Robert Craft - Igor Stravinsky: Later Ballets (2007)

Is there any doubt that Robert Craft is the reigning Stravinsky conductor of our time? His years of friendship with, apprenticeship to and quasi-adoption by Stravinsky certainly give him bona fides for this, but it is his impeccable musicianship that tells here. These performances have appeared before on CD -- Jeu de cartes and Danses concertantes on Koch, and the Scènes de Ballet, Variations, and Capriccio on MusicMasters -- all recorded in the 1990s. Naxos is in the process of re-releasing on their own label all of Craft's Stravinsky recordings of that period (plus a few new ones done specifically for them) and the series is an undiluted triumph. This disc is simply stunning. I compared Craft's recordings of various of these works with those with Stravinsky conducting, and there is little to choose between them except that the Craft performances are universally better recorded and in some instances (e.g., Jeu de Cartes) better played.

On this CD, the two works written before Stravinsky moved to America -- Jeu de Cartes and Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra -- bookend the later ballets written in California (at 1260 N. Wetherly, Beverly Hills to be precise). The pianist in Capriccio is the superb American, Mark Wait, who specializes in twentieth-century works. (Those who know Balanchine's 'Jewels' will recognize Capriccio as the music for that happiest of all Balanchine/Stravinsky ballets). Danses concertantes was the first full score Stravinsky wrote in California (1941-42)and its middle movement, Thème varié, has an American flavor. It was not long after its concert premiere that Balanchine choreographed it. Scènes de Ballet was written for Broadway, choreographed by Anton Dolin for Billy Rose's 1944 'The Seven Lively Arts', but of course it has taken on a life of its own, particularly with British companies, as re-choreographed by Frederick Ashton. Variations is a five-minute set of variations on a twelve-tone row, but lest that put you off, it still sounds like the Stravinsky we know and love, as does his other twelve-tone ballet, Agon.

The performances here are by four different ensembles -- the Philharmonia (Jeu), 20th Century Classics Ensemble (Danses), Orchestra of St. Lukes (Scènes & Capriccio), and London Philharmonic (Variations). Each is superb.