Stravinsky - The Rite Of Spring [Dutoit-Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal]
When i first heard this work many moons ago, i was not ready for it, i thought Classical music was about tunes and melodies, something you can whistle, but this is full of rhythms and dynamics, seems like the first audience at the premiere weren't ready for it either, but once you get into those primeval beats, then you're hooked all the way to the Sacrificial Dance.
On the cover of the booklet is a painting by Henri Matisse, called 'The Dance', painted in 1910, roughly three years before the premiere of Stravinsky's work, it fits in perfectly, Art and Music make perfection.
Of course Stravinsky's Ballet is a visual as well as audio, but the music stands up on its own, the section i really did enjoy is in Part Two, 'The Naming And Honouring Of The Chosen One' [7:56-9:40], starts off with pagan beats on the drum [7:56-8:01], very effective, and then there's this sharp quick upward shrieks from the woodwind, while the strings use this pulsating rhythm [8:01-8:33], the brass comes in screaming, while the strings pizzicato an ominous pulse, with what sounds like the bassoon muttering monotonous notes [8:34-9:14], and then the beginning returns [9:14-9:38], it's an aural tour de force, and tremendously exciting.
Here's Dutoit conducting Part Two on YouTube.
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