Search - Igor Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks Orchestra, RCA Victor Chamber Orchestra :: Stravinsky Father and Son

Pearl puzzlingly titles this disc Stravinsky: Father and Son, although the son, Soulima Stravinsky, appears only in the Études--three and a half minutes out of the disc's 62. He plays them well, but the interest here lies in his father's conducting on rarely heard recordings made in 1947. For the most part, the repertory includes the spiky, neoclassical masterpieces of the period. There's a compelling fascination in hearing the composer's contemporary take on pieces he rerecorded in better sound and, often, more characterful performances, in the 1950s and 1960s. Stravinsky conducts his pickup studio orchestras with rhythmic drive and energy, making one wish the transfers were less edgy, though they do capture the music's bright brittleness. This disc is essential for Stravinskians wanting a complete picture of his recorded career. --Dan Davis