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| Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Symphony in Three Movements | 
 enlarge | Creators: Igor Stravinsky, Pierre Boulez, Berliner Philharmoniker
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.79
You Save: $6.19 (36%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (12 reviews)
Sales Rank: 142087
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 457616
UPC: 028945761626
EAN: 0028945761626
ASIN: B000031X7Y
Release Date: February 8, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Symphony Of Wind Instruments | | • | Symphony Of Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra On Texts From Psalms 38, 39 And 150: Exaudi orationem meam, Domine | | • | Symphony Of Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra On Texts From Psalms 38, 39 And 150: Expectans expectavi Dominum | | • | Symphony Of Psalms For Chorus And Orchestra On Texts From Psalms 38, 39 And 150: Alleluia, laudate Dominum | | • | Symphony in Three Movements: I. 160 | | • | Symphony in Three Movements: Andante - Interlude (L'istesso tempo) | | • | Symphony in Three Movements: Con moto |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
In a way that oddly prefigures the stance of the "holy minimalists" so currently popular, Stravinsky declared that a motive behind composing his Symphony of Psalms was his "eagerness to counter the many composers who had abused these magisterial verses as pegs for their own lyrico-sentimental 'feelings'." The result issued in one of the 20th century's most perfect choral masterpieces. For all its objective austerity (violins, violas, and clarinets are exiled from the score), the piece is awash in fresh new sound colors and rhythmic vitality (with some family likeness to those Stravinsky explored in Les Noces and Oedipus Rex), ending in a poem of praise (Psalm 150) that radiantly answers the uneasy waiting of the middle movement (Psalm 40). Pierre Boulez maintains the necessary level of diaphanous precision, though he is a measure too sensuous, forceful, and even fast compared with Stravinsky's own visionary account of the work, enveloping the final "Alleluia" in an undeniably beautiful but seductive sheen. Boulez also offers a finely etched, incisive reading of Stravinsky's wartime Symphony in Three Movements that is strong on its astringent ironies. The composer's interests were clearly geared to the symphony more as an exploration of possible sound worlds than to its traditional form, even in his most neoclassical period, as in the ritualistic gestures of the Symphonies of Wind Instuments. It's a nice snapshot of earlier Stravinsky, though this disc would be even more compelling if it had instead included the Symphony in C to make a compendium of his best symphonies such as can be found on Georg Solti's Stravinsky collection. But listeners familiar with only the great Stravinsky ballets have a goldmine left to discover in these works. --Thomas May
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Recommended by Penguin Guide and Rough Guide April 8, 2007
Gets **(*) stars in Penguin Guide 2005/6 guide to classical recordings. Also recommended by The Rough Guide to Classical Music as the place to start for these pieces.
Bravissimo December 31, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
All I can say, is that when I listen to this CD - I can't imagine how it could be performed any better.
The only other recording I have of the Psalms and Symphony in 3 Movements is conducted by the composer (including Symp in C). While this (Stravinsky conducting) is certainly a fine performance, and perhaps more authentic to the composer's intentions, I find Boulez interpretation to be prime.
To me this is like listening to a performance of Bach by a real baroque orchestra (tuning, gut-strings, style and all) - you just get the sense that it's correct.
This is one of Boulez's great gifts to music - his understanding of modern music - and his ability to perform avant-garde in a way that works. Though this music could hardly be concidered avant-garde (even in its day), it is still modern and takes a distinct interpretation to pull it off.
Furthermore, these are quite possibly masterworks of the prolific composer. They usually stand in the shadow of his ballet-trinity (Rite, Petrushka, and Firebird), so this would be a great buy for anyone who would like to become familiar with some of his best music.
 Boulez and Stravinsky: Should be Perfect... October 7, 2006
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
For this listener there still remains to be recorded the totally convincing masterpiece of Stravinsky - the 'Symphony of Psalms'. Somehow in live performances this wondrous piece holds grandeur and both an intellectual appeal as well as one of the more spiritually beautiful works in the 20th century repertoire. Boulez comes close in this performance with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and yet there is a sense of distance in the tempi that keep the work grounded. It only takes an evening in the perfect acoustic of Disney Hall with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the LA Phil and the LA Master Chorale to prove just how magnificent the work can be: the rhythmic propulsions drive the work to the ultimate 'Alleluias' and 'Laudetes' that melt the heart.
