Stravinsky has been compared to his near contemporary Picasso, the painter who provided dÃ©cor for Pulcinella and who through a long career was to show mastery of a number of contrasting styles. Stravinsky's earlier music was essentially Russian in inspiration, followed by a style of composition derived largely from the eighteenth century, interspersed with musical excursions in other directions. His so-called neo-classicism coincided with the beginning of a career that was now international. The initial enthusiasm for the Russian revolution of 1917 that had led even Dyagilev to replace crown and scepter in The Firebird with a red flag, was soon succeeded by distaste for the new rÃ©gime and the decision not to return to Russia. Stravinsky wrote his Danses concertantes in Hollywood in 1941 and early 1942, in response to a commission from the Wemer Janssens Orchestra, which gave the first performance in Los Angeles on 8th February under the direction of the composer. Although originally intended for concert use, the Danses concertantes were planned in balletic sequence, with an introductory and concluding march to bring the dancers on and off the stage and the necessary variety, not only in the Pas d' action and Pas de deux but also in the theme and variations, three of the latter based on an ascending semitone step. In 1944 the dances were choreographed by Balanchine for the Ballet russe of Monte Carlo. The style of writing reflects that of the earlier ballet Jeu de cartes.

Tracklist:

Pulcinella: Ouverture: Allegro moderato
Pulcinella: Serenata: Larghetto
Pulcinella: Scherzino
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Andantino
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Ancora poco meno
Pulcinella: Allegro assai
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Largo
Pulcinella: (Allegro)
Pulcinella: Presto
Pulcinella: (Largo)
Pulcinella: Allegro alla breve
Pulcinella: Tarantella
Pulcinella: Andantino
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Gavotta con due variationi
Pulcinella: Vivo
Pulcinella: Tempo di Minu
Pulcinella: Allegro assai
Danses concertantes: Marche - Introduction
Danses concertantes: Pas d'action: Con moto
Danses concertantes: Th ma vari : Lento
Danses concertantes: Variation I: Allegretto
Danses concertantes: Variation II: Scherzando
Danses concertantes: Variation III: Andantino
Danses concertantes: Variation IV: Tempo giusto
Danses concertantes: Pas de deux
Danses concertantes: Marche - Conclusion

UPC: 730099418126
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 1.23.96
Format: CD

Stefan Sanderling - Pulcinella (CD)