Audition - Stravinsky: Petrushka - PCO/ Monteux

 Paris Conservatory Orchestra/Pierre Monteux

Piano: Julius Katchen

Recorded on 10/11/1956 by Decca

The critic from the Gramophone magazine  in December 1957 described this performance as “magnificent“. It is not - it is occasionally adequate and this despite the 32-year-old John Culshaw as Decca’s newest producer. It was an early decca stereo recording which may have distracted the reviewer’s attention.

The key problems here are:-

i. the inadequate rehearsal and/or poor playing and ensemble from the strings and winds. It’s amazing that Monteux was happy to have this released.

That aside the interpretation is often brisk and the playing careless, with many instruments missing in action. Plus some solos so horribly spotlit - it’s quite a distraction. It’s hard to believe that this is how Monteux conducted it at the premier with the orchestra of the Théâtre du Châtelet.  It’s also easy to believe this was spellbinding it was in 1911. 

A further note must be made of the young pianist also on Decca, Julius Katchen brought a remarkable vivid drama to the piece as a 23 year old.

The first tableau proceeds with quite a lot of approximation with microphones seldom catching any depth in the strings. Woodwind and percussion catching the spotlights throughout.

The second tableau is marginally better. The instrumental groups are somewhat smaller two things of emerge from this: the Decca engineering and Monteux’s  conducting. These forces for good conspire to make for a more vehement if not violent side to this Petrushka. Let’s not forget too that the pianist was none other than 

The third Tableau is either sloppy or maybe exaggerated for comic effect. The opening waltz is especially ungainly - Petruska’s reappearance is much more dramatic though. The high drama hits through.

The fourth tableau is much better and all goes well with the players but a curious spotlighting distracts quite a lot of the last dozen pages of the score. 

The sense of what might have been hangs over this endeavour - a missed opportunity.  Especially because Monteux was to record it again in much better sound in Boston.

This it’s a historic document though - an aged and authentic French orchestra is a wily beast to record!

Performance 6 out of 10 

interpretation 8 out of 10 

recording 4 out of 10