Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
Robert Craft first met Stravinsky on the same day that Auden delivered the completed libretto to the composer, and was directly involved in what he describes as “the first step” in the composition of The Rake’s Progress.
This was principally with regard to helping Stravinsky master the pronunciation, vocabulary and rhythms of the English text, and sharing the composer’s excitement as the brilliantly conceived score took shape.
This 1993 recording, conducted by Craft, is no less significant than Stravinsky’s 1953 Metropolitan Opera recording, available on Naxos Historical 8111266-67.
“Craft understands Stravinsky's music better than anyone.” Fanfare
Igor Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress
Prelude
Act I Scene 1: Duet and Trio: The woods are green… (Anne, Tom, Trulove)
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Anne, my dear… (Trulove, Anne, Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Here I stand… (Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Aria: Since it is not by merit… (Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Tom Rakewell? (Nick, Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Fair lady… (Nick)
Act I Scene 1: Quartet: I wished but once… (Tom, Nick, Anne, Trulove)
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: I'll call the coachman, sir (Nick, Trulove)
Act I Scene 1: Duettino: Farewell, farewell… (Anne, Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: All is ready, sir (Nick, Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Arioso: Dear Father Trulove… (Tom)
Act I Scene 1: Terzettino: Laughter and light… (Tom, Anne, Trulove, Nick)
Act I Scene 2: Chorus: With air commanding… (Roaring boys, Whores)
Act I Scene 2: Recitative and Scene: Come, Tom… (Nick, Mother Goose, Tom)
Act I Scene 2: Chorus: Soon dawn will glitter… (Roaring boys, Whores, Nick)
Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Brothers of Mars… (Nick)
Act I Scene 2: Cavatina: Love, too frequently betrayed… (Tom)
Act I Scene 2: Chorus: How sad a song (Whores, Mother Goose)
Act I Scene 2: Chorus: The sun is bright (Chorus, Nick)
Act I Scene 3: Introduction
Act I Scene 3: Recitative: No word from Tom (Anne)
Act I Scene 3: Aria: Quietly, night… (Anne)
Act I Scene 3: Recitative: My father! (Anne)
Act I Scene 3: Cabaletta: I go, I go to him (Anne)
Act II Scene 1: Introduction
Act II Scene 1: Aria: Vary the song (Tom)
Act II Scene 1: Recitative: O Nature, green unnatural mother… (Tom)
Act II Scene 1: Aria: Always the quarry… (Tom)
Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Master, are you alone? (Nick, Tom)
Act II Scene 1: Aria: In youth the panting slave… (Nick)
Act II Scene 1: Duet-Finale: My tale shall be told… (Tom, Nick)
Act II Scene 2: Introduction
Act II Scene 2: Recitative and Arioso: How strange! (Anne)
Act II Scene 2: Duet: Anne! Here! (Tom, Anne)
Act II Scene 2: Recitative: My love, am I to remain in here forever? (Baba, Ann, Tom)
Act II Scene 2: Trio: Could it then… (Anne, Tom, Baba)
Act II Scene 2: Finale: I have not run away… (Baba, Tom, Town People)
Act II Scene 3: Aria: As I was saying… (Baba, Tom)
Act II Scene 3: Baba's Song (Baba)
Act II Scene 3: Aria: Scorned! Abused! Neglected! (Baba)
Act II Scene 3: Recitative: My heart is cold… (Tom)
Act II Scene 3: Pantomime (Nick)
Act II Scene 3: Recitative - Arioso - Recitative: Awake? (Nick, Tom)
Act II Scene 3: Duet: Thanks to this excellent device… (Tom, Nick)
Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Forgive me, master… (Nick, Tom)
Act III Scene 1: Ruin, Disaster, Shame (Town People, Anne, Sellem)
Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Ladies, both fair and gracious… (Sellem)
Act III Scene 1: Aria: Who hears me, knows me… (Sellem, Chorus, Baba)
Act III Scene 1: Aria: Sold! Annoyed! (Baba, Chorus, Tom, Nick)
Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Now, what was that? (Chorus, Baba, Anne, Sellem)
Act III Scene 1: Duet: You love him, seek to set him right… (Baba, Anne, Sellem, Chorus)
Act III Scene 1: Ballad Tune: If boys had wings and girls had stings… (Tom, Nick, Anne, Baba, Sellem, Chorus)
Act III Scene 1: Stretto-finale: I go to him… (Anne, Baba, Sellem, Chorus)
Act III Scene 1: Ballad Tune: Who cares a fig… (Tom, Nick, Baba, Chorus)
Act III Scene 2: Prelude
Act III Scene 2: Duet: How dark, how dark and dreadful is this place (Tom, Nick)
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Very well then… (Nick, Tom)
Act III Scene 2: Duet: Well, then. My heart is wild with fear… (Nick, Tom, Anne)
Act III Scene 3: Introduction
Act III Scene 3: Arioso: Prepare yourselves… (Tom)
Act III Scene 3: Dialogue: Madmen's words are all untrue… (Madmen, Tom)
Act III Scene 3: Chorus-minuet: Leave all love and hope behind! (Madmen)
Act III Scene 3: Recitative: There he is… (Keeper, Tom, Anne)
Act III Scene 3: Arioso: I have waited (Tom)
Act III Scene 3: Duet: In a foolish dream… (Tom, Anne)
Act III Scene 3: Recitative: I am exceeding weary (Tom)
Act III Scene 3: Lullaby: Gently, little boat (Anne, Chorus)
Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Anne, my dear… (Trulove, Anne)
Act III Scene 3: Duettino: Every wearied body must… (Anne, Trulove)
Act III Scene 3: Finale: Where art thou, Venus? (Tom, Chorus)
Act III Scene 3: Mourning-chorus: Mourn for Adonis (Chorus)
Act III Scene 3: Epilogue: Good people, just a moment… (Anne, Baba, Tom, Nick, Trulove)
November 2009
***
“An Anglophone cast benefits Auden and Kallman's text while Robert Craft's neat conducting highlights the delicate ironies of Stravinsky's neo-classical score.”
Click here for alternative recordings of this work.
Prelude
