"LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS" Stravinsky / Pierre Boulez

https://youtu.be/qiygeWIIpxs

#Stravinsky #Boulez

If you like #Webern this is a fine collection of his opuses 1-31. #Boulez’s direction of the #LSO is sublime (eg. certain marvellous sudden staccato movements in orchestral pieces; relief by the the 2nd to the aural treacle of the 1st Viennese school). Helen Harper and Charles Rosen come together (‘Vier lieder…’ to belie that awful, lazy expression ‘Such-and-such a Soprano ‘accompanied by’ [intending a menial or lesser contribution] …on piano, cello, or ‘instrumentalist’!).

I’m not a natural fan of the classical voice (or in jazz for that matter*). It is perhaps ironical that I delight in #HeatherHarper’s treatment of #Webern’s #VierLieder (4 songs) für #Singstimme (voiced forcefully?) & #Klavier, Op.12. #CharlesHarper, #piano. Members of #LSO. Directed by Pierre #Boulez. By comparison, imo, #Schoenberg’s 2nd String Qrt is marred by the addition of a soprano. Harper’s performance has an instrumental quality to it. #AntonWebern
*#LadyDay notwithstanding.

Sat in my room in the Klinik listening to #Boulez’s « Dialogue de l’ombre double ». Difficult to think that #France produced a finer composer in the 20th Century. #Messiaen is in contention but possibly constrained by the recurrent theme of #litany. #ClassicalMusic