Stravinsky: The Firebird

On this CD:

1. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra
Composed by Igor Stravinsky
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Ernest Ansermet

Tracks:

Introduction. Lento - London Symphony Orchestra
The Spring Divinations - Dances Of The Young Girls - London Symphony Orchestra
Mock Abduction - London Symphony Orchestra
Spring Round Dances - London Symphony Orchestra
Games Of The Rival Tribes - London Symphony Orchestra
Procession Of The Wise Elder - London Symphony Orchestra
Dance Of The Earth - London Symphony Orchestra
Introduction. Largo - London Symphony Orchestra
Mystical Circles Of The Young Girls - London Symphony Orchestra
Glorification Of The Chosen Victim - London Symphony Orchestra
Summoning Of The Ancestors - London Symphony Orchestra
Ritual Of The Ancestors - London Symphony Orchestra
Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen Victim) - London Symphony Orchestra
Introduction - Leonard Bernstein
The Firebird And Its Dance - Leonard Bernstein
Variation Of The Firebird - Leonard Bernstein
The Princesses' Round - Leonard Bernstein
Infernal Dance Of King Kashchei - Leonard Bernstein
Lullaby - Leonard Bernstein
Finale - Leonard Bernstein
I. Adoration Of Veles And Ala - Leonard Bernstein
II. The Enemy God And The Dance Of The Black Spirits - Leonard Bernstein
III. Night - Leonard Bernstein
IV. The Glorious Departure Of Lolli And The Procession Of The Sun - Leonard Bernstein

Amazon.com

Considering that Stravinsky's Rite of Spring has been around for nearly a century, it's surprising that even today, conductors literally get lost while attempting to beat through it--and that goes for some of the biggest names. Difficult as the piece is, conductors have no excuse for major lapses, now that this recording is available for study. Bernstein not only keeps complete control of the complex rhythms and constantly-switching meters throughout the work but he also interprets it with fire and sweep and emotional versatility. The Firebird is equally breathtaking. It's priceless, too, for the fabulous horn solo played by the New York Philharmonic's legendary James Chambers. --Gwendolyn Freed

Customer Reviews:

Three Le Sacres from Bernstein.......2005-10-01

In the Royal Edition of Bernstein's recordings with the NY Phil., there was a hair-raising Le Sacre dating from 1958 in vivid sound with lots of impact and incredibly virtuosic playing. This was followed by a surround-sound remake with the London Sym. in 1972 as the fflagship for Columbia's attempt to promote "quadraphoonic sound," which never cuaght on.

The first recording occasioned a "wow" from Stravinsky in one of his memoirs (no doubt in part being ironic). The second recordingt is just as splashy and extroverted, although I prefer the 1958 version as the more flexible and less blatant. Both are wonderful and show off Bernstein's exuberance at its best.

This is the second reading from 1972, now in stereo, the 1958 being out of print. The Israel Phil. version made for DG in the Eighties--I don't have the exact date since I threw away the CD--is a parody of the young Bernstein by the old one, and the orchestra is far from being able to master the score.

WOW........2005-09-13

This recording really is something. Considering how old this rendition is, the depth at which bernstein controls the LSO is remarkable. There are moments when he lets the LSO loose, like letting the animals come out of their cages. He knows exactly how and exactly when to create, what I can only describe as "chaos". Bernstein's love for this arresting piece shines through the second half.
I only complain of the sound quality and the firebird. It is NOT A GOOD FIREBIRD.

BUY IT

Commonplace "Rite"... and a TERRIFIC "Firebird".......2005-07-26

It's a pity for me for this album to put the 70s recording Lenny did with the LSO on Stravinsky's revolutionary "Rite of Spring" instead of the performance he did with the NYPO about a decade earlier.
The 60s recording (which sadly may be only available in the "Royal Edition" series) remains on of my favorite performance of the "Rite" (along with the "Fast and the Furious" Ozawa's with the CSO on RCA), because it has more brashness in the music, more savagery, more tension. His interpretation is far more extraordinary compared to this recording in this album. The extra "ornaments" Lenny added to further exxagerate the wildness and primitiveness in the 60s recording has competely disappeared in this performance, making a more commonplace, even tamed, performance. Same goes with the 80s performance on DG with the Isreal Phil.

Lenny's performance "Firebird" Suite, on the other hand... is an electrifying 5 Star performance... THE main attraction of the album, not the 70s "Rite". This recording was done in the 60s with the NYPO, so there is more youthness and vigor in the performance. While the sound quality is not at its best, the performace is as hot as it can get. You will especially love the climax of the "Infernal Dance" and the "Finale". The only other recording I equally love is Claudio Abbado's performance with the LSO on DG, powerful in its own way... and more crystal-clear).

Proikofiev's "Scythian Suite" (the Bonus tracks) is another plus in this album. The "Dance of the Dark Spirits" is especially thrilling, as Lenny actually takes the tempo a bit faster compared to most other performances, including Abbado on DG and Jarvi on Chandos.

P.S. - Do you notice the "Jaws" theme hidden under the movment?

