Igor Markevitch was a celebrated young prodigy composer – Cortot discovered him at 13, Diaghilev commissioned some music from him and he impressed Béla Bartók. He also received conducting lessons from Hermann Scherchen and became a brilliant and demanding conductor. He had then come to the attention of Walter Legge, who engaged him to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra.

His STEREO version of Le Sacre du Printemps recorded in 1959 – different from the MONO version done in 1951 with same orchestra – manages to combine tight precision with the vital element of spontaneous surprise and highlights the intensity, the colour and the rhythmic power of the playing. A landmark recording!

Recorded: 10, 12–13.I. & 17.II.1959, No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
Producer: Eric Macleod
Balance engineers: Robert Gooch (January) & Harold Davidson (February)
Publisher: Hawkes and Son Ltd.
(P) 1960 Parlophone Records Limited, a Warner Music Group Company
© 2018 Parlophone Records Limited, a Warner Music Group Company