Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - Poulenc: Les Biches BBC National Orchestra of Wales & Thierry Fischer

• Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Le sacre du printemps: Part I: Adoration of the Earth:
• 1 Introduction - 03:13
• 2 The Augurs of Spring - Dances of the Young Girls - 03:06
• 3 Ritual of Abduction - 01:22
• 4 Spring Rounds - 03:40
• 5 Ritual of the River Tribes - 01:42
• 6 Procession of the Sage - 00:42
• 7 The Sage - 00:23
• 8 Dance of the Earth 01:14
• Le sacre du printemps: Part II: The Sacrifice:
• 9 Introduction - 04:48
• 10 Mystic Circles of the Young Girls - 03:42
• 11 Glorification of the Chosen One - 01:28
• 12 Evocation of the Ancestors - 00:39
• 13 Ritual Action of the Ancestors - 03:41
• 14 Sacrificial Dance 05:05
• Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): Les biches, FP 36:
• 15 Ouverture 03:13
• 16 Rondeau 03:21
• 17 Chanson dansee 03:58
• 18 Adagietto 03:40
• 19 Jeu 04:10
• 20 Rag-Mazurka 05:28
• 21 Andantino 03:06
• 22 Petite chanson dansee 01:46
• 23 Final 04:01
• Total Runtime 01:07:28

Info for Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - Poulenc: Les Biches

The conclusion to a three part-series of Igor Stravinsky's ballets from Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russes (following discs of The Firebird and Petrushka), performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Thierry Fischer. These recordings capture the excitement and vibrancy of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in live performance at their home of BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales.

Almost no musical work has had such a powerful influence or evoked as much controversy as Stravinsky's ballet score The Rite of Spring. The work's premiere on May 29, 1913, at the Théatre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, was scandalous. In addition to the outrageous costumes, unusual choreography and bizarre story of pagan sacrifice, Stravinsky's musical innovations tested the patience of the audience to the fullest.

This disc also features Francis Poulenc's ballet Les Biches, premiered at the Ballet Russes in 1924. Originally commissioned by Diaghilev to write a piece based on Glazunov's Les Sylphides, Poulenc instead chose to base his piece on the paintings of Watteau that depicted Louis XV and various women in his 'Parc aux biches'

" ... [Fischer’s] Rite is one of the best I've heard" (International Record Review)

" ... this live performance from an unexpected source is very, very decent … you should buy this for the generous, unusual coupling with Francis Poulenc’s rowdy, witty 1924 ballet Les biches …. As with the Rite, the performance is immaculate." (The Arts Desk)

BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
Thierry Fischer, conductor

No biography found.

This album contains no booklet.