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Firebird-Complete/Scherzo/Firework

Average customer rating:

The Definitive "Firebird"!!
Essential Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Firebird-Complete/Scherzo/Firework
I. Stravinsky , and Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony

ASIN: B0000026GI
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Customer Reviews:

The Definitive "Firebird"!!.......2004-06-28

There are numerous recordings available of Igor Stravinsky's ballet masterwork "The Firebird" however, the 1961 "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky" recording available on this disc is one that eclipses all other versions. The recording was performed by The Columbia Symphony and is presented in its complete length of nearly 43-minutes (most other recordings present "The Firebird" in a suite lasting only 25-minutes). The performance under Stravinsky's baton is nothing short of breathtaking. The piece's dynamics, shifting rhythms and unprecidented beauty are all clearly defined and wonderfully executed.
Also included on the disc are two Scherzo pieces ("Scherzo a la Russe" and "Scherzo Fantastique Op.3") along with a recording of "Fireworks", a piece composed for the wedding of the daughter of Stravinsky's friend and teacher Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. These three shorter works also include Stravinsky's signature rhythms and dynamic orchestrations (especially in the "Scherzo Fantastique" which echoes "The Firebird" in some spots).
This is a fantastic CD of some of Stravinsky's finest work conducted by the composer himself. Hearing Stravinsky conduct his own work brings a certain authenticity to the music. You hear exactly the way the composer wishes the music to be executed.
If you enjoy this, pick the other two discs in the "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky" series ("Petrushka/The Rite Of Spring" and "Symphony of Psalms/Symphony in C/Symphony in Three Movements"). These recordings are just as refreshing and exciting as "The Firebird".

Essential Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky.......2003-07-28

Unfortunately, we will never get to hear Bach play the organ, or Mozart the piano, or Beethoven conduct the 5th Symphony. But thanks to the advent of recording technology, we have been able to hear the great composers of the 20th Century play and conduct their own work. Sadly, recordings of the likes of Elgar, Strauss and Rachmaninov are all in early mono, but there are several brilliant stereo recordings available by Copland and Stravinsky. These recordings of "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky" were made for CBS in the early 1960s, and along with two other discs (featuring the Rite of Spring with Petrushka, and the other one the Symphonies), are absolutely essential for serious fans of classical music. Often composers were not the best conductors of their own work (their expertise was first and foremost in composing), but they are nonetheless a vital document of their creative and versatile talents. For serious Stravinsky fans I would recommend getting both the Decca Stravinsky Box Set conducted by Ernest Ansermet (see my review), and the three CBS Masterworks titles of "Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky." That way you can compare and contrast, and determine for yourself whether Stravinsky himself was truly the best conductor of Stravinsky.

Fantasia 2000: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

Great for kids with Autism!
Fantasia 2000
Great pieces of classical music!
Fantastic!
One song along would make this worth buying

Fantasia 2000: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000038ICW
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Tracks:

Symphony No.5
Pines Of Rome
Rhapsody In Blue
Piano Concerto No.2, Allegro
Carnival Of The Animals
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Pomp And Circumstance Marches
Firebird Suite-1919 Version

Amazon.com

Without the gorgeous visuals, the soundtrack to Fantasia/2000 is nothing more than a collection of some of classical music's greatest moments. But what moments they are! Conductor James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra provide new (though hardly groundbreaking) arrangements for these classical music warhorses. Piano virtuoso Yefim Bronfman joins in to record the Allegro section of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 (if you like this track, check out Bronfman playing the entire piece on his 1999 disc with the Los Angeles Philharmonic), and soprano Kathleen Battle lends a high note to the climax of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. We also get the classic Sorcerer's Apprentice from the original (and now out-of-print) Fantasia soundtrack. Performed by Philharmonia Orchestra, the Paul Dukas composition still steals the show. The original movie may have been a flop, but with any luck Fantasia/2000 will turn some young minds on to classical music, especially with such inspired choices as Respighi's Pines of Rome. Like what you hear? Remember, these are just excerpts and you really owe it to yourself to hear the works in their entirety--slow movements and all. That said, whether you're a Disney fan, an IMAX aficionado, or just a classical-lover-to-be, you can't go wrong with this disc. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Great for kids with Autism!.......2007-04-10

As a parent of profoundly autistic twin boys, this CD is so calming and I never tire of listening to it in the car. This CD on their Walkman helps get them through loud basketball games or sensory overload events at school. They LOVE "Rhapsody in Blue!"

Fantasia 2000.......2006-12-30

I have most of these pieces on other CD's, and I mostly got this one for 'Rhapsody in Blue'. If you don't own 'Firebird' and don't feel like owning the entire thing, then get this--it's got the highlights. Overall the selection is varied. You have probably forgotten that 'Pomp and Circumstance' is a real piece, and not just a graduation death march--this CD will remind you, with its very wise summary of the very extensive five marches by Elgar. This is certainly a lot more interesting than most classical highlights CD's.

Great pieces of classical music!.......2005-11-16

This is a really lovely collection of exhilarating and intriguing music pieces. Fantasia helped spawn my interest in classical music. The animation is beautiful in the movie but it's the music which makes it happen.

Fantastic! .......2005-07-18

My favorite piece of music ever is "Rhapsody in Blue" and I've managed to collect quite a few versions of it over the years. This is the absolute best recording of "Rhapsody in Blue" I have ever heard! I'm listening to it on a constant loop tonight. The entire record is great as is the other soundtrack from "Fantasia." The movie is a wonderful way to get kids exposed to classical music without them even realizing it! Worked on me when I was a kid. Once again, the Mouse works his magic!

