Audition: Stravinsky - Petrushka - LSO/MacKerras

Audition: Stravinsky - Petrushka

Charles Mackerras

Rec 1973.

London Symphony Orchestra. 1911 version.

This was originally a quadraphonic recording made by Vanguard Records.

Mackerras’ reading is very fine - as ever he was perceptive and expert equally in line and colour.  The LSO at this time were very good as Andre Previn was well into his tenure as Chief Conductor. MacKerras makes the best of the 1911 version. The only problem is the terrible faults in the recording – quadraphonic engineering wasn’t a fine art then and there were all sorts of sonic problems probably when they were mixing four channels into two.

In addition there are the usual EMI problems of edits, traffic noise, microphone levels being lifted (which crushes the ending) and many occasions of shifting perspective and undue highlighting. In addition instruments disappear in the sound chaos. 

It’s a great pity Charlie MacKerras deserves better but as far as I know he didn’t record it again.

Interpretation 9 out of 10

Performance 8 out of 10 

Recording 5 out of 10.