suite #1), is charming and fresh. I don't recall the lyrical trumpet solos so beautifully-played. The clarinet soloist infuses Juliet's music with a touching sadness. Very special stuff.
Everything that the Maazel and Gergiev lack--grace, charm, cartoonish humor, tremulous longing--is here in spades, no fussiness to distract. Reminds me of Leinsdorf's and Ozawa's Boston peformances. The BSO has a long history with Prokofiev's wonderful ballet.
As a recording, I knew I'd be in for a treat when the repeat of the opening string material--an octave higher the second time around--didn't grate on my ears. The militaristic music makes it's incisive impact too: "The Fight" from Act I is a lot of fun, and the stretch with raspy, muted horns and low trumpets made me smile. The the brass chorales elsewhere have a beautiful burnished glow.
I was worried the Oslo wouldn't be able to summon the "Russian" weightiness needed for the music, but I was quickly reminded that you can see Russia from Oslo's back yard. : )
Recordings of the full ballet don't come around too often; it's interesting that there wasn't much fanfare. I wonder what the British press, (Gramophone and Music Web, etc) will think, as well as Mr. Hurwitz.
On to Act II.
Edits: 09/25/16 09/25/16 09/25/16Follow Ups:
Speaking on the Maazel CD re-issue:
"By the time Prokoviev came to write this great ballet in 1935, Russia was the only country that still had a tradition of "classical" ballet--that is, full-length works of several hours with a single coherent story line. Prokofiev's model was Tchaikovsky, and like his predecessor, he encountered severe problems getting the work produced. The dancers thought the music too complicated and unsuitable for dancing, and so the piece was first performed in Czechoslovakia, only later making a triumphant stage debut at the Bolshoi. It has never been out of the repertoire since. This recording set a new standard of orchestral excellence in performance of this music, and is still the version of choice for the complete ballet." --David Hurwitz
Hopefully, David will soon adopt a 'new' standard for this work.
I have.
Maybe, just maybe, Juliet's Funeral could have used a bit more forward momentum, (though Audiophiles will be too busy delighting in the low brass of Juliet's Funeral to notice!), and the end of the scene doesn't have quite the cold horror it needs.
Juliet's Death is slightly slow as well, though I don't blame Petrenko for wanting to luxuriate in Prokofiev's soaring lyrical melodies.
An all around success as long as the listener is OK with Petrenko's avoidance of rubato in the Balcony Scene, the one place I would have preferred a more flexible approach, even if unrealistic for the ballet stage.
Especially as this is one of my favorite works.
Even though it's available for streaming at 16/44.1 via TIDAL, I'll be looking for a Hi-Rez PCM download once it's officially released.
and save the DSD for when you get a DSD-capable DAC. I don't recall seeing the LAWO label on other music-download websites, so why not take advantage of Native DSD's LAWO sale?
Russell
Naxos Direct does sell the LAWO Classics label. The last issue with Petrenko and OSLO is available and is an SACD, so one can dream...
But dreams are quickly dashed as the R & J is on the Naxos Direct site as a pre-order shipping 10-28-16 and only as a CD.
But at $24.99.
The above LAMO offering is NOT on Naxos' streaming site, ClassicsOnlineHD so no Hi-Rez for Ivan, even streaming.. :-(
Until later this month?
Perhaps it will show up on the normal channels later?
Doubt I'll ever go with a DSD capable DAC as I'm locked into old discontinued chip (PCM-1704UK) multi bit DAC technology.
Would be interesting to know for certain if this was recorded in DSD, converted to PCM for editing or not, and back to DSD or what.
It it were recorded in DSD why not release it as an SACD?
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