hi
could anyone suggest what is the best or one of the best versions of bolero please and by which orchestra ....thanks in anticipation

Bol�ro by Maurice Ravel
Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra

From Deutsche Grammophon

The best performance ever...an hypnotic vortex !!!!

hi
you wouldnt happen to have it in flac perhaps please ? if not dont worry and thankyou for the info anyway

You should definately try Pierre Boulez with the Berlin Philharmonic, which are outstanding in this luxurious and hypnotic early 20th century piece. This recording shows how masterfully the control of breath and rhythm of their sections soloists is. Really quite an experience is the recording quality, with an almost live intensity and ring to the final climax.

Bolero is a very tricky piece to get right. There's an unsubtle difference between smooth precision and clunky, deliberate transitions. Especially in this piece, that makes all the difference between the music coming to life, or simply plodding along (as so many critics of the piece contend) to its inevitable conclusion. I haven't heard the Sinopoli version, so I can't comment, but...

I have heard the Boulez version mentioned by TristanLudlow, and I have to say that I don't care for it. It's an excellent example of the complaint that Bolero is repetitive and mechanical. In the end of the piece, where the music becomes increasingly frenetic, Boulez's version feels like it's being played by robots. There is just no soul or presence to it.

The Stanislaw Skrowaczewski recording (conducting the Minnesota Orchestra) that was remastered by MFSL is likewise clunky.

Herbert Von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic (on Deutsche Grammophon 477 7161) is great. It's his first recorded Bolero (1966), and it just soars.

Leonard Bernstein conducting the Orchestre National de France is also an excellent choice (on CBS). It's faster than the von Karajan (by almost two minutes), and the difference has a noticeable impact the tension of the piece. The overall effect is different, but it's still nicely done.

I really love what Neville Marriner did with the piece on this album--
Bolero; Sorcerer's Apprentice - | AllMusic (http://www.allmusic.com/album/bolero-sorcerers-apprentice-w5948)
-- and if my CD hadn't gone missing, I'd rip and post it.

Drink this.........


Disc#4 Bolero, Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte, La Valse, Daphins Et Chlo� (1982)
Code:
FilePost.com: Download 111YODG82D4.rar - fast & secure! (http://filepost.com/files/e31e9fb5/111YODG82D4.rar/)

Found a FLAC rip of the von Karajan I mentioned:

http://rapidshare.com/files/330832543/HvKCDMR.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/330612700/HvKCDMR.part2.rar

Theres a great version that was used in Femme Fatale that is probably my favorite, I can send it to anyone who wants it just pm me

hi
many thanks to all that responded ...........I am very grateful and most impressed with your knowledge......so I was wondering if I might ask for another recommendation please for
troika by Prokofiev

many thanks indeed

Hello,
even though I risk being ironed over again by "whoop", I shall give my two recommendations. In the end his reaction shows how subjective judgements in this field are. I for my part own three of Karajan�s various versions and found the first one to be the least lively and utterly controlled, whereas later in his career the beautifying of sound was reduced, largely due to the fact that most of his concerts in the 80�s were recorded on video during the audio taping, thus longer takes were made and more spontaneous performances resulted. Be that as it may, the Troika you are mentioning is part of Prokofiev�s "Lieutenant Kije" Suite. Most might know it being a part of Woody Allen�s "Life and Death", which featured a performance by the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell. Sadly that performance is not available on disc and has gone out of print. My second prize would therefore go with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under a very young Claudio Abbado, currently in DG�s series "The Originals". Coupled with a great "Skythian Suite" and "Alexander Nevsky" performed by the LSO it boasts spectacular performances and recording quality for little money.

think herbert von karajan is the best on bolero

I have the LSO version, and it's definitely not bad. Maybe I'm just biased to the LSO though :P