The Rite of Spring Scandal (16 conductors + 2 pianists)

[@kimsteel366]

That 11/4 bar is the most heavy metal thing written. Some of these versions are particularly savage, almost like: the virgin's gonna die, all the maidens are gonna die, the whole village is gonna die... 😱😱😱😱

[@rftuba]

Agreed and check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXeqaGOde8ephck

[@ImAnBoosterBaby]

@Alex Tejada Why so judgemental?

[@ejb7969]

He's being very defensive. You'd think he feels threatened for some reason. Heavy metal is a fair description, if anachronistic. But Stravinsky was clearly out to kick ass in this one.

[@ImAnBoosterBaby]

@Alex Tejada Actually, you are right. Comparing any western classical music, with it's history of male and white supremacy, it's elitism and it's completely outdated, ancient restrictions of limited theory can, under no view point, compare to the rich culture the americas have produced over the years. And to think that so much wonderful art has come from there, even through the hardships of colonialisation, slavery, segragation, exploitation, apropriation etc. is truly a pathetic comparison to this ok'ish piece of ballet. The artform just struggles to bring this emotion to the stage per se. It really isn't stravinsky's fault, he just was born in the wrong century, in the wrong country. But who knows, maybe some metal bands listened to his music and were inspired to do better....

[@KR-mm4el]

@Alex Tejada agreed

[@tidnid1869]

The Colombia youth orchestra take the cake - they are incredible

[@wormswithteeth]

Stravinsky conducting: *I'm just vibing*

[@semhak]

I wish Stravinsky could see this. To see his music celebrated and performed so absolutely furiously and with such earthly spirit. Especially hearing recordings from his time when orchestras clearly weren't ready for his music.

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

He did : he only passed in the early 70's.

[@johnfowler7660]

@ 0:56 I don't ever recall seeing choreography in an orchestra before. After the shock, I kind of liked it.

[@jefolson6989]

Added to the strangeness

[@ImAnBoosterBaby]

Had the pleasure of seeing Kristian Järvi with the Baltic Sea orchestra at the Elbphilarmonie, ironically also with Stravinsky, but the Firebird in that case. The whole concert was choreographed with most pieces having fluent transitions, composed by Järvi himself. It was outlandish and outstanding.

[@highstimulation2497]

love it. like a drum corps visual, but far far far less cheesy and meatheady.

[@kieronmakwili1204]

Also the Colombian Orchestra played the Rite of Spring a semitone higher than normal

[@jasonc5239]

Those staccato timpani mallets in San Francisco are intense! Also, the Colombia Youth Orchestra is rocking it!

[@matthewv789]

David Herbert (on the right, who later left for Chicago) is incredible. I’ve always loved that performance from the proms (more intense than their own video from back home). Among these, besides Orozco-Estrada (the Colombians!!!!) I thought Bernstein/LSO and Salomon/LAPO were incredible, with MTT/SFS and Gatti/Concertgebouw also particularly good among the slightly more sedate interpretations (relatively speaking).

[@Theloniouspunk1]

Hearing Stravinsky as conductor is very cool.

[@camillehocde8195]

And also very ear raping because this performance was awful

[@fredericchopin6445]

yea but stranvinsky isn’t very good as a conductor

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

@@camillehocde8195 : mostly due to terrible recording gear from 1929.

[@maxwellhanks4751]

The silence at 6:53 is like no other, I feel some of the others seem to rush straight into the section.

[@Mur4dMusic]

It's a bit sad that Stravinsky's recording is the worst among these. He probably couldn't get what he wanted from the orchestras of that time :(

[@JonathanSao]

The orchestral instrument of that age was what he know. Maybe, all others just run and not feel "the glorification".

[@Geoff_Tuba_UK]

Early days of audio recording directly on to a wax master. Technology in those days was limited and costly. Each performer had to be within 20 inches of the recording device. 100 musicians! Bit crowded me thinks.

