[.ca] Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps; Debussy: La mer; ...

From Amazon.com:
This selection of 20th-century works is perfectly designed to display a virtuoso orchestra in all its glory. The music glows and glitters with a myriad colors, exploits every imaginable instrumental effect, and offers many solo opportunities to all the principal string and wind players. The program also requires a virtuoso conductor, especially the Stravinsky, with its extraordinary, previously unprecedented rhythmic irregularities, its massed sonorities, its cumulative sense of tension, and its driving, pent-up energy that explodes intermittently. No wonder the 1913 Paris premiere of Printemps caused the most famous riot in musical history and spread Stravinsky's name across the world. Barenboim's performance has enormous sweep and a sort of controlled wildness, with tremendously exciting rhythmic incisiveness, great crashing climaxes, and wonderful wind playing in the lyrical parts. The Debussy, based on fond recollections of childhood summers the composer spent at the seaside, is all color: three almost visual evocations of the glittering water, the sparkling play of the waves and the wind, the glowing sky, and the final glorious sunrise with the violins shimmering above grand brass sonorities. The Boulez is also full of color effects, with glassy, thin sounds, but it seems more like an abstract painting. Composed when he was 21, it was part of a set of 12 very brief piano pieces, which he expanded and orchestrated 30 years later; this one was commissioned and premiered by the Chicago Symphony in 1999. Based on short figures and motives, it is called "Hiératique" and described as formal and stylized; the composer asks that it be played slowly and steadily, but not rigidly. The playing throughout is fabulous. --Edith Eisler

Surprising:
I had fairly low expectations about Barenboim's interpretation of the Rite and La Mer, but I was very wrong. This is an outstanding Rite and, I believe, one of the very best La Mers. I have never heard such clarity to the woodwinds in the Rite particularly in the Glorification of the Ancestors and the Fertility Dance. Barenboim brings a kind of luxuriant radiance to the work that has only been subtly hinted at in other performances. This is a Rite with ecstasy. Like so many other performances, this one lags in the final section, because it lacks sufficient forward momentum and orchestral clarity. The only performance that pulls this off perfectly is that of Zander, which is a must buy. This La Mer is powerfully romantic and it simply never disappoints or falters. It does have just a bit of schmaltz in the last section, but it expresses the great majesty of the sea as powerfully as any performance I am familiar with and I know many. I recommend this CD highly.

Pretty Amazing:
For those unfamiliar with Barenboim's conducting, he seems to have a reputation for leaving issues like entrances and accuracy of rhythm for the players to deal with. In short, ensemble precision typically is not a trademark of his, which makes the performances on this CD all the more shocking. Who would expect the Rite of Spring, of all things, to sound so rhythmic, clear, and powerful under Barenboim? He has the Chicago Symphony playing with incredible tightness and security in this remarkably difficult work. The various climaxes are full of fire, as well. Both La Mer and Boulez's Notations VII get refined playing also, even though there's a certain heaviness about the La Mer that takes away slightly from some of the atmospheric and shimmering effects of the piece. Overall, a great (and surprising) disc, supported by Teldec's terrific sonics.

Amazing:
Le Sacre Du Printemps is one of my favorite pieces. I have four different recordings of it, and none of them come close to the all around greatness of this recording. This was the last recording that I purchased out of the four, and I feel no need to ever purchase another version. Every time I listen to this recording, I get goosebumps as if I was watching it live. And I have seen it live, (with the CSO and Barenboim conducting) and the recording really captures the live performance spirit. When I listen to it, I can see the strings' violent downbows at the beginning of "Dances of the Young Girls," the quick fingers of the woodwinds playing the fast scales, the trombones swiftly moving their slides, and the timpanists arms giving powerful hits on the drum in the 11/4 bar. It's an amazing version of the piece, and by far one of the best. But of course, don't leave out La Mer and Notations VII. Both are extremely well played, and also wonderful pieces. Le Sacre Du Printemps is most definetly the highlight of this CD, though.

• Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps: Premiere Partie: L'Adoration De La Terre
• Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps: Deuxieme Partie: Le Sacrifice
• Debussy: La Mer-Trois Esquisses Symphoniques: De L'Aube A Midi Sur La Mer
• Debussy: La Mer-Trois Esquisses Symphoniques: Jeux De Vagues
• Debussy: La Mer-Trois Esquisses Symphoniques: Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer
• Boulez: Notations VII