One song along would make this worth buying.......2004-11-21

In my opinion, this CD is worth it just for "Rhapsody in Blue," but there are seven other great tracks, as well. Music like this spans generations; it's essentially timeless in its beauty and ability to put a smile on your face. Great stuff. Yes, there may only be eight tracks on this disc, but four of them are nine minutes or longer, so you're not being cheated out of anything. I'm not a steadfast Disney fan, but they really know how to pick classical music for their masterpiece.

Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks; Song of the Nightingale

Average customer rating:

One of the most towering Firebird ever recorded!
Unsurpassed.
Extraordinary performance
Superb Stravinsky
Firebird

Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks; Song of the Nightingale

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Ibert: Escales; Ravel: Rapsodie, etc
Bartok: Orchestral Works; Bluebeard's Castle

ASIN: B0000057KU
Release Date: 1991-02-08

Tracks:

Fireworks: Fantasy For Orchestra
Firebird: Introduction
Firebird: The Enchanted Garden of Kastchei
Firebird: Appearance of the Firebird, Pursued by Prince Ivan
Firebird: Dance Of The Firebird
Firebird: Capture Of The Firebird By Prince Ivan
Firebird: Supplication Of The Firebird
Firebird: Appearance Of The Enchanted Princesses
Firebird: The Princesses' Game With The Golden Apples'
Firebird: Sudden Appearance Of Prince Ivan
Firebird: Khorovod Of The Princesses
Firebird: Daybreak
Firebird: Magic Carillon, Appearance Of Kastchei's Monster Guardians, And Capture Of Prince Ivan
Firebird: Arrival Of Kastchei The Immortal
Firebird: Dialogue Of Kastchei And Prince Ivan
Firebird: Intercession Of The Princesses
Firebird: Appearance Of The Firebird
Firebird: Dance Of Kastchei's Retinue, Enchanted By The Firebird
Firebird: Infernal Dance Of All Kastchei's Subjects
Firebird: Lullaby
Firebird: Kastchei's Awakening
Firebird: Kastchei's Death, Profound Darkness
Firebird: Disappearance Of Kastchei's Palace, General Rejoicing
Tango
Scherzo a la Russe
The Song Of The Nightingale: Introduction
The Song Of The Nightingale: Chinese March
The Song Of The Nightingale: Song Of The Nightingale
The Mechanical Nightingale's Game

Amazon.com

Antal Dorati was a veteran ballet conductor and a personal friend of Stravinsky. His recording of The Firebird was a legend in its own time, and its reappearance on CD, sounding better than ever, immediately reestablished its supremacy. All of Stravinsky's complete ballets--as opposed to the suites-- have "dead spots," moments when the music sort of stops and lurches about, illustrating something happening onstage. That's why the composer made the suites in the first place. However, many of his most fascinating orchestral ideas occur precisely in these "dead spots," which is why many conductors and audiences prefer the works complete. Trust Dorati: he's the most reliable guide to this music, and his orchestra gives him a virtuoso response. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

One of the most towering Firebird ever recorded!.......2004-08-13

The market proposes you a lot of worthable versions , but in in my personal view , there are three really overwhelming . And this is one of them . The other two are a superb version of Fricsay from the fifties and the another is Ansermet Suisse Romande of the fifties too .
This recording has a fierce and such span sense unique . The Minneapolis percussionists are ADMIRABLE .
Dorati made a glorious tour de force and the strings play with such level of vitality , magnetism and comittment as you will be surprised with such intensity level .

Unsurpassed........2002-10-26

There is only one word to describe Dorati's recording of The Firebird, definitive. No one before or since has managed to combine the delicate almost impressionist passages of the score with the violence of the infernal dance to such tremendous effect. Stravinsky's ground breaking score is treated with all the sensitivity and respect that it demands, yet Dorati never seems overwhelmed by it as many other interpreters seem to be, the conductors grip on the music is palpable, but this never prevents the music from breathing freely. Much has been made of the sound quality of the CD issue, for me this was never a problem. I listened to this CD on my Musical Fidelity CD Player fed through Conrad-Johnson amplifcation to Sonus Faber Speakers or Grado headphones. This system is very revealing of poor sound quality and I honestly felt that the Performance venue (Walthamstow Town Hall outside London) was very well captured, although their was some hardness to the upper midrange, compared to my original SR-1 Mercury LP pressing (Played on a Linn LP12), that is to be expected with CD's, it's a fault of the format rather than Bob Fine's recording or Wilma Cosart Fine's remastering. I'm just left to wonder what an SACD version would sound like. Over to you Wilma :)

Extraordinary performance.......2002-10-12

This one is a must-have !! Dorati signed here an all-times classic ! For those who don't like Stravinsky, I can only recommend to rediscover his music with this CD. The famed transparency of Stravinsky's music appears here in Cinemascope. And all the pieces are a pleasure to listen to. A treasurable recording.

And contrarily to the bashing done below, this remastering, directly from the original Ampex tape recorder, through the original Wetrex amps, without any compression (probably the "terrible mixing" the guy talks about), sounds INCREDIBLY dynamic and transparent (although there is some tape hiss at the beginning). Probably this guy doesn't know that the dynamics of the original tape is far superior to the 96 dB of a CD. In this remastering, the engineers decided not to use any compression, and the result is nothing short of exceptionnal in naturalness and dynamics. But to benefit from the high quality of this sound, one must own excellent hifi components. In fact, it's one of my test discs for hifi component's evaluation.

