Igor Stravinsky - Works for Piano and Orchestra

Igor Stravinsky

Works for Piano and Orchestra

Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments; Capriccio; (5) Movements; Symphonies of Wind Instruments

Paul Crossley

London Sinfonietta

Esa-Pekka Salonen

Why this superb recording has not garnered more attention is amazing: it is one of the very finest selections and performances of lesser-known but brilliant works by Stravinsky. Recorded in the terrific acoustic of the Snape Maltings Concert Hall (the home of the Aldeburgh Festival) in 1988, these delights are performed by Stravinsky specialist pianist Paul Crossley with the firm support of Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the London Sinfonietta.

The works all followed in time Stravinsky's 'Pulcinella' ballet, a work which served to introduce his classical influence, a far cry from the 'big works' that brought such attention to the composer. The works here included are chamber-like in nature, with brilliant writing for interplay of the piano with the different instruments within the orchestra. 'Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra' is a cheeky romp, full of surprising twists and turns. 'Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments' maintains a percussive approach to the elected instruments: it is buoyant, strident, yet ultimately ingeniously integrated. 'Movements for Piano and Orchestra' has been called one of Stravinsky's 'most impenetrable works' with its focus on serialism, but after a listening or two the work gleams like a series of connected bursts of musical genius.

Salonen conducts the London Sinfonietta in a perfectly executed rendering of the difficult and very exposed 'Symphonies for Wind Instruments', a very wise and strongly supportive work to be programmed with the 'Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments'. Rarely has a composer found such variation of color and sonorities simply with wind instruments. Salonen's insightful pacing makes this little wonder of a composition sing!

This is a recording that may not be available long and it is certainly one that every lover of Stravinsky's oeuvre should add to the collection. Brilliant music making!