Audition: Stravinsky Petrushka – Tilson Thomas/Philharmonia.

This is an RCA recording made in 1982.

Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) was one of the conductors who was closer to Stravinsky in the composers late years so perhaps some of the liberties he takes in this recording were sanctioned, but there are omissions and additions which were either lost or intentionally avoided. 

MTT is shackled in parts of the work by the early digital RCA recording. The opening pages in particularly sound boxy and thin. But these faults resolve for the climax later and can’t really be seen as too detrimental. Particularly given the excellence of the Philharmonia playing and this conductor is here for detail so there’s some glorious intensity in the flow across the vast score and with that tight phrasing.

There is no sloppiness in either and we hear more of the score than many though the tutti are often not as rich as others. There is a great deal of style here when MTT grabs a figure and makes it dance. 

The Philharmonia playing is wildly good and fantastically disciplined given this was Sinopoli‘s Philharmonia at the time so too often left to muddle through!)

That said there are lots of times when percussion goes missing and times where it’s highlighted. So no bells and yet one place where as xylophone is added so…

Performance 8 out of 10

Recording 8 out of 10

Interpretation 9 1/2 out of 10