But what Boulez misses in the Psalms he clearly owns the Symphony in Three Movements and gives a fine reading of the brilliant Symphonies of Wind Instruments, for 23 wind instruments (1947 version). The Berlin ensemble are responsive to every movement of his ticking mind and the results are performances that rank among the finest.
We will just have to wait for the definitive 'Symphony of Psalms': even Stravinsky's own Toronto ensemble recording doesn't make it sing the way it can....Grady Harp, October 06
THERE WAS ROOM FOR MORE May 15, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
By now we presumably ought to know what to expect from Boulez. His approach does not greatly suit me in Mahler, but in Stravinsky Boulez suits me down to the ground. Stravinsky changed his compositional style at various stages of his long career, but at any stage the quality I look for most in the performance and recording of his work is clarity, and clarity is Boulez's long suit. On this disc you will find complete precision from the instrumentalists, distinctness in the singing, sharply `terraced' dynamic levels and a sergeant-majorish strictness in the rhythm. This is exactly as I like Stravinsky done, and the recording does the effect full justice. I got only one surprise from the tempi chosen, a slowish beat for the Symphonies of Wind Instruments. However I found the effect really very successful, and the other speeds are much as I am used to them and as I like them.
The disc comes with the title `Boulez 2000' and was recorded in 1999, which I suppose is close enough. The liner-note is actually quite thoughtful and helpful provided you can understand it in the first place. The sequence of thought is meandering and the expression is heavy and turgid - I found that after a page and a half of Mr Griffiths' ramblings I had to go back to the start and retrace my steps to be sure of what he was even talking about. However I credit him with one particularly insightful and memorable statement regarding the Symphony of Psalms, that `The prayers are being voiced...by other people while the composer constructs. His is the symphony: theirs are the psalms.'
I had half a mind to deny the disc a fifth star by reason of short measure. The playing time comes to only 52 minutes, and I can see no good justification for not including the Symphony in C along with the other three symphonies. However on the basis that I am reviewing what is there and not what is not there I think five stars fair and just given the quality of both performances and sound. Boulez and Stravinsky go back a long way. On the inside of the front leaf of the booklet there is a picture of the pair of them from 1957, with a thirty-something Boulez showing a startling resemblance to Marlon Brando at the same age.
Herreweghe in Boulez-disguise September 7, 2003
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
First of all:
The Berliner philharmoniker play precise and with attack.
Never mind those comments people often make, as if Von Karajan never died.
The symphony in three movements here on disc is next to Stravinsky's own recording probably the best available.
It comes closer to Stravinsky's own view than any other I heard, except the andante is played slower by Boulez and I actualy like it better that way: extremely gentle and refined.
Stravinsky himself didn't care that much for highlighting the gentle sites in his music scores, therefore many recordings of the firebird for instance top his own recording, like (ofcourse) Boulez', Dorati's and Gergiev's.
The symphonies of wind instruments is given a melancholic feel wich I never heard in this work.
Boulez the iceman?
But to be perfectly honest, this work will never become one of my favorites.
Still one of the best performances I heard
Another great recording is from Reinbert de Leeuw
The symphony of psalms is a rather strange work to my ears.
Extremely beautiful passages with some honest devotion are followed by kitschy Carl Orf-like passages which gives me the feeling at times that this work was originally written as a movie score and not the symphony in three movements.
The performance however is great.
If I didn't know Boulez was the conductor I would have thought it was Herreweghe himself, such a warmth and intimacy and that mystique-like quality.
Yes perhaps this performance doesn't come so close to Stravinsky's ideal and perhaps some pinsharp orchestral focussing is traded for smooth and warm legato. But it works very well, as it works perfectly well for Herreweghe in his Bach recordings.
There you have it: a great disc of probably the best conductor alive.
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