Audition: Stravinsky - Petrushka Pierre Boulez Cleveland Orchestra

Audition: Stravinsky - Petrushka

Pierre Boulez 

Cleveland Orchestra 

DG - recorded - 11.03.1991

Boulez, in his second recording of the piece, is exacting and as usual methodical in revealing every nook and cranny in this score and it pays off in three areas. 

Firstly he reveals layers of relationships in the rhythms – in particular he spots subtle intricacies  which others miss and this adds depth, colour and complexity.

Secondly he gives inner voices time to shine, for example the harps, they can be heard almost entirely through the recording and Boulez brings so much detail to this familiar work, especially in the first half.

Finally the precise realisation - Boulez takes care to have space around each instrumental line, the score jumps out beyond the dance forms and drama to the most meticulous details. Better still we can clearly delineate given the excellence of DG’s recording.

Almost all the percussion is well placed in the sound space especially the xylophone Campanelli.

The climax is a lean and some of a quieter music is louder than expected, but this is a fabulous performance by Boulez. Seriously considered and revealing much which others miss.

10 out of 10 for the interpretation 

10 out of 10 for the recording and 

10 out of 10 for the performance.