This is the eight version of this famous work by Stravinsky. I have never done a proper comparison, I admit. The thing with all these different version is that from a conductor’s standpoint, there are so many choices to make. Stravinsky not only added a lot of orchestral color, but also added intricate rhythms that overlay and compete with each other throughout the piece. It is up to the conductor to make sure the orchestra keeps all these specific instructions to the letter. Or maybe not. Maybe it is just playing around and be creative. Choices, it is all about choices.
So when the composition celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, Decca thought it was a good idea to release this special box with 21 hours of it. I have tried to listen to it for a while, but it was a bit much, even for me. The same would probably happen if I would listen to the versions I have, one after the other, to compare. So that’s it, you’re not going to get the answer from me. There no accounting for taste anyway.
Oh, and I think the cover of this release really looks like this one.
