Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
What a pleasure to rediscover Igor Markevitch's Stravinsky recordings made for the Philips label in the early 1960s with the London Symphony Orchestra! Stravinsky had a major influence on Markevitch, who knew the composer well, and Markevitch championed him assiduously, both in recordings and in concerts. His two recordings of The Rite of Spring, both with the Philharmonia Orchestra (His Master's Voice), released in 1951 (mono) and 1960 (stereo), remain the uncontested great successes in the discography of the work.
Over the four days, the 17th, 18th, 26th and 30th of October 1963, in London's Wembley Town Hall, the Ukrainian-born musician chose Apollon musagète, 4 Impressions norvégiennes, Suites Nos. 1 et 2 pour petit ensemble, and Circus Polka for a young elephant - five works rarely recorded except, to be sure, by the composer (CBS) or Ernest Ansermet and his Suisse Romande Orchestra on the rival Decca label.
Let us chance a brief comparison between the Suites of the two pioneering conductors and friends of the composer. If Igor Markevitch benefits from a superior, unquestionably more virtuoso orchestra, Ernest Ansermet deploys irresistible poetic spells; for example, the Swiss conductor's very 'breathed' phrasing is very sensual, present at the beginning (Andante) of the Suite n° 1 pour petit orchestre and even in the Polka from Suite n° 2 clearly differs from that of his colleague, which is a little colder, but whose balance is regal and quite charming. Igor Markevitch's touch is angular and mischievous, Ernest Ansermet wishes to present a more sensitive dimension of a composer sometimes reputed to have no regard for expression.
Even so, for this English session from 1963, Igor Markevitch chose a work by Stravinsky that is very difficult to perform, Apollon musagète, composed for string ensemble in 1928. A 'white' ballet requiring extraordinary poetic imagination and, in particular, unprecedented variety in phrasing and expression. Markevitch reveals all the secrets of this mysterious score to the London Symphony Orchestra, and he is able to display its polyphonic fullness as well as its tender poetry (Apollon et les trois muses, Apollon et Terpsichore). Under his baton, the Apothéose of the ballet, one of the composer's most extraordinary and moving scores, here with exemplary polyphonic clarity, becomes a new "Fairy Garden" from which all forms of horizon have been removed. An unquestionable work of reference for Apollon musagète, which can be challenged only by Antal Doráti with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Decca, 1982) or Alexander Janiczek with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Linn, 2009).
Another exemplary success is that of the 4 Impressions norvégiennes (1942), one of Stravinsky's least known scores. Markevitch offers a graceful and often very lyrical version. The Song is one of the most captivating moments on this 1965 LP: here, in particular, there seems to be an extra harmony between the music, the orchestra, and the sumptuous sound recording—what beautiful midrange registers! What woodwind! © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Apollon Musagète (1947 Version) (Igor Stravinsky)
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Suite No. 1 for Small Orchestra (Igor Stravinsky)
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Suite No. 2 for Small Orchestra (Igor Stravinsky)
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
4 Norwegian Moods (Igor Stravinsky)
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Igor Stravinsky, Composer - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Igor Markevitch, Conductor, MainArtist - Vittorio Negri, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 1965 Universal International Music B.V.
Album review
What a pleasure to rediscover Igor Markevitch's Stravinsky recordings made for the Philips label in the early 1960s with the London Symphony Orchestra! Stravinsky had a major influence on Markevitch, who knew the composer well, and Markevitch championed him assiduously, both in recordings and in concerts. His two recordings of The Rite of Spring, both with the Philharmonia Orchestra (His Master's Voice), released in 1951 (mono) and 1960 (stereo), remain the uncontested great successes in the discography of the work.
Over the four days, the 17th, 18th, 26th and 30th of October 1963, in London's Wembley Town Hall, the Ukrainian-born musician chose Apollon musagète, 4 Impressions norvégiennes, Suites Nos. 1 et 2 pour petit ensemble, and Circus Polka for a young elephant - five works rarely recorded except, to be sure, by the composer (CBS) or Ernest Ansermet and his Suisse Romande Orchestra on the rival Decca label.
Let us chance a brief comparison between the Suites of the two pioneering conductors and friends of the composer. If Igor Markevitch benefits from a superior, unquestionably more virtuoso orchestra, Ernest Ansermet deploys irresistible poetic spells; for example, the Swiss conductor's very 'breathed' phrasing is very sensual, present at the beginning (Andante) of the Suite n° 1 pour petit orchestre and even in the Polka from Suite n° 2 clearly differs from that of his colleague, which is a little colder, but whose balance is regal and quite charming. Igor Markevitch's touch is angular and mischievous, Ernest Ansermet wishes to present a more sensitive dimension of a composer sometimes reputed to have no regard for expression.
Even so, for this English session from 1963, Igor Markevitch chose a work by Stravinsky that is very difficult to perform, Apollon musagète, composed for string ensemble in 1928. A 'white' ballet requiring extraordinary poetic imagination and, in particular, unprecedented variety in phrasing and expression. Markevitch reveals all the secrets of this mysterious score to the London Symphony Orchestra, and he is able to display its polyphonic fullness as well as its tender poetry (Apollon et les trois muses, Apollon et Terpsichore). Under his baton, the Apothéose of the ballet, one of the composer's most extraordinary and moving scores, here with exemplary polyphonic clarity, becomes a new "Fairy Garden" from which all forms of horizon have been removed. An unquestionable work of reference for Apollon musagète, which can be challenged only by Antal Doráti with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Decca, 1982) or Alexander Janiczek with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Linn, 2009).
Another exemplary success is that of the 4 Impressions norvégiennes (1942), one of Stravinsky's least known scores. Markevitch offers a graceful and often very lyrical version. The Song is one of the most captivating moments on this 1965 LP: here, in particular, there seems to be an extra harmony between the music, the orchestra, and the sumptuous sound recording—what beautiful midrange registers! What woodwind! © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:22
- Main artists: London Symphony Orchestra Igor Markevitch
- Composer: Igor Stravinsky
- Label: Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Genre: Classical
© 2021 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd. ℗ 1965 Decca Music Group Limited
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.