Audition: Stravinsky – Petrushka (1947 vers) - NYPO/Mehta

Audition: Stravinsky – Petrushka, New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Zubin Mehta.

Recorded in 1980 by CBS

This is the second recording by Zubin Mehta and it’s hardly balletic at all, his approach (and the recording if truth be known) is oppressive in the loud music and mechanical elsewhere. There may be arguments to the effect of “he’s trying to show how Petrushka prefigures the Rite of Spring” or his casting the puppets as mechanicals not characters but neither wash for me. 

It’s a tiring lesson in listening for the good bits. Though a other negative consideration is the consistently poor recording. 

On the plus side the some of the NYPO players are in fine voice especially the brass but they are too forward at times. It’s a same that the 1947 Horn parts aren’t as prominent as the 1911 edition but they disappear at points. 

Mehta doesn’t always follow Stravinsky‘s dynamics or tempo markings – we might calculate of this is becuase he wants to hear something else louder.  The tempo variations seem to be rooted in attempts to excite the listener, but they are misguided .

The recording is fine in many ways but 1990s digital sound is too forward.

Performance 7 out of 10

Interpretation 6 out of 10

Recording 7 out of 10