[@camillehocde8195]

Well in fact, Stravinsky was a very bad conductor, the musiciens were just completely lost because having a conductor who cannot clearly lead you in a piece that crazy is just awful

[@TheVoitel]

No, Stravinsky just wasn’t a particularly good conductor. There is a more modern recording by Stravinsky done in a big series with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Which is an interesting thing, because you see that Stravinsky does somethings very different to most renditions, particularly he spaces the music unevenly. But regarding the rendition there are multiple versions here I would not take over the Stravinsky. My personal favorite is the Les Siècles/Roth rendition.

[@barney6888]

@@TheVoitel Roth is one of the great conductors of our day

[@domeonce9006]

National youth Orchestra of Colombia~1:00. The ENTIRE ORCHESTRA is FLAILING, almost out of their seats! Plus I like the thing the strings were doing with their bows building up to the first blast! The power and energy of YOUTH!!

[@IceOfPhoenix88]

That youth orchestra performance was the most intense

[@schneiderFFF]

I don't think i have counted to 11 in 9 minutes this many times

[@jakebaker1051]

The theatrics at 1:00 sold it for me

[@erringman]

I like the Stravinsky version, you can really hear the rests and the details of the orchestration that are lost when it's played faster. I'd like to hear a modern orchestra take an energetic approach at that tempo.

[@alexpaxton1336]

I could watch orchestra clip comparisons all day. Faves were Bernstein and Salonen

[@mrclean097]

This is such an incredibly cool compilation! As an HS orchestra director, I'm always trying to get my students to listen critically to different interpretations of the same piece, so they "see" there's not just one way to play something. I will be sharing this with them. Thank you so much!

[@christianbaldiniofficial]

Thank you, I'm delighted to hear this. If you enjoy this compilation, I can also recommend this (Beethoven) one, which your students might appreciate too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqXdiJiErrGKpJo

[@mrclean097]

@@christianbaldiniofficial Excellent! Thank you!

[@richardwilliams473]

The timpani playing from the San Francisco Symphony is outstanding!!!

[@detectivehome3318]

Agreed!!

[@Emilien-hy3sy]

Orozco-Estrada and the youth orchestra of Colombia are by far the best, definitely unparalleled

[@Olivier-Jaquet]

For me Boulez really nails it especially in terms of tempo change and timpani volume during the heavy beat part. But Boulez had the advantage of being one of Stravinsky's best friend and spent much time with him so it makes sense he could really capture what the maestro wanted.

[@AtlantaMusicCritic]

Great compilation. The National Youth Orchestra of Columbia is aggressive and untamed! Loved it.

[@Bobbnoxious]

I had the pleasure of seeing both Michael Tilson Thomas and Pierre Boulez perform this piece with the Los Angeles Philharmonic during the1980s. Boulez was probably the only conductor in the world who could get through it without breaking a sweat.

[@dieterammann4]

Although I very much appreciated the collaboration with Gergiev and especially with Pierre Boulez, the first place here goes to the National Youth Orchestra of Colombia.

[@metalheadjock3513]

Yes, their ferocity was AMAZING. I've adored this piece since 1988. Violent, chaotic, abstract. I completely agree with you. Would love to see the entirety of their choreography.

[@dieterammann4]

@@metalheadjock3513 Yes, the visual element would certainly be an exciting additional aspect in the live concert- situation.

[@Matthew-nv2wy]

Yes, sir!

[@design7054]

Jesus H Christ, the Bernstein one takes it on the visuals. Terrifying.

[@Richard-b5r9v]

At 6:09 we see David Herbert playing timpani for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra who went on to play for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra now

[@jamiepastman5594]

if it's too fast it loses it's weight. stravinsky's version tempo shows it was important to him not to rush it

[@adrianpavlov7845]

To me, most convincing from the rhythmic and energetic point of view are Bernstein, Salonen, and Tilson Thomas. The transition to the last dance in their interpretations happens the most natural way.

[@jmwoods190]

I think Jaap Van Zweden's rendition isn't far behind either!

[@misterchrissy]

those 3 were my pick as well.