Superb Stravinsky.......2002-06-02

These performances, all with the LSO, are classics and deservedly so. This very dynamic performance of the complete Firebird ballet emphasizes sharpness of accent, rhythmic drive and a dazzling clarity of texture without slighting the sensuous colors of the music. In doing so, Dorati links the Firebird with the more overtly modernistic music of Petrushka and the Rite of Spring that followed in its wake, as opposed to emphasizing either its Debussy or Rimski-Korsakov like aspects. As for the suite from the Song of the Nightingale, Dorati's performance is somewhat less stately and majestic sounding than Reiner's classic account on RCA (which the composer himself specifically praised), emphasizing instead the music's wit and humor. The shorter pieces are delectable tidbits. A required purchase for lovers of 20th century music.

Firebird.......2001-07-29

Well conducted and well played, the recording/mixing quality is terrible. Sounds amaturish and poorly balanced. Lots of tape hiss from original recording.

Average customer rating:

Orchestral Trumpet Player's Bible:
Essential Recording for Any Trumpet Player
Most Excellent
Awesome!
Excellent for aspiring trumpet players, otherwise...

Orchestral Excerpts For Trumpet

Manufacturer: Summit(Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

Trumpet concerto: Brandenburg Concerto No.2 - Trumpet Concerto
Petrouchka
Pictures at an Exhibition
Leonore Nos. 3&2
Ein Heldenleben
Symphony No.5
Scheherazade
Don Juan
Fetes
Piano Concerto In G
Piano Cto. No. 1
Pines Of Rome
Concerto For Orchestra
Carmen Prelude
Firebird Suite
Parsifal Prelude
La Mer
Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 3 (Post Horn)
Capriccio Espagnol
American In Paris
Magnificat

Customer Reviews:

Orchestral Trumpet Player's Bible:.......2003-05-08

I carry this recording around with me in my case, and listen to it before auditions, concerts, rehearsals, etc. It's simply how the excerpts (along with trumpet playing in general) should sound. Smith's virtuostic playing, coupled with his vast orchestral experience, really teach the parts. All trumpet players, top to bottom, have something to learn from this CD--and while the entire work (with orchestra) and part should be studied (Smith actually recommends this), it is still very useful to hear one of the finest players on earth performing just the trumpet part.

Essential Recording for Any Trumpet Player.......2001-05-24

If any principal orchestral trumpet player has succeeded Adolph Herseth as the "state of the art," the probable consensus among his peers would be Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic. His virtually flawless technique, gourgeous sound, rarified musicianship and exceptional leadership make him virtually unique in his field, and his more than 20 years with the Philharmonic (plus his early years with the Chicago Symphony) have firmly established him as one of the greats in the history of orchestral brass performance.

Measured simply as a documentation of his skills, this recording would be an extraordinary document - the playing throughout is stupendous. But this is much more than that; Mr. Smith proves to be as articulate (mild "New Yoahk" accent and all) as he is talented, and his performance suggestions are truly helpful, even for those of us without his superhuman abilities. The recorded sound is superb, and overall this is a joy to listen to at every level. I recommend it without reservation for any trumpet player aspiring to a higher level of musicianship and performance - and if you play it at full volume shortly after your warmup, your neighbors will be very impressed.

Most Excellent.......1999-12-13

As a trumpet player, I must say that Phil Smith's comments during each track are immensely beneficial. His thoughts have produced profound understanding in my trumpet playing, and despite the fact that this CD is intended as a grouping of Phil Smith's insights into common Orchestral Excerpts and his following demonstration, I have countless times listened out of pure enjoyment than to gain expert insight. His tone is the most beautiful I have ever heard, and it shows on this CD. I recommend this particularly for any aspiring trumpet student.

Awesome!.......1999-10-25

The previous reviewer of this CD missed the point of the CD. Lets say your working on the Carmern Prelude or Stravinsky Pétrouchka you buy this CD, and learn how Philip Smith (one of the greatest symphonic trumpet players in the world) would interpret and play it. Thats why its entitled Orchestra Trumpet Excerpts.

Excellent for aspiring trumpet players, otherwise..........1999-05-31

This CD would be excellent for aspiring orchestral trumpeters and soloists; although Philip Smith conveys his expertise exceptionally well, this short snips of music on this CD are no substitute for the actual full-orchestra recordings.

Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Why SACD?
Best sound SACD reissue yet
Analog to SACD done right!

Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000DC15L
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Why SACD?.......2005-12-15

One does not need a SACD Player to listen to this magnificient disk of sweeping, glorious and pervasive sound - the CD is good enough, and can be a preview of what could be heard on a SACD Player. I have rarely enjoyed better sound than this even on the latest DDD disks of brand labels.

Best sound SACD reissue yet.......2004-12-21

Best sound SACD reissue yet:
clear, detailed, resolution, sound-stage, dynamics. Either 2 or 3 channel DSD SACD. Good old Dorati's performance has drive, good tempi.
Recommended !

