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Igor Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra Andrea Battistoni, conductor MDG 650 2295-2 (CD) MDG - Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm Rare Repertoire . Outstanding Performances . Audiophile Sound Dabringhaus und Grimm Audiovision GmbH

Igor Stravinsky

(1882 – 1971)

Le Sacre du printemps

 

Leonard Bernstein

(1918 –1990)

Symphonic Dances from

West Side Story

​
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Andrea Battistoni, conductor

 

MDG 650 2295-2

(CD)

​

Price: 21,99 €

 

Esprit

Andrea Battistoni, a rising star conductor with an international reputation as one of the most important of his generation, juxtaposes two iconic 20th century dance masterpieces in this co-production by MDG and DENON. With every beat of Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" and Leonard Bernstein’s "West Side Story", Battistoni’s elation is audible and the immediacy of the rhythmic pulse can be felt.

 

Excitement

Causing a legendary scandal at its premiere, Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" catapulted the ballet into the modern era whereas the Symphonic Dances from Bernstein's "West Side Story" have always been extremely popular with audiences and even raised the musical to the level of opera and operetta. Even though "Sacre" has since become standard symphonic repertoire, its powerful music with pounding rhythms and expressive orchestration still feels supremely modern today.

Enchantment

Modern jazz meets Latino rhythms, mambo and cha-cha meet scherzo and fugue - the way Bernstein sets the rivalry between Puerto Ricans and Anglo-Americans in 1950’s New York to music is astonishing. Romeo and Juliet were the inspiration for "West Side Story". The Symphonic Dances condense the eternally youthful narrative with hits like "Somewhere" into a touchingly rousing orchestral suite.

 

Excellence

Founded over a century ago, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra is Japan’s first symphony orchestra. Since becoming Chief Conductor, Battistoni has been causing a sensation in Japan with his charisma and sensitive musicality. In this MDG-DENON series, talented young artists as well as historic and prizewinning recordings are presented. Like MDG, DENON is one of the pioneers in digital technology, recording its productions with great meticulousness, the finest equipment and adapted individually for each production, matching MDG’s own sound ideal.

"This is what one expects from Andrea Battistoni: a spectacular, musically outstanding, highly dynamic and intensely dramatic Sacre du Printemps, which one could not imagine more feverish in the excited passages. But even the more contemplative passages are intense and of remarkable sonority... an excellent recording, pleasantly spacious and transparent." (Pizzicato)

Igor Stravinsky Le Sacre du printemps Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra Andrea Battistoni, conductor MDG 650 2295-2 (CD) MDG - Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm Rare Repertoire . Outstanding Performances . Audiophile Sound Dabringhaus und Grimm Audiovision GmbH

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