[@Ekkie101]

I understand that Stravinsky presented the piece to the head of the Paris Music Conservatory (or something along those lines) in a piano reduction played by him and Claude Debussy.

[@GrumpyStormtrooper]

I want to see the Rite of spring live. My local philharmonic doesn't play this music, I'll have to travel somewhere.

[@nogo4022]

Thank you so much for this, my favorite orchestral piece. I had the pleasure (and frustration) of singing under Stravinsky (Symphony of Psalms) a million decades ago & found him a really confusing conductor. It was so interesting to see those same head-scratchers in the Stravinsky conducted piece. His other recordings of the same pieces often really differ from year to year…almost as though he’s making edits to his own music throughout his long career. No matter. Le Sacre changed music, dance & theater forever & I love him for this.

[@kaleidoscopio5]

Bernstein is the man.....he just went into the craziness of the piece with no fear 😁

[@jamestierney2531]

Get it on. Bang a gong (or whatever else you can find) but whatever you do, don’t miss this amazing collage of/homage to this breathtaking masterpiece. Fasten your seat belt…it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

[@fingerhorn4]

ALL of these recordings are great performances (well, nearly all) and what is evident is that variety is essential, so I think it is pointless to say which one is "best". Also we only hear one limited section so there will be strengths and weaknesses in other sections we are not hearing. I must have seen/heard this piece live and recorded at least a hundred times and each performance brings something fresh. Of course the acoustics of each venue is also really important and can sway opinions as much as differences in pace, balance and conducting styles.

[@isa5104]

Loved Mikko Franck. The frantic tempo makes it feel like you can’t catch a full deep breath, which I feel really adds to the experience of the listener. It’s like 11 aural slaps to the face lol

[@BucurEST1989]

Wow. Mad love to all the musicians making the world a better day. Favorite

[@JohnJApanovitch]

Stravinsky made even the most odd time signatures sound like a horror film. 11/4 is something you don't really see, but it's evident here. 11 quarter notes, one huge dynamic. Great job to these orchestras (and pianists)! :)

[@gerrittpols8131]

Pity there’s no performance with Seiji Ozawa in this compilation. IMO the performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the absolute pinnacle.

[@AlexSzell]

It really is! Best recording ever of TROS!

[@StyrofoamCancer]

Thanks for the interesting comparison. My previous favorite performances were Gergiev and Dudamel, and after a blind listen, probably still are. Going to have to check out Esa-Pekka Salonen's full recording now though, so cohesive!

[@jonathanfinney7821]

I watched all of these; saw one where the conductor was actually helpful, especially in the 11/4, conducting small precise beats, with no grandstanding. Looked to see who it was, and it was you, CB.

[@matthewmosca5002]

Thank you for putting together this marvelous compilation, illustrating the different approaches to this, the most shocking piece of music ever composed! [my opinion there!!] Loved it! Of course, having been first exposed to the Rite of Spring through Disney's Fantasia [1940] I envisioned the arrival of the Tyrranosaurus Rex!

[@antoniovisioli4460]

Bellissimo e intelligentissimo video. GRAZIE!!!!!

[@pearlchan444]

Thanks a lot !

[@Bugleur]

Colombia, Les Siècles and London for me it's the three best !

[@kiltlvr]

Martha Argerich kicking ass on the piano affixes her goddess status.

[@novagerio9244]

Roth's was a surprise; the "Zäsur" before the 11/4, and the Tam-tam glissando, wich for once was audible!

[@rickythe2nd63]

Sacre bleu! The story of the premiere is as wild, crazy and deliciously weird as the bombastic, rambunctious music itself!

[@radudeATL]

Bach Beethoven Brahms are cool and all. But this is right up my alley!

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

Same for me!

[@padredemishijos12]

My preference is Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra followed by Orosco Estrada and the Colombian Youth Orchestra.

[@py8554]

The youth from the two orchestras gave the most energy.

