Audition: Stravinsky Petrushka: RCO/Chailly

Stravinsky: Petrushka

Riccardo Chailly/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Decca 1993

The first Tableau is a bit odd bordering on very odd. The balances are odd: 

• violins virtually drowned out in the tutti passages. 
• Piano way too forward 
• the triangle virtually inaudible.

The playing is very good but often the virtuosity is lost in Chailly’s choice of tempo he’s too fast at the start and ignores the composer’s explicit accelerando markings.

Worst of all none of the dances seem to have a dance character. 

Tableau two is variable again well played. Not much character revealed in the phrasing recording has no depth and not much bass in particular fff ignored. 

The drama is underplayed and no one sounds as though they’re enjoying themselves. There’s no flow or tension and recording sounds boxy at times.

Third Tableau lackadaisical brass after fig. 66 sound like they’re halfway down the concertgebouw hall and at fig. 75 the percussion disappear at fig. 77 Chailly shortens the pause and fig. 76 Vivace is distinctly stodgy.

This tableau is ghastly, no atmospheric well played but a poor interpretation. Some of the conductor’s problems may be in the engineering. Acoustic really not suitable or the engineers have struggled.

The Fourth Tableau finds conductor and engineers redeeming themselves but Chailly still work-a-day. Colourful instruments especially the bells and Celesta just fade into the background.  The ending has more tension but ultimately it’s disappointing – orchestra plays well but not as brightly as it’s competitors.

A mess on all metrics.

Interpretation 5 out of 10 

recording 5 out of 10 

performance 5 out of 10.