"Undoubtedly, there might be more savage recordings of Rite, but this one is anything but boring. The Minnesota orchestra is put through its paces and distinguishes itself. While the loud and busy passages are well-presented (they do get the adrenalin going!), the quiet passages are more ethereal than usual. Simply, I don't think you can get a better Rite for such a price.Petrouchka I can't comment on (I'm not as familiar with the piece), but Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet (selections)is almost verbatim of these force's well-respected Mercury recording, differing in timings by only a few seconds. Like before, the final "Tomb" scene is overwhelming. The other pieces are no less well-done. The engineering requires comment. Unlike this group's excellent collection of Beethoven overtures, which had coarse and dry sound, the engineering here is very very good. Don't let the ADD label put you off--you won't miss digital. Nice spacious sound; the bass drum rattles the pictures on my wall every time! A Bargain."
BRAVO!
Christopher Anthony John | Onteniente, Spain | 05/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With, unfortunately, so few recordings available of Maestro Skrowaczewski's, this excellent 3CD box set is a must. The Minnesota Orchestra is in top form and full marks to the sound engineers for excellent recordings."
One of the finest recordings of Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Pri
the Maestro | Abilene, TX USA | 03/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I rate this recording of Le Sacre du Printemps to be one of the best on the market today. I highly reccommend this recording to anyone who is looking for a recording of the Rite which stays true to the score. Please see my review under Levi's recording (Atlanta Syphony Orchestra--Telarc) of the Rite of Spring for more information and a list of other Rite of Spring recordings which I feel are the best."