Audition: Stravinsky: Petrushka - Muti - (1947 score)

 Philadelphia Orchestra/Muti

Rec 1982

I have heard a number of fabulous performances of Petrushka on CD and record as I appraise them, it’s great to find another one.  conducted by Ricardo Muti and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Muti stands very clearly ahead of many of the Petruska on record but it’s hard to be specific about individual instances when it is the remarkable quality of the whole which hit me. So rather than pick out instances, I’m going to pick out the traits of his final performances.

• He has a great orchestra and it is an orchestra that has the flexibility and power to deliver the full majesty of Stravinsky’s score.

  
  

• EMI provide a near flawless recording and it’s especially spectacular when the orchestra is in full voice

  
  

• It’s also a clever recording picking up the details at many recordings miss or on mine.

• There’s something about Muti rhythmic acuity which is particularly spectacular in the big dance episodes. He has a fantastic dramatic sensibility as you might expect from an opera conductor and so there is a feeling of a story being not just told but re-enacted.

  
  

• I’ve alluded to the quality of the recording, but there is something absolutely chilling about the whole orchestra set piece dances that will blow you away.  Muti is alive to the dance forms particularly when they are mixed and this creates a fantastic intricate quality.  Finally, it’s not all fast and furious -he’s not scared to give these space