LA Philharmonic with Esa-Pekka Salonen rocks🤘

[@harri2626]

What a splendid comparison, thank you. I suppose it was the poor recording quality in 1928, but the Stravinsky version was the least satisfactory. His timing just seemed wrong..... but he should know! For me, it has to be the Bernstein/LSO version which crackles with life.

[@jackko90MI]

How can you say Stravinsky itself timing is wrong. The guy conceived the piece in thr first place. Maybe it's you that are too used with faster interpretations.

[@2piee]

@@jackko90MI Stravinsky was an amazing composer but a terrible conductor

[@owlcowl]

@@2piee He became a better one over the years, but never a great one, even for his own works. The irony of this slow 1929 performance is that later on he was always urging musicians to play his compositions at a faster tempo, crisp and dry, and complained that most conductors played them too slow. So this laggard first recording of the Rite is entirely due to the technical shortcomings of the players he had to work with. His earlier programming of the piece on piano rolls uses a faster tempo than we are used to hearing, especially in the closing Sacrificial Dance, which runs at nearly twice the speed customarily used in 20C recordings, including the composer's own! He couldnt play it as fast as he wanted to (no one could at the time) but he could program it mechanically for posterity and all top orchestras can now perform it as Stravinsky originally heard it in his head.

[@Volt100C]

the rest in François-Xavier's version is so cool!

[@este.bahn92]

Why does nobody like Rattle? He's got the cleaner sound imo

[@kimsteel366]

I like Rattle's version very much. Clean articulation and high energy/intensity without it going overboard.

[@jamesmcleish6990]

Esa Pekka Salonen takes the cake for sure

[@srothbardt]

And the winner is....Esa-Pekka Salonen, followed by Michael Tilson Thomas, Semyon Bychkov, and Lenny (poor sound prevents his from being on top).

[@flimi]

The Bernstein clip brings out the brute force of the piece as the best. The Roth clip is unfortunately too fast, for no reason.

[@rnhtube]

The faster the better. This part is supposed to be frenzied and chaotic.

[@douglashernandez3316]

3:20 the best

[@ASclassical]

please could someone send me the full version of Salonen?

[@joycedelrosario2218]

0:57 So Intense!!

[@Nuxunumo]

That moment when you realize Bernstein conducted them score-less 🐐🐐

[@khinthan2923]

Yeh. Also Simon rattle.

[@jojeda1124]

What are the groupings for the 5/8, 9/8 and 7/8 bars?

[@RogerioDec]

None of the samples follow the original recording time of Stravinsky himself ... why?

[@IceOfPhoenix88]

When the music is modern you have recordings of the composer himself conducting.

[@Freun]

1:09 is it just me or that the violinist expression is funny when the violinists played the hard piece

[@tonyrowe4701]

so happy I have 11 fingers :)

[@louisemccarthy1110]

Columbia Youth Orchestra - Fantastic stuff!! King Kong is coming for the virgin.

[@stevoglez]

I like Stravinsky’s version, sounds primitive and retrograde, the string section is specially good

[@soliduswas]

Salonen with the LA Phil will always be the definitive play through for me. It’s great to see so many interpretations - but no one nails the transition as smoothly, and maintains the rhythm’s urgency. While Mikko plays at an exciting speed, I can’t help but feel such speed lacks a nuance or gets ahead of itself. Slower interpretations like Bernstein, while powerful and dramatic, lack the energy (brought on by such large breaks) to invest me.

[@cjrr124]

Bernstein and Salonen.

[@PhilistineTheArtLuvr]

It seems as if everyone upped the tempo except for Stravinsky himself!

[@vacuumlover1]

Dudamel is my favorite, but I’m Biased. He’s an idol of mine

[@ubipatumbi]

No doubts...the author's version...

[@jefolson6989]

So....do we trust the composer's own recording to be the way he wanted it to sound?

[@ejb7969]

Not the 1929 version - the orchestra is simply not up to it.