Analog to SACD done right!.......2004-10-17

This new release of this near-legendary 1959 Dorati/LSO performance goes to the head of the class. Using the earlier CD release as a sonic guide (the series was originally overseen by Wilma Cozart Fine), Universal's audio engineers have, again, given us a nearly perfect transfer of the original master tape to this newest, most advanced digital medium. I can't imagine something more musically satisfying.

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet, 1910) / Alexander Scriabin: Prometheus - The Poem of Fire - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra, St. Petersburg / Alexander Toradze

Average customer rating:

Maybe a bit too fussily detailed
An excellent choice
Electrifying
Incandescent!
The only Firebird Ballet I would want...

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet, 1910) / Alexander Scriabin: Prometheus - The Poem of Fire - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra, St. Petersburg / Alexander Toradze
Alexander Scriabin , Igor Stravinsky , Valery Gergiev , Kirov Orchestra - St.Petersburg , and Alexander Toradze
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring / Alexander Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra
Classical Music 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Classical Music

ASIN: B00000DBUS
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

L'oiseau de feu: Introduction
L'oiseau de feu: Kaschei's Enchanted Garden
L'oiseau de feu: Appearance Of The Firebird Pursued By Ivan Tsarevich
L'oiseau de feu: Dance Of The Firebird
L'oiseau de feu: Ivan Tsarevich Captures The Firebird
L'oiseau de feu: Supplications Of The Firebird
L'oiseau de feu: Game Of The Princesses With The Golden Apples
L'oiseau de feu: Sudden Appearance Of Ivan Tsarevich
L'oiseau de feu: Round Dance Of The princesses
L'oiseau de feu: Daybreak
L'oiseau de feu: Magic Carillon, Appearance Of Kastchei's Guardian Monsters And Capture Of Ivan Tsarevich
L'oiseau de feu: Dance Of Kashchei's Retinue Under The Spell Of The Firebird
L'oiseau de feu: Infernal Dance Of All Kashchei's Subjects
L'oiseau de feu: Lullaby Of The Firebird
L'oiseau de feu: Collapse Of Kashshei's Palace And Dissolution Of All Enchantments - Reanimation Of The Petrified Prisoners - General Rejoicing
Prometheus - The Poem Of Fire

Amazon.com essential recording

For raw, pagan splendor and over-the-top excitement, it's impossible to beat Gergiev's account of the complete 1910 Firebird. His Kirov charges attack the piece as if the notes were still fresh on the page, yet play it with smashing virtuosity-- clearly, the score's exorbitant demands pose absolutely no challenge to these musicians. This is not an unrefined reading of the piece, but it is not overly refined either. It is, in short, a Russian Firebird rather than a French one. The Philips recording, made in 1995 in the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, is sumptuous and amazingly potent. The coupling with Scriabin's megalomaniacal tone poem is inspired, and makes this disc impossible to resist. --Ted Libbey

Amazon.com

One seldom hears Stravinsky's original, complete, 1910 score to Diaghilev's ballet, The Firebird. Here Valery Gergiev leads the Kirov Orchestra in a muscular, well-defined rendering of the work in full. His is a decidedly controlled interpretation. Stretched out in spots to bring out clarity and significance of line, it's pushed along in others to convey urgency and melodic direction. The microphones sound very close, which only heightens the vitality of the overall texture of this interpretation. Though the group is not always precisely together and a few spots are marred by faulty intonation, the spirit and strength of conviction behind this gripping performance more than carry it off. --Gwendolyn Freed

Customer Reviews:

Maybe a bit too fussily detailed.......2005-09-19

Hearing the whole Firebird without seeing any aciton on stage is a long haul--there are evocative stretches that contain little forward motion. Gergiev and the recording engineers sustain attention by illuminating every small orchestral detail, and that works--up to a point. I began to feel that I was immersed in shimmering sound at the expense of drama. Maybe something a bit more gutsy? Or maybe I will stick with the suite, which has no dead spots.

An excellent choice.......2002-07-18

No one needs debate the merits of Firebird; it is one of the great ballets of all time and a worthwhile addition to any collection. I don't like Prometheus as much, but this is a reflection on Scriabin's composing, not on Kirov's playing, Gergiev's conducting, or the engineering on this disc.

In fact, the engineering on this CD is excellent, and the complete Firebird ballet is played expertly throughout. The famous Danse Infernale is driving, and the Finale is soaring and triumphant.

However, this disc does not receive a full five stars because in my mind it lacks a certain "je ne sais quoi." I really enjoy it, but I sense Gergiev and Kirov hold back a little; I sense that they could have taken it to the next level of excitement but didn't. Don't get me wrong; this CD is great, but I just expected more. And one more thing; in the microsecond of silence just before the crescendo of the last note of Firebird, there is a small scratch on the recording. I can't determine if it came on the tape they used to record the performance or from a rustle of paper or a percussionist picking up something in the concert hall, but it just barely mars the most essential moment of the entire piece. I try to overlook it, but it's something small that stands out in a big way, sort of like a splinter or a tiny pebble stuck in your shoe.

Otherwise, this is a great disc which deserves nearly all of the kudos it receives, and I don't know of a better performance to recommend instead.

Electrifying.......2002-04-17

Both pieces on this recording show why Gergiev is one of the most acclaimed conductors in the world in this repertoire. The excitement of this recording was confirmed when I heard Gergiev and the Kirov live, performing the complete "Firebird" at Carnegie Hall. No question, there are many good versions of this extraordinary piece, but this one certainly ranks among the best.

