Boulez, London Symphony Orchestra

Starring:Pierre Boulez, London Symphony Orchestra
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The bad boy of classical music at mid-century, Pierre Boulez made an infamous comment about burning down all the opera houses that was incendiary, to say the least, but it pointed to the fact that Boulez needed to burn bridges to pave the way for a new kind of music. That he became friends with, and later championed the music of, Igor Stravinsky, is odd if only because Stravinsky went through so many stylistic changes--from seductive exoticism to neo-baroque to 12-tone serialism--that Boulez probably didn't know what to make of the elder statesman.

But Boulez's maturation as both composer and conductor allowed him to view Stravinsky as a kindred soul restlessly searching for new forms of expression. These 1993 performances of two great Stravinsky works from before and after World War I--that still-bludgeoning masterpiece of rhythm and dance, The Rite of Spring (1913), and a lovely, brief work of subtle coloration, Symphonies of Wind Instruments (1920)--not only give us two sides of Stravinsky but also demonstrate Boulez's innate understanding of such a wide musical palette. The London Philharmonic performs splendidly, and in an added bonus interview, Boulez discusses the importance and influence of The Rite of Spring, not only on him as a musician but on 20th century music as a whole. --Kevin Filipski
Description
Pierre Boulez conducts Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" (The Rites of Spring), which was originally commissioned by Diaghilev for his Ballets Russes. The magnificent score premiered in Paris in 1913. The rhythmic complexities of "Sacre" are notorious, but in the hands of a master of modern music and one of the world's top orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the elemental barbarism of the music is thrilling. This program also includes "Symphonies D'Instrument A Vent" and a short interview with Pierre Boulez.

Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps / Oliver Hermann film, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
Average customer rating:

Somewhat interesting, but ....

An Experimental Film Worth Seeing But Not Owning

Terrible visuals

This needs a "Parental Advisory" label

Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps / Oliver Hermann film, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
Starring: Simon Rattle , and Berlin Opera Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Arthaus Musik
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007M5JU
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat interesting, but ...........2005-10-05

While the soundtrack for this DVD is Stravinsky's famous ballet score called "Le Sacre du Printempts" [The Rite of Spring], the film is not the ballet story at all, except possibly for some common theme of redemption. The film plot is a rather different, surreal story, somewhat interesting, but hardly as compelling as Stravinsky's own ballet plot. If you're looking for Stravinsky's music with a ballet performance, this is NOT it. I wish someone would do the real ballet on DVD! This DVD may be interesting only for some film buffs.

An Experimental Film Worth Seeing But Not Owning.......2005-09-12

Oliver Herrman's film, Le Sacre du Printemps, is what it is subtitled: "A Silent Film to the Music of Igor Stravinsky." It is NOT the ballet. This sureal film is highly creative and innovative. The camera work is superb and the acting consistently good. Its shots are extremely well-cut to the music, and Rattle/the Berlin Philharmonic deliver a first rate performance of the music. The film is about the neurotic lives of three individuals created by a Goddess-Mother in her Cuban-style kitchen; they are among the inhabitants a modern, unidentified city.

However, please note that the film, itself, is only 38 minutes long. The rest of the disc just contains filler -- fairly boring interviews, with the exception of some of Sir Simon's comments. Neither my wife nor I were much moved by Herrmann's film, and we could not identify with any of the characters. While "interesting" in its own way, this is hardly the sort of film I would want to see more than twice, much less than every time I listen to Le Sacre. Only buy this DVD if you are a devotee of innovative cinematic techniques, not because you are (like me) a lover of Stravinsky's music, much less to be involved in a human story.

Terrible visuals.......2005-08-25

Avoid this DVD...the visuals are laughable at best...It is a catalogue of cliches and there is NOTHING musical about the flow of the film...I found it annoying and wish I had never wasted my money....

This needs a "Parental Advisory" label.......2005-07-08

First of all, the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic is brilliant. Now... the depiction of prostitution, naked dancing, and a gang rape should be enough of a reason to stay away from this. You've been warned.

Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) / Symphonies D'Instrument Vent / Boulez, London Symphony Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Le Sacre
Le Massacre,by Monsieur Boulez
This is a great concert rendition
No Ballet ?
A nice DVD presentation but...

Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) / Symphonies D'Instrument Vent / Boulez, London Symphony Orchestra
Starring: Pierre Boulez , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Stravinsky
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Debussy - La Mer Prelude a L'Apres-Medi
Mariss Jansons - In Rehearsal (Bartok - Miraculous Mandarin Suite)

ASIN: B000059H8I
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Amazon.com

The bad boy of classical music at mid-century, Pierre Boulez made an infamous comment about burning down all the opera houses that was incendiary, to say the least, but it pointed to the fact that Boulez needed to burn bridges to pave the way for a new kind of music. That he became friends with, and later championed the music of, Igor Stravinsky, is odd if only because Stravinsky went through so many stylistic changes--from seductive exoticism to neo-baroque to 12-tone serialism--that Boulez probably didn't know what to make of the elder statesman.

Description

Pierre Boulez conducts Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" (The Rites of Spring), which was originally commissioned by Diaghilev for his Ballets Russes. The magnificent score premiered in Paris in 1913. The rhythmic complexities of "Sacre" are notorious, but in the hands of a master of modern music and one of the world's top orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the elemental barbarism of the music is thrilling. This program also includes "Symphonies D'Instrument A Vent" and a short interview with Pierre Boulez.

Customer Reviews:

Le Sacre .......2006-10-31

Despite the negative feedback on this selection already, I would have to disagree with most of it. While parts of it are slower than most CD recordings from other conductors, it really isn't THAT much slower than what's written in the score. Something else I noticed here and there were some somewhat drastic tempi changes, speeding up or slowing down.
However, despite these downsides, if you are an aspiring composer/orchestrator/musician/music aficionado, I highly suggest this DVD. Especially if you watch this with the score and can follow along instrument entrances, etc.
The quality of the video and the sound is quite good as well. So if tempo changes here and there and a slightly slower overall tempo doesn't bother you very much, definatley add this to your collection.

Le Massacre,by Monsieur Boulez.......2004-08-20

Impossible to qualify properly this "Massacre du Printemps" signed by Monsieur Boulez.Just watch some musicians semblances in the orchestra;the most phlegmatic british performer simply can not be impassible in face of this visceratical masterpiece.Of course,technical accuracy is an essential requirement but not the only one!.I'm so sorry because I don't know english enough to describe how lazy,boring is this.Nonetheless,very fine picture and sound;one of the best I purchase on DVD.

This is a great concert rendition.......2003-06-13

First off I would like to compliment Pierre Boulez in his wonderful rendition of Le Sacre du Printemps. True there is no ballet in this performance but one cannot simply make a ballet performance of this monumental work. If you notice the orchestra takes up the whole entire stage and in order to perform this in ballet form, you would need a huge huge pit. But about Boulez's interpretation.. it is great. The tempos are just right. The tempos are not too slow or too fast. Considering the fact that he himself was a friend of Stravinsky's and was counselled by him in this work he does this work well. The orchestra is great and performs the work wonderfully. All in all a very good dvd.

No Ballet ?.......2002-07-15

If they make this one for a DVD production, they have to make it
with Ballet. It is like they make a opera DVD production
with only orchestra. I would recommend that you
stick to your CD or LP collection and wait until
(Orchestra + Ballet) DVD production comes out.

A nice DVD presentation but..........2001-08-05

Boulez is not the best conductor of this work, notwithstanding his friendship with Strravinsky. To be sure, he can conduct "Le Sacre" with the steely precision of a pianola roll; he's a past master at awkward rhythms and overcoming hideous performance difficulties (and this work is full of both).

His interpretation here is accurate but too sedate for me. It is even more gentlemanly than his renderings of the early 1970s. Le Sacre is raw and primitive and screams out for passion which Boulez fails to lend it.

It might sound good the first time you hear it; the orchestra is up to scratch; the climaxes are nicely loud and it moves on in its merry, noisy way. There are worse interpretations. But as recorded performances go, it is not one that bears repeated audition.

He does much better with the Symphonies of Wind Instruments, a more formal neo-classical work that comes across better for the conductor not attempting to get passionate about it.

It is possible that at times in their lives, Boulez and Stravinsky might have coincided in their musical objectives but there really is nothing akin about Boulez at any time and the Stravinsky who wrote this work. If the studio insisted on a Boulez recording, they might have chosen his Varese interpretations - utterly competent - and left Le Sacre du Printemps to a more passionate interpreter.

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