Audition: Stravinsky - Petrushka - Dohnanyi/VPO

 Audition: Stravinsky Petrushka - Dohnanyi/VPO

Recorded December 1977, Decca

Version: 1947

Dohnanyi tames the VPO‘s more wilful efforts to place Stravinsky in their comfortable repertoire, which means he gets a full coverage of all parts of an orchestra which is sometimes leans into "strings and winds" too much.  The sound picture in the depths of the First part of the ballet is good but Dohnanyi’s attention to detail is partial. Many or most conductors suffer with this problem because the music comes that them fast and furious. The dynamics lack subtlety too and whilst the playing is very good, but it feels a bit on edge. The engineers are partly at fault as instruments disappear from the sound picture. So there’s not much time or bandwidth for the Russian snaps or joyous in a string dances parts.

That said, Parts Two and Three show Dohnanyi has the gift of bringing the characters to life and the skill to make the VP play in line with the narrative. There’s some recordings of this work which are not serious in this aspect, in this case, the conductor pushes the orchestra with a finely honed measure of individual characterisation and the need for a brisk narrative.

Having said that throughout we hear Dohnanyi pushing the orchestra on and especially in the fourth section where the orchestra sounds less perky and the conducting positively flat in some dances.

The great set pieces are thrilling enough  though – if you can set your volume at the right level. The Vienna winds are superb and but the brass – though occasionally too quiet. Kudos though to the playing and the recording of the percussion section: the drum transitions are done well. 

Most importantly though, throughout the final minutes, the menace is maintained with ear splitting bass drum smacks and then a rather large slump of the dead puppet. This is near top rank but it’s in better company certainly distinctive.  And historic because the VPO were not associated with Stravinsky’s most colourful ballet. 

Performance 8.5 out of 10 (lags a bit)

Sound eight (patchy)

Interpretation 10 out of 10.