[@owlcowl]

Not this early one for sure. As noted by the previous reply, the musicians couldnt handle it. Stravinsky recorded it three more times with better orchestras & better technology. But perhaps the best document of the way he originally wanted it to sound is the pianola roll he programmed in the early 1920s, only a decade after its composition, in which the basic lines are clearer, given the lack of instrumental color, and most significantly it employs a much faster tempo in the closing Dance Sacral, almost double the speed at which it was customarily played for decades, including in the composers own versions (it was challenging enough for musicians in the slower rendition). The breakneck tempo on the rolls was first adopted for performance by Benjamin Zander in his 1990 recording with the Boston Philharmonic, with truly sensational results.

[@MrShovelBottom]

they took down the rite of spring with andres :(

[@QuizKid]

There is a certain kind of strong menace to this part when played a bit slower. Like the Simon Rattle version.

[@urswaechter]

No doubt: Andrés Orozco-Estrada is the best!

[@Balfour.]

Most cringiest performance ever

[@tiekoe]

Lol, use your ears, not your eyes

[@Balfour.]

@@tiekoe sure, that's what they told to the audience in the theatre lol

[@tiekoe]

@UCmzNI7K3TDiyXpRLhEeAIIw I'm agreeing with you Balfour, relax haha

[@Balfour.]

@@tiekoe oh sorry XD

[@vinylisland6386]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3_CfKlqdr2ckLc Markevitch is immaculate and powerful without making an enormous ritardando and then accelerating, which seems to be the usual trick/mistake.

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

Andrés Orozco-Estrada, National Youth Orchestra of Colombia : the Rite, high on cocaine!

[@user-bi3jh1yd7r]

いつも最初に確認するところだ。

[@LordHaveMercy]

Salonen wins

[@sebastian9445]

Imagine if some actually started a riot mid-performance to makemore realistic LOL

[@sebastiantorres2542]

Extraordinario salonen, pero Bernstein es a mi entender el mejor de todos

[@fredelin2580]

In every aspect of the score, from beginning to end, you must listen to this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH21YZp-namWgcU

[@TheTromboneChannel]

looks like someone got the memo.

[@sivadepilif]

Bernstein timing by far.

[@ikmarchini]

from a conductor. Stravinsky takes it the slowest, and much like the printed score, a conductor must start there. It seems the later the recordings the faster it gets. Roth is going to miss his train. Oddly, when Stravinsky did it again in 1961 he was more middle of the road tempo. I certainly believe in 1929 he could at least have gotten the tempo he wanted, even with his bad technique and a struggling orchestra. And he uses the score, but his head is not in it like some here. That said, it remains concert music and is not really understood outside of the choreography. It was written as a collaboration and it all of a sudden makes sense - concerts are just a partial view. Check this - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKCXpJlorLljrbc

[@edwardszczapow3634]

Bernstein rules! Wise Old Jew... I love him version💓

[@RaulLopez-bu8yk]

And where i stay Vladimir Fedoseyev

[@icebearisicebear]

REPETITION LEGITIMIZES

[@sammorgan9526]

Rite of spring on 2 pianos sounds like legend of Zelda BOTW music

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

Probably the contrary : the Rite is 100+ years old

[@guidepost42]

IMHO the youth orchestras play it best. I suppose their hormones are still on the boil.

[@an-asteraceae]

They're frying. I love it!

[@sidosoft]

Yes! I also noticed this.

[@OsakaJoe01]

Piano-wise, I like the Jussen brothers rendition the best. Too bad it didn’t make the cut...

[@sharpone6441]

August / 9 / (2025)

[@romulo-mello]

Either Stravinsky`s conception is very different from the modern ones, or the old orchestra was really bad

[@duck_gang35]

It’s more so that Stravinsky was just a terrible conductor. Trying to follow a bad conductor in such a difficult piece of music isn’t going to sound great. 1929 recording technology doesn’t help much either.

[@JonathanSao]

The latin ones running like salsa like stuff. :/

[@andreaguarino8207]

Gergiev is the worst one as usual

[@adrianomondini8795]

Dov'è Claudio Abbado ? Insieme a Bernstein per sono le versioni migliori.