Audition: Stravinsky - Petrushka - Fricsay 1953
Petrushka - Fricsay
Jesus Christe Kirke Berlin
Fricsay’s recording is in mono and like Stokowski’s version it needs no apology. The the Berlin Radio Orchestra show a dramatic command of the peace and Fricsay keeps the rhythms very taut, the tempi are very brisk and the inflection jaunty and stylish.
The middle tableaux are tremendous Fricsay clears the textures and points the rhythms. Despite the mono we hear the harps and percussion very clearly. He’s also brisket breezy when required and savage at times. The tutti passages are marvellously clear. As we find with Hungarian trained conductors, there’s a visceral aspect to the rhytm which is ideal in this work.
The fourth tableau is a Wonderland. Such clarity, pace and colour most particularly when Stravinsky reduces the score to pairs instruments often with subtly different phrasing and we hear both here. The score is more colourful than many of the later readings demonstrate.
To warn the unwary, this reading ends with a bang not a whimper! Stravinsky’s concert ending leaves no room for sentiment though it dismisses two or three pages of dramatic magic. Nevertheless this is a fantastic reading.
Interpretation 10 out of 10
Recording 10 out of 10 brackets (for it’s day) Performance 10 out of 10.
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