Re: [ARSCLIST] Bolero by Ravel the definitive version?

[Don Cox <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 06/08/03, Mike Richter wrote:

> To my knowledge, there is no one performance which can be considered
> definitive of this or any other substantial work. For example, one
> might consider Stravinsky's recordings of his own music "definitive"
> except that the 'definition' changes as his interpretation varies in
> different recordings of the same work.

There may be several excellent recordings of a major work available, but
there are often also several which for one reason or another are not
very good.

For a person getting to know a piece for the first time, a fairly
"straight" performance in reasonably modern sound will be best. For
example, I would not direct a beginner to Furtwangler or Mengelberg, or
even to Toscanini. Their great but personal performances, in sound which
does present a barrier, are better appreciated when you already know the
piece fairly well, IMO.

Ravel's Bolero is a special case as it is really a technical exercise
which needs no interpretation, just accurate playing.

Regards
--
Don Cox
doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx