This is one of a Naxos series of double-disc packages with music selected from their vast catalog and extensive accompanying notes in illustrated booklets. The essay on Stravinsky is fascinating reading, and is peppered with listings in bold face of the various excerpts of music presented on the two fully-filled CDs. I had not been aware of his positive attitude in the 1930s toward both Mussolini and Hitler. The photographs are of great interest; I had never before seen the one of Stravinsky and Debussy together, for example. Many of the performances are conducted by Robert Craft, who was the composer’s right-hand man for many years and is currently recording a series of Stravinsky’s works for Naxos. A couple of the Craft selections have not even been released as yet. Other top names represented in the music tracks are pianist Peter Hill, tenor Ian Bostridge, and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta.
This is a well-designed educational project on one of the most important musical geniuses of the 20th century, and at bargain price.
– John Sunier
