Celebrating Stravinsky’s historic connection with TSO, a new album featuring composer’s two neoclassical masterpieces, Pulcinella (complete ballet) and the Divertimento from Le Baiser de la Fée , alongside Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark, a contemporary TSO-commissioned work by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy is released on Harmonia Mundi label on 14 February .
Recorded in February 2024 under the baton of Gustavo Gimeno, the album also features celebrated soloists Isabel Leonard (mezzo-soprano), Paul Appleby (tenor), and Derek Welton(bass-baritone).
Stravinsky’s relationship with the TSO is as historic as it is personal. The orchestra first performed his work, Petrushka, in 1934 under Sir Ernest MacMillan. In 1937, Stravinsky himself conducted the TSO in TheFirebird and Petrushka. To date, the TSO has performed over 575 concerts featuring Stravinsky’s works, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of its repertoire.
Reflecting on the recording, Gustavo Gimeno shared: “Pulcinella holds a special place in the TSO’s history: Stravinsky himself conducted the orchestra in a performance of the ballet suite in 1967, marking his final public conducting appearance. It feels extraordinary to return to this work — this time in its full form — while celebrating Stravinsky’s musical ingenuity and the orchestra’s legacy.”
Stravinsky’s Pulcinella is now available worldwide. For more information about the TSO’s recordings, visit TSO.CA/Recordings.