Stravinsky conducts "Sacre du Printemps" - 1929 - part 1

Stravinsky conducts "Sacre du Printemps" - 1929 - part 1

First part : L'adoration de la Terre (A Kiss of the Earth )
- Prelude (introduction)
- Les augurs printanier (The Augurs of Spring)


This is a legendary recording of Stravinsky conducting "The rite of spring" with the "Orchestre Symfonique de Paris" . It could be the premiere recording, but I'm not sure, as there's also the Pierre Monteux recording of the same year. (Pierre Monteux having conducted the premiere performance)

The Rite of Spring was a ballet, created in 1913, with a choreography by Vaslav Nijisky, set and costume designs by Nicholas Roerich, and Stravinsky as composer. The premiere performance in Paris caused a total scandal and riot, as audiences at that time, being used to the classical ballet were shocked by the primitive, chaotic nature of the performance and composition.
Stravinsky clarified the subject when he wrote in 1910 : "... there arose a picture of a sacred pagan ritual: the wise elders are seated in a circle and are observing the dance before death of the girl whom they are offering as a sacrifice to the god of Spring in order to gain his benevolence."
Leonard Bernstein once said about a passage :"That page is sixty years old, but it's never been topped for sophisticated handling of primitive rhythms..."

It's remarkable how clear the different instruments come out in this recording, which is amazing considering the limited technical possibilities in 1929.
I've added some original pictures from early performances and shoots, which will give you a better idea of the whole.
Enjoy !

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sacre
• printemps
• rite
• spring
• stravinsky
• ballet
• historical
• shellac
• nijisky
• roerich

[pfbsn]

Thank you for sharing this fascinating recording and photos. What label was this record? Was it an early Gramophone record? RCA? a 78rpm? I Also, I'm just curious how you found this record? Amazing!

[sobie99]

@pfbsn  It's a 78rpm record set on Columbia records, french pressing.

"Also, I'm just curious how you found this record?" -> I have my ways ;)

[analagony]

@violinchic520 yeah he sounds terrible... go listen to someone who is good... maybe madonna or katy perry...

[ICWT83]

WOW! Terrific!! Thank you so much for posting!

[mod07]

mmm so good at creating, so beautiful at composing, so brilliant at speaking... why conduct??

[TromboneConductor767]

@JRichardYoung The tempo marking in the score says tempo rubato ... seems a little counter intuitive.

[Rockdrummer365]

This was used in Fantasia for the creation of the world sequence.

[JRichardYoung]

@violinchic520 Stravinsky has been quoted saying that solo should be strictly in tempo.

[Huddiethegreat]

the original pictures are amazing

[TallMikeBismuth]

5:13... What a great photo.

[Hero0fSilence]

@violinchic520 Its his orchestra...he chooses who to rush.