Stravinsky: Fireworks & The Firebird

On this CD:

1. Fireworks (Feu D'artifice), fantasy for orchestra, Op. 4
Composed by Igor Stravinsky
Performed by Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Eduardo Mata

2. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra
Composed by Igor Stravinsky
Performed by Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Eduardo Mata

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise) - R. Strauss
Mars (The Planets) - Holst
Overture 1812 - Tchaikovsky
Entry Of The Gladiadtors - Fucik
Sabre Dance - Khachaturian
Procession Of The Sardar - Ippolitov Ivanov
Night On Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky
Anvil Chor (II Trovatore) - Verdi
The Thunderer March - Sousa
Thunder & Lightening Polka - J. Strauss
Prelude To Act III : Lohengrin - Wagner
The Ride Of The Valkryies - Wagner
Montagues & Capulets (Romeo & Juliet Ballet Suite) - Prokofiev
The Storm: Symphony No. 6 In F Major, 'Pastorale' - Beethoven
Rondeau - Edward Carroll
Overture: Fireworks Music - Handel
March To The Scaffold: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
LesToreadors - Bizet
William Tell Overture: Finale - Rossini
Revolutionary Study - Abbey Simon
Fanfare For The Common Man - Copland
Sym No. 1 'Titan' IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Excerpt) - Mahler
Augurs Of Spring From Rite Of Spring - Stravinsky
Russian Dance From Petrouchka - Stravinsky
The Great Gate At Kiev From Pictures At An Exhibition - Mussorgsky

Customer Reviews:

Good selection.......2005-10-02

I bought this CD to use in my classroom as listening examples. I'm not just a super big fan of some of the performances, but they are all good and for the price you can't beat it. That's why I gave it 5 stars. It's worth more than it costs by far.

thunderous applause.......2005-08-31

This is a who's-who of great pieces of music you have heard all of your life, and never knew the names and stories! I listened to it over and over in the car and had my own concert! A friend borrowed it to add music to his Home Movies and it was perfect!

Good Music at a Great Price.......2004-03-06

I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD (by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music.

You will like this!.......2004-02-19

I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection and some were better than others.

This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.

I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
Well worth the price!

Good for the novice.......2002-06-08

The recordings on this disc are pretty good. However, the editors selected only the *loud* parts, as indicated by the title. I was pretty disappointed to find that the pieces are, in many cases, edited to reflect the most famous themes, etc, instead of including the whole work. In general, I would recommend this to the classical music novice, or someone who wants to expand their knowledge of classical music in general. Those who already are familiar with these pieces will probably feel gypped.

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

Average customer rating:

An Odd Release But A Bargain Price for Excellent Performances
Great reading of these 2 works
Best or not, you'll really love this Rite of Spring
Totally convincing
The best Rite of Spring

Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony
Michael Tilson Thomas , and Seiji Ozawa
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO

ASIN: B00000I9MQ
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

Petrouchka: Scene I - The Shrovetide Fair - Vivace - Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Magic Trick - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Russian Dance - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Scene II - Petrouchka's Cell - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Scene III - The Moor's Cell - L'istesso tempo - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Dance Of The Ballerina - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Waltz - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Scene IV - The Fair - Toward Evening - Tempo Giusto - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Wet Nurses' Dance - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Peasant With Bear - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Gypsies And A Rake Vendor - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Dance Of The Coachmen - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Masqueraders - Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Scuffle -Moor And Petrouchka- - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Death Of Petrouchka - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Appearance Of Petrouchka's Ghost - Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Rite Of Spring: The Rite Of Spring -- Part I - The Adoration Of The Earth - Introduction - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Harbingers of Spring - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Mock Abduction - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Spring Khorovod - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Games Of The Rival Tribes - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Procession Of The Wise Elder - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Adoration Of the Earth ; Dance Of The Earth - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Part II - The Sacrifice - Introduction - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Mystic Circles Of The Young Girls - Seiji Ozawa
Glorification Of The Chosen Victim - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Summoning Of The Ancestors - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Ritual Of The Ancestors - Seiji Ozawa
The Rite Of Spring: Sacrificial Dance - Seiji Ozawa
Fireworks: Fireworks, Op. 4 -Fantasy For Orchestra - Seiji Ozawa

Amazon.com

The Boston Symphony was at the peak of its powers when it engaged the 34-year-old Seiji Ozawa for this 1969 recording of Petrushka, in which the orchestra's then 24-year-old assistant conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas, played the extensive solo piano part. Ozawa, in those years, was capable of striking sparks with any orchestra he faced, and there is a palpable sense of excitement to the Petrushka he uncorks here. The accounts of The Rite of Spring and Fireworks, recorded in 1968 with the Chicago Symphony, are equally dynamic and colorful. BMG's long-awaited 24/96 remastering unleashes the breathtakingly open sound of the original tapes for the first time on CD, and may require a volume cut to preserve peace with the neighbors. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

An Odd Release But A Bargain Price for Excellent Performances.......2006-01-14

One wonders why this pairing of Seiji Ozawa and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Michael Tilson Thomas and the Boston Symphony Orchestra all under the spell of Stravinsky was issued. Not that the performances individually need reinforcement because they don't. Perhaps it is the long relationship between Tilson Thomas and Ozawa or their similar approaches to this repertoire that was the driver. Whatever the reason, here are recordings that are a treat.