In terms of sheer, visceral excitement, this is hard to beat, and it is coupled with an equally breathless performance of the Scriabin "Prometheus." The final few measures, and the final chord, make as thrilling an ending as I have heard in classical music.

Incandescent!.......2001-06-26

As we are treated to more of Valery Gergiev's interpretations in recordings his gifts as a conductor and energizer of orchestras become more and more obvious. This FIREBIRD soars like a mltiheaded hydra out of the always electrical fire Gerviev smolders in his baseplate of trembling sonics. This is a spectacular reading of an exciting score, played in the way only the Russians can play. The accompanying PROMETHEUS on the disc finally comes to life after many bombastic attempts under other conductor's hands. Toradze is well tempered and the cause for Scriabin interest in this century is well served by all. This recording is one of incandescent fire!

The only Firebird Ballet I would want..........2000-12-12

I wish I could write something here that would persuade people that this recording of Stravinksy's Firebird Ballet, well coupled with Scriabin's Prometheus is very much worth having, but frankly I don't think I know where to begin or how to go about it. Firebird, nevertheless, is not just Brass! Brass! Brass! as another reviewer may have been suggesting, however important that element may be, because all the elements that go into it matter, and they're all here in this recording, incredibly beautifully played. As far as I am concerned this is absolutely the only Firebird to have (I have more than this one, including Michael Tilson Thomas' Firebird Ballet and Bernstein's Firbird Suite). I'd give Gergiev's and the Kirov ten stars but I can't!

Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite; Borodin: Music from Prince Igor

Average customer rating:

Russian music at its best.
Music from the home
Powerful- Precise- Pure.

Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite; Borodin: Music from Prince Igor

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tchaikovsky: 1812; Capriccio Italien; Cossack Dance
Moussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain/Pictures at an Exhibition
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring/Pulcinella Suite
Gustav Holst: The Planets, Op 32
Debussy: La Mer

ASIN: B000003CSF
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Introduction
Overture
Polovetsian Dances

Customer Reviews:

Russian music at its best........2004-06-24

This my favorite of the 500 classical cds in my collection. The clarity of the recording and the excellent definition of the voices, choral and orchestral, presented by this Russian music make it the best representation of this music I have heard--I get it out when I want to shop for a new amp or speakers and take it with me. The salespeople I meet are suddenly impressed with the sound of "classical" music (this is romantic period stuff), and I get to select the correct component with the music I know best in my ears. The audio sensitivity and thunderous climaxes are excellent.

Everybody did their job right. The compositions are engaging and beautiful. The orchestra is masterfully conducted by Robert Shaw, with the details if instrumentation and vocalization presented with marvelous clarity and integration. The musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra perform with diligent craft and articulation. And, finally, the recording engineers captured the sound with all its glory and detail; leaving to you the easy part: buy it and put it in your player.

Music from the home.......2002-12-05

This is a fabulous cd to enjoy and let your ears pick apart. Each instrument is voiced through precision, clarity and ingenuity. As a youngster in the classical world (22), I find this to be a compelling piece of work that transcends age. The continuous and explosive climaxes are both endearing and send lightening bolts through the listeners veins. I highly reccomend this to any true advocate of fine music.

Powerful- Precise- Pure........2000-12-05

This is perhaps my favorite recording of my favorite piece. The Firebird Suite, as recorded by Telarc, performed By ASO/Shaw, Is the cleanest, richest version yet. If you are a newcomer to classical music, try this as your first... It is bound to entrance with it's swaying, lulling movements which are shredded to bits by fire and lightning explosions culminating in a spectacular finale which still makes my heart beat fast after so many years. A must for the collector as well. Telarc ddd recording so clear that you can tell what the patron listening in the 3rd row had for dinner. :-) This piece was a favorite of Ernie Kovacs and he featured it in one of his musical skits. This is a sure buy.

Average customer rating:

A Fabulous Introduction to Igor Stravinsky!!

The Essential Igor Stravinsky

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Stravinsky: Works for Piano
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Symphony in 3 Movements
Stravinsky: Three Greek Ballets (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus)
Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments, etc.

ASIN: B00008NGAW
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

Fireworks, Op.4 - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Danse Infernale De Tous Les Sujets De Kastchei - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Berceuse (L'Oiseau De Feu) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Reveil De Kastchei - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Mort De Kastchei - Profonds Tenebres - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Disparition Du Palais Et Des Sortileges De Kastchei, Animation Des Chevaliers Petrifies Allegresse Generale - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Opening - Philharmonia Orchestra
The Shrove-tide Fair - Philharmonia Orchestra
The Charlatan's Booth - Philharmonia Orchestra
Russian Dance - Philharmonia Orchestra
Petrushka's Room - Philharmonia Orchestra
Introduction - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Les Augures Printanieres (Danse Des Adolescentes) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Jeu Du Rapt - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Rondes Printanieres - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Jeux Des Cites Rivales - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Cortege Du Sage - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Adoration De La Terre (Le Sage) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Danse De La Terre - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Andante - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
II. Napolitana - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
III. Espanola - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
IV. Balalaika - Members Of The CBC Symphony Orchestra
Ragtime For 11 Instruments - Toni Koves
Marche Royale - Columbia Chamber Ensemble
Petit Concert - Columbia Chamber Ensemble
Piano Rag Music - Igor Stravinsky
Sinfonia (Ouverture) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Gavotta Con Due Variazioni - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Sinfonia - London Sinfonietta
III. Allegro - Philippe Entremont

