Artist: Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth Title: Stravinsky - Le Sacre du printemps, Petrouchka Year Of Release: 2014 Label: Actes Sud Genre: Classical Quality: FLAC tracks Total Time: 01:08:52 Total Size: 318 Mb Tracklist: La sacre du printemps (1913) 01 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - L'adoration de la Terre 02 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Danse des adolescentes 03 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Jeu du rapt 04 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Augures printaniers 05 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Jeu des cites rivales 06 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Cortege du Sage 07 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Le Sage 08 - La Sacre du printemps - Premere Partie - Danse de la Terre 09 - La Sacre du printemps - Seconde Partie - Le sacrifice 10 - La Sacre du printemps - Seconde Partie - Cercle mysterieux des adolescentes 11 - La Sacre du printemps - Seconde Partie - Glorification de l'elue 12 - La Sacre du printemps - Seconde Partie - Evocation des ancetres 13 - La Sacre du printemps - Seconde Partie - Danse sacrale Petrouchka (Version 1911) 14 - Petrouchka - Premier Tableau - Fete populaire de la Semaie grasse 15 - Petrouchka - Premier Tableau - Le tour de passe-passe 16 - Petrouchka - Premier Tableau - Danse russe 17 - Petrouchka - Second Tableau - Chez Petrouchka 18 - Petrouchka - Troiseieme Tableau - Chez la Maure 19 - Petrouchka - Troiseieme Tableau - Danse de la ballerine 20 - Petrouchka - Troiseieme Tableau - Valse (la ballerine et le Maure) 21 - Petrouchka - Quatrieme Tableau - Fete populaire de la Semaine grasse (vers le soir) 22 - Petrouchka - Quatrieme Tableau - Danse des hounous 23 - Petrouchka - Quatrieme Tableau - Danse des cochers et des palefreniers 24 - Petrouchka - Quatrieme Tableau - Les deguises Performers: Les Siècles (on periods instruments) François-Xavier Roth - conductor To celebrate the centennial of the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps, François-Xavier Roth and his extraordinary original instrument ensemble Les Siècles re-created the original 1913 version of the score, employing vintage instruments that were used in France in the early 20th century. Not only was this authentic period version performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris on the anniversary, at the same hour when Le Sacre du printemps triggered the most infamous riot in music history, but Roth and Les Siècles received a standing ovation and took the piece on tour to critical praise. This recording actually predates the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées performance, having been recorded two weeks earlier in concerts at Metz and Grenoble, but the interpretation and execution are virtually the same as what was heard internationally via webcast on May 29, 2013. Roth is fastidious in preserving every detail of the score, including different dynamic markings and breaks in the music that Stravinsky later removed in the 1947 revision. But what is astonishing in Le Sacre and in the similarly vibrant performance of Petrouchka included here, is the distinctive tone of the instruments, characteristic of hand-crafted instruments at the time. One might compare the woodwinds with modern versions and notice the deeper and richer sonorities of the older models, or detect subtle qualities in the brass timbres that are missing in instruments made today. (These differences are striking in the hair-raising Danse Sacrale, track 13.) This Harmonia Mundi CD is a feast for the ears, as well as a lesson in bringing history to life, and devotees of Stravinsky's great ballets owe it to themselves to hear this thrilling rendition