Tilson Thomas elects the 1947 version of Petrushka and offers a clear-headed, rhythmically sound, exciting performance. The warm Boston sound is intact and enhances his overall mood of the work. Ozawa and the Chicago forces give an all stops out performance of 'Le Sacre du printemps', a performance that is about as visceral and pagan as any on record. And the bonus of the brief but effective 'Feu D'artifice' fantasy is given a robust reading.

There are many recordings of 'Le Sacre du printemps' in the recorded repertoire: obviously every conductor wants to imprint his mark on this masterpiece. The sonics are all-important when the work is recorded and in the case of this recording the sonics are excellent. But there may soon be a startling surprise for lovers of this mighty, historically important music. This week Esa-Pekka Salonen gave a resplendent, detailed, emotionally charged performance that was recorded live by DGG in the Disney Hall. And if the technicians are able to cope with the amazingly live clarity of the acoustics of this grand architectural triumph, the recording may be the gold standard immediately upon release. Salonen has previously and successfully recorded the work with the Philharmonia Orchestra in 1990. The growth in stature in the intervening years has never been more obvious that this current state of Salonen's Stravinsky. Watch for it! Grady Harp, January 06

Great reading of these 2 works.......2005-12-07

Both the Rite of Spring and Petrouska are very well rendered in this recording... Ozawa's reading is insightful and very clear... The recording quality is great... Highly recommend this recording...

Best or not, you'll really love this Rite of Spring.......2004-06-29

Being among my top favorite pieces in the 20th century (after all, this piece turned the view of classical music upside down), I have tested myself listening to various versions by different performers. As far as much as I listened, my top two will have to be Leonard Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic (the most brashing, bashin, mind-crushin'!!!) and this equally thrilling performance with Ozawa leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Officially, this is a major highlight throughout Ozawa's conducting legacy, still a very young man with seemly imperishable vigor and force very equilavent to his teacher Lenny. The Boston Symphony is an excellent orchestra to work with (the woodwinds and brass especially); otherwize the Chicago Symphony could have been the only other choice.

In my perspective, I had to admit that, just by focusing on the level of being barbaric and noxious, it slightly lacks that to Lenny, but on the other hand, it's brilliant controlled nail-biting high tempo can cover that.

Definitely worth buying!!! GO FOR IT!!!!!

Totally convincing.......2004-06-16

I have three recordings of "The Rite of Spring". I've known it in every detail since 1972 when I was 17 and I know the score inside out. This is the only performance (recorded or live) that I've ever heard that raised the hairs on the back of my neck, made me grip the seat and break out into a cold sweat, and ultimately made me understand what "The Rite" is all about. The recording does full justice to the performance. This is a "must have" for anyone who wants to understand the point of the work.

The best Rite of Spring.......2004-03-28

Ozawa's account of Stravinsky's most famous ballet is nothing short of astounding. The conductor has the Chicago Symphony playing with total attention. What is so amazing about this recording is that the orchestra is completely controlled and balanced. Although one may prefer a more spontaneous sounding Rite, one would be hard pressed to find a recording with more energy, polish, and power.

Ozawa's Petrouchka (with Michael Tilson Thomas at the piano) is equally amazing. The beauty of phrasing and emotion Ozawa instills into the players of the Boston Symphony orchestra is chilling. Indeed, when this recording was made, Ozawa had just taken the reigns or the orchestra (however, over the years, his energy and intensity has lessened) and they play for their new music director with total conviction.

Fireworks, a short symphonic sketch by the young Stravinsky, shows the influences of his teachers, especially Paul Dukas in the orchestration. Although not a seminal work, the opus 4 is delightful.

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.

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

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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.

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

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | 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.

Average customer rating:

A Fabulous Introduction to Igor Stravinsky!!

