Renard

Stravinsky's Renard. or The Fox

On Ansermet's second recording, the one in English, they do not pronounce fox 'fahx'. It is more like 'fux'. So when they sing ' Mother Fox' it was quite startling to me when I heard it in my car today. After the initial shock, it became more and more hilarious. I wonder if the Decca sensors heard it before they released it!

It is on the 5 disc Stravinsky box, as a filler to the Fairie's Kiss. If you have it, listen for yourself.

BTW I have to look up who the Bass singer is. He is quite impressive. And, the 1955 French version hasn't made it to CD yet. Does the beginning sound like the Soldier's Tale to anybody else?

I have an old Stereo Treasury LP with the Ansermet Renard on it. It is a delightful work, more so than some other nearly contemporaneous works like Apollo or Mavra. In fact, I like it more than the Soldier's Tale.

YES! I love the Ansermet Renard - Renard almost never comes up in posts. The Stereo version is marvellous - the best I've heard. Sounds like'fox' to me. Basses are Peter Glossop and Philip Rouleau. I have one or two other Renards. One in Russian - quite a different feel (earthy, folksy, more 'village fete' and I like it alongside the Ansermet. The Dutoit in French is not too much different from the Ansermet, except much inferior recording, slightly less brillaint conducting and less good singers. I wouldn't recommend it above the Ansermet unless you want it in French. But as I say - I like the Russian version - I'm listening to it now! White Label HRC 078, Budapest Chamber Ensemble/Andras Mihaly. A lot of fun and worth a listen. c/w Soldiers Tale and some nice miniatures.

No, it's definitely Boulez, conducting the Domain Musicale. I picked it up in the 70s on Everest.

Regards, Eric Grunin

Then it most likely was originally an Ades recording and might have been reissued on CD on Ades.

Yes. Haven't heard it.

Nope. Boulez performed it with the Domaine Musical in the early 60's. There is not a Russian-period work of Stravinsky with which Boulez is not intimately familiar.

Really? I like it better than Ansermet.

-david gable

Really? I like it better than Ansermet.

I've only heard it once. I know the Ansermet intimately and imprinted on it. I can listen to the Stravinsky a bit more and see. But he does go at it like an express train!