Search - Igor Stravinsky, Fazil Say :: Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps

This is like no other Rite of Spring you're likely to be familiar with, not even the piano four-hands version it's based on. The pianist and Teldec's engineers have done some arcane digital overdubbing, synchronizing, and overrecording so that Say's two hands sound like many more pounding away at the keyboard. A prepared piano and percussive effects are added to further simulate the orchestra. And Say grunts and groans a lot. Still, piano versions of complex orchestral scores are more suited for study purposes and for clarifying elements that get lost when clothed in instrumental colors. Most people will be satisfied with the many fine orchestral recordings, including those by Dorati, Boulez, Markevitch, and Stravinsky. Despite the disc's synthetic quality, which will make it off-limits for many, it's undeniably exciting, full of raw power and interesting effects. The meager 31 minutes of playing time is justified by Say's claim that no appropriate disc mate could be found. (Someone should tell him about "Stop" buttons--nobody's forced to listen straight through.) As an "enhanced CD," it can be put into the CD drive of your computer, and you'll see a brief MTV-type video of Say doing snippets of Bach, Gershwin, and the Stravinsky in a cell-like room while the camera nervously jumps about. --Dan Davis