The Essential Igor Stravinsky

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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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: The Firebird/Fantaisie for Orchestra Op.4/Four Studies

Average customer rating:

Crystalline Stravinsky
Much different than Boulez' 1975 interpretation
Fantastic Full-Length Firebird!
Boulez's Electrifying Interpretation of Stravinsky
This is the joy that the only the CSO & Stravinsky can bring

Stravinsky: The Firebird/Fantaisie for Orchestra Op.4/Four Studies

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Firebird-Complete/Scherzo/Firework
Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra / 4 Orchestral Pieces - Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Boulez

ASIN: B000001GJD
Release Date: 1993-11-09

Tracks:

The Firebird: Introduction
The Firebird: Kashchei's Magic Garden
The Firebird: Appearance Of The Firebird
The Firebird: Dance Of The Firebird
The Firebird: Ivan-Tsarevich Captures The Firebird
The Firebird: The Firebird's Entreaties
The Firebird: The Princesses' Game With The Golden Apples
The Firebird: Sudden Appearance Of Ivan-Tsarevich
The Firebird: The Princesses' Khorovod (Round Dance)
The Firebird: Daybreak - Ivan-Tsarevich Enters Kashchei's Palace
The Firebird: Magic Carillon, Appearance Of Kashchei's Guardian Monsters And The Capture Of Ivan-Tsarevich - Arrival Of Kashchei The Immortal - Kashchei's dialogue With Ivan-Tsarevich - Intercession Of The Princesses - Appearance Of The Firebird
The Firebird: Dance of Kashchei's retinue, Under The Firebird's Spell
The Firebird: Infernal Dance Of All Of Kashchei's Subjects
The Firebird: Lullaby (The Firebird)
The Firebird: Disappearance Of The Palace And Dissolution Of Kashchei's Enchantments; Animation Of The Petrified Knights; General Rejoicing
Fireworks: Orchestral Fantasy Op. 4
Four Studies: 1. Dance
Four Studies: 2. Eccentric
Four Studies: 3. Canticle
Four Studies: 4. Madrid

Amazon.com

Stravinsky did three orchestral versions of his famous ballet, The Firebird (1910). The two that are mostly played today are a shorter version arranged in 1945, which is about 30 minutes long, and the original ballet suite, which is more than 45 minutes long. This is that version. The extended repeats and transitional material, in the right hands, give the whole work a decidedly spectral character. This, Boulez does expertly. (And the CSO has never sounded so...light on its feet.) Also here is the early Fireworks, where you can almost hear The Firebird approaching. The Four Etudes for Orchestra finish the disc like a snifter of brandy. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Crystalline Stravinsky.......2007-04-01

This ranks as one of the finest recordings by Pierre Boulez currently available. He takes the earliest and in many ways least characteristic of Stravinsky's great ballets and renders it of a piece with what was to come--which is to say cohesive and piquant--while still conveying its unique sound-world. The cystalline clarity he achieves here is not bought at the expense of the score's aura of magic and the supernatural, or its physical power in episodes such as the "Danse Infernale." Perhaps surprisingly, this is all done in collaboration with the Chicago Symphony, normally a massive-sounding band (whose brass nonetheless overpower everything else in the famous closing scene). DG's recording is breathtakingly vivid.

However, astute readers probably picked up on the implication of the phrase "currently available" in this review's opening sentence. Were Boulez's long-since-deleted 1975 version on Columbia with the New York Philharmonic (reissued on CD in 1987 with a previously unreleased "Chant du Rossignol" but also out-of-print for many years) available, this conductor would have some serious competition--from himself. As another Amazon poster noted, the earlier recording has a vibrant energy and more flexible pulse that the DG lacks by comparison, although the Chicagoans play with considerably more precision. Dare one associate a touch of warmth with Boulez, who was once nicknamed The Iceman? In the older recording of "Firebird," yes. Interestingly, these two very different interpretations are only 38 seconds apart in total timing, although the 1975 version seems much faster. All in all, however, the DG Boulez is a singular achievement.

Much different than Boulez' 1975 interpretation.......2005-07-07

For anyone familiar with Boulez' 1975 version (with the NY Philharmonic) of the full-length Firebird, this recording will represent a significant departure from Boulez' earlier interpretation. In general, the tempo of the piece is decidedly slower, and the sound of the orchestra is positively languid at times. In the hands of Boulez this time around, Stravinsky sounds more like the musical descendant of Debussy rather than Rimsky-Korsakov. However, the rather Gallic qualities of this interpretation are more than valid, if one reads the program notes --- in many ways, L'Oiseau de feu is more a French ballet than a Russian one.

Still, I find myself more drawn to the 1975 version, which is much more ferocious & absolutely bristles with menacing energy. Good luck finding it; it has been out of print for years, and if it was ever re-issued on CD, I am unaware of it. The 1975 version is yet another reason that I don't get rid of my record player.

The chances are that you will not be able to compare the two versions, which is a shame. Boulez does a splendid job with two radically different interpretations, and this newer version certainly does justice to Stravinsky in every way. I don't think I have ever heard the CSO sound so lush, and that is entirely due to Boulez. This is a definite must for anyone who loves 20th century ballet.

Fantastic Full-Length Firebird!.......2002-07-21

Another great disc from Pierre Boulez and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra! Packed full of electric energy, this disc is a great reminder that the Firebird is, first and foremost, a ballet and not simply an orchestral showpiece. Stravinksy's music bristles with movement, which is accentuated by Deutsche Grammophon's brilliant soundscape. For 46 minutes the listener is transported through the intangible world of good and evil. When Stravinsky drops you throught the portal on the other side