Tracks:

Part I. Exaudi Orationem Meam - London Symphony Chorus
IV. Capriccio - Cho-Liang Lin
Chant Sants Paroles - Israel Baker
Premiere Donne - Cleveland Orchestra
I. Tempo Giusto - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
III. Allegretto - London Symphony Orchestra
The Star-Spangled Banner - The Festival Singers Of Toronto
I. Intrada - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Circus Polka (For A Young Elephant) - CBC Symphony Orchestra
Scherzo A La Russe - Philharmonia Orchestra
III. Con Moto - London Symphony Orchestra
I. Allegro Moderato - Benny Goodman
Good People, Just A Moment - Colin Tilney
Tango - Columbia Jazz Combo
Greeting Prelude (For The Eightieth Birthday Of Pierre Monteux) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
II. Ma Tu, Cagion Di Quella - Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Elegy For J.F.K. - Charles Russo
Fanfare For A New Theatre - Robert Nagel
II. Exaudi - Donald Gramm
III. Dies Irae - Donald Gramm
IV. Tuba Mirum - Donald Gramm
The Owl And The Pussycat - Robert Craft
Stravinsky In His Own Words - John McClure

Customer Reviews:

A Fabulous Introduction to Igor Stravinsky!!.......2004-05-19

Sony Music's "The Essential Igor Stravinsky" truly lives up to its title. This double-CD set includes nearly every important piece of work (either in part or in whole) by the great Russian composer. The set also presents the pieces in chronological order beginning in 1908 with "Fireworks" and ending in 1966 with his final piece, the short but simple "Owl and The Pussycat". In between, there are excerpts from Stravinsky's most famous works including the first part of "The Rite Of Spring" and highlights from the "Firebird" and "Petrushka" ballets. There are also lesser-known works included as well as his harmonically rearranged version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" (a rendition which caused a stir in the early 1940's). The entire collection concludes with a rare recorded interview with Igor Stravinsky himself in which he remembers the infamous premere of "The Rite Of Spring".
The CD booklet includes detailed liner notes as well as a written tribute by Trey Anastasio of the band Phish. The sound quality of the recordings is amazing (even on the historic 1934 recording of "Piano Rag Music"). All in all, this an excellent collection of works by the great Igor Stravinsky. In a sense, this compilation gives the composer the 'rock musician' treatment. It's a 'greatest hits' album and a career-spanning retrospective that serves as an ideal introduction to Igor's music. Even if your not a fan of Classical music, it isn't difficult to listen to the works of Stravinsky and not be stirred.
Definitely The Essential Igor Stravinsky!!!

Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps/L'Oiseau de feu/Jeu de cartes/Petrouchka/Pulcinella

Average customer rating:

Abbado's Stravinsky from his LSO period is very fine
Phenomenal Firebird
Practically Perfect
Wonderful
Great Interpretations of Stravinsky From Abbado

Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps/L'Oiseau de feu/Jeu de cartes/Petrouchka/Pulcinella

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Symphony in 3 Movements
Stravinsky: Three Greek Ballets (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus)
Debussy: Orchestral Music
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrouchka/ Le Sacre du Printemps
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Hungarian Sketches

ASIN: B000001GYI
Release Date: 1997-07-15

Tracks:

L'Adoration de la terre: Introduction
L'Adoration de la terre: Les Augures printaniers - Danses des adolescents
L'Adoration de la terre: Jeu du rapt - Game of Abduction
L'Adoration de la terre: Rondes printanieres - Spring Round Dances
L'Adoration de la terre: Jeux des cites rivales - Games of the Rival Tribes
L'Adoration de la terre: Danse de la terre - Dance of the Earth /Le Sacrifice - The Sacrifice
Le Sacrifice: Introduction
Le Sacrifice: Cercles mysterieux des adolescentes - Mystical Circles of the Young Girls
Le Sacrifice: Glorification de l'Elue - Glorification of the Chosen Victim
Le Sacrifice: Action rituelle des ancetres - Ritual of the Elders
Le Sacrifice: Danse sacrale (L'Elue) - Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen Victim)
L'Oiseau De Feu: Introduction
L'Oiseau De Feu: Variation de l'Oiseau de feu - Variation of the Firebird
L'Oiseau De Feu: Ronde des Princesses - The Princesses' Round
L'Oiseau De Feu: Danse infernale du roi Kachtchei - Infernal Dance of King Kahchei
L'Oiseau De Feu: Berceuse - Lullaby
L'Oiseau De Feu: Final - Finale
Jeu de cartes: Premiere donne
Jeu de cartes: Deuxieme donne
Jeu de cartes: Troisieme donne

Tracks:

