Audition: Stravinsky Petrushka: RCO/Chailly 1993

Stravinsky: Petrushka

Stravinsky: Petrushka

Riccardo Chailly and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Decca, 1993

This should be a Petrushka to treasure, but the three areas I look at - Interpretation, Recording and Performance all have issues.  This would have been unthinkable in the days of Philips recordings of the post war period to 1983 when digital came in.

The first Tableau is a bit odd, bordering on very odd.  The balances are flawed but in crucial sections:  the violins virtually drowned out in the tutti passages, the Piano way too forward in the sound picture and some of the essential texture of the work, for example the triangle is virtually inaudible.

That said the playing is very good but too often the virtuosity is lost in Chailly’s choice of tempi.  In this first tableau 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. 

The second Tableau is variable again well played. Not much character revealed in the phrasing. Also the recording has no depth and not much bass in particular fff ignored. All this makes for a drama that is underplayed.  It’s not a surprise to feel  that no one sounds as though they’re enjoying themselves. There’s an awkward flow and dramatic tension.

To add to all that the recording sounds boxy at times.

Third Tableau is marred by lackadaisical brass (after fig. 66) which sounds like they’re halfway down the Concertgebouw hall and at fig. 75.  The percussion disappear at fig. 77.  The Vivace is distinctly stodgy.  This tableau has a ghastly rushed feel, no atmospheric well played but a poor interpretation. Some of the conductor’s problems may be in the engineering. On the day the acoustic really not suitable or the engineers have struggled for some unaccountable reason.

The Fourth Tableau finds engineers redeeming themselves a bit 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.