From the initial notes of the Le Sacre du printemps—a pleading bassoon line playing high above the instrument’s normal register—Stravinsky’s haunting masterpiece combines edgy thrills for audiences and deep challenges for musicians. There are few versions that can match the composer’s intent as perfectly as this, the original recording of Stravinsky’s chef d’oeuvre. Executed with emotional reverence by New York Philharmonic under the baton of the composer himself, this rendition of the Rite is explosive, intense, and brilliantly performed. Available for the first time in 24-bit audio,
- 2016
- Pierre Boulez & Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Berlin Philharmonic & Seiji Ozawa
- Elisabeth Söderström, Peter Dvorský, Vienna Philharmonic & Sir Charles Mackerras
- Pierre Boulez & The Cleveland Orchestra
- Bernard Haitink & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
- London Symphony Orchestra & Valery Gergiev