Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth - Stravinsky - Le Sacre du printemps, Petrouchka (2014)

To celebrate the centennial of the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps, François-Xavier Roth and his extraordinary original instrument ensemble Les Siècles re-created the original 1913 version of the score, employing vintage instruments that were used in France in the early 20th century. Not only was this authentic period version performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris on the anniversary, at the same hour when Le Sacre du printemps triggered the most infamous riot in music history, but Roth and Les Siècles received a standing ovation and took the piece on tour to critical praise. This recording actually predates the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées performance, having been recorded two weeks earlier in concerts at Metz and Grenoble, but the interpretation and execution are virtually the same as what was heard internationally via webcast on May 29, 2013. Roth is fastidious in preserving every detail of the score, including different dynamic markings and breaks in the music that Stravinsky later removed in the 1947 revision. But what is astonishing in Le Sacre and in the similarly vibrant performance of Petrouchka included here, is the distinctive tone of the instruments, characteristic of hand-crafted instruments at the time. One might compare the woodwinds with modern versions and notice the deeper and richer sonorities of the older models, or detect subtle qualities in the brass timbres that are missing in instruments made today. (These differences are striking in the hair-raising Danse Sacrale, track 13.) This Harmonia Mundi CD is a feast for the ears, as well as a lesson in bringing history to life, and devotees of Stravinsky's great ballets owe it to themselves to hear this thrilling rendition.