Petrouchka: Fete populaire de la semaine grasse - The Shrovetide Fair
Petrouchka: Danse russe - Russian Dance
Petrouchka: CHez Petrouchka - Petruschka's Room
Petrouchka: CHez la Maure - The Moor's Room
Petrouchka: Valse: La Ballerine et le Maure - Waltz: The Ballerina and the Moor
Petrouchka: Fete populaire de la semaine grasse - The Shrovetide Fair (towards evening)
Petrouchka: Danse des nounous - Dance of the Nursemaids
Petrouchka: L'ours et un paysan - The Bear and the Peasant
Petrouchka: Un marchand fetard avec deux tziganes - The Jovial Merchant with Two Gypsy Girls
Petrouchka: Danse des cochers et des palefreniers - Dance of the Coachmen and Grooms
Petrouchka: The Masqueraders
Petrouchka: La rixe: Le Maure et Petrouchka - The Fight: The Moor and Petrushka
Petrouchka: Mort de Petrouchka - Death of Petrushka
Petrouchka: La police et le charlatan - The Police and the Showman
Petrouchka: Apparition du double de Petrouchka - Apparation of Petrushka
Pulcinella: Ouverture: Allegro mederato
Pulcinella: Serenata: Larghetto
Pulcinella: Scherzino: Allegro
Flaminio, Act III, Checca's Canzona: Poco piu vivo
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Andantino
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Allegretto
Pulcinella: Allegretto assai
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Largo (Trio), Allegro, Presto
Pulcinella: Allegro - alla breve
Pulcinella: Tarantella
Pulcinella: Andantino
Pulcinella: Allegro
Pulcinella: Gavotta con due variazioni
Pulcinella: Vivo
Pulcinella: Tempo di minuetto
Pulcinella: Allegro assai

Amazon.com

This is an excellent Stravinsky collection on all counts. Claudio Abbado's recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra represent the high-water mark of his career, and DG captured the partnership in generally fine sound. This recording of the complete Pulcinella, with the songs included, set an entirely new standard for the work, and its excellence has worn very well in the couple of decades since its initial release. The performance of Jeu de Cartes (Card Game) also should win many new friends for this entertaining late work. As to the Big Three ballets, all of them were among the most recommendable versions when they first came out, and they still are. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Abbado's Stravinsky from his LSO period is very fine.......2006-09-22

Abbado thrived in London in the Seventies and early Eighties with the LSO, and their collaboration produced some of his most vigorous performances. These Stravinsky ballets are among them. (I can't agree with David Hurwitz that Abbado never got better--he became an unparalleled maestro in his last years with the berlin Phil.) DG's bargain two-fer features dynamic, in-your-face sonics, especially in Le Sacre. Admittdly, there are passing moments when Abbado, as was his wont, turns a bit tame and cautious, but the overall impression is of a brash, propulsive Le Sacre. The Firebird Suite is the only item, however, that's seriously underplayed.

Petrushka gets another vivid recording and lots of commitment from the LSo; it also finds Abbado at his most involved. But the main attraction here isn't the most familiar works but Abbado's complete Pulcinella and the Balanchine-commissioned Jeu de Carte (Hurwitz mistakenly calls it a late work. with Stravinsky, late means the 1950-71, not 1937, when this ballet was premiered). Abbado's approach is classical and balanced, but there's a good deal of inner life, which Stravinsky's 'white' ballet music desperately needs if it's to connect with a concert audience.

I especially like the Pulcinella, which is an oddly difficult work to bring off. Abbado plays it lightly, with refined textures and attacks that aren't as dry and sharp as we usually expect, articularly from the composer himself. Purists may find Abbado too mellifluous, but he's never rough and vulgar. He's lucky in his prestige vocalists (Berganza, Shirley-Quirk, and Davies), who struggle just a bit in songs that often defeat lessert singers.

All in all, there's stiff competition in these pieces, but Abbado gives ue the best omnium gatherum of all five.

Phenomenal Firebird.......2006-09-14

This is a great Firebird. Abbado, among many othe things to dmire, has the strings playing sul ponto in the last section rght before the french horn solo. He gets all these overtones from the violins: it sounds like a some ghostkt chorus on top of the orchestra. Amazing performance

Practically Perfect.......2006-03-15

This recording of The Firebird makes me weep every time I hear it...there is a beautifully sophisticated, subtle touch to this recording that ignites the spirit of inpsiration without going crazy; it is still art in it's fullest, noblest sense. The skilled Abbado lets Stravinsky work his magic. Practically perfect.

Wonderful.......2005-03-18

I love these CDs because they have the most important Stravinsky ballets, complete, all on 2 CDs, and they are all great performances. Also, this recording is with the LSO, an amazing orchestra that has both overwhelming power and overwhelming beauty, under the baton of the great Claudio Abbado. Sound quality is very good. Highly recommended.

Great Interpretations of Stravinsky From Abbado.......2002-03-27

This magnificient two CD set contains some of Abbado's finest recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra. His great interpretations of Stravinsky's scores can easily hold their own against those from the likes of Bernstein, Boulez, Haitink, and more recent interpreters such as Gergiev. His "Le Scare du printemps" is one of the most dramatic recordings I've heard, replete with tense, vibrant playing from the London Symphony Orchestra. It is a visceral, emotionally raw account pulsating with energy. Equally noteworthy is his splendid interpretation of "L'Oiseau de feu", which is a brisk, dramatic performance. Both "Jeu de cartes" and the entire score of "Pulcinella" are very pleasant surprises too. My only slight criticism is Abbado's interpretation of "Petrouchka" which doesn't sound as dramatic as Haitink's with the London Philharmonic. The sound quality on these image bit digitally remastered CDs is absolutely stunning; it sounds as good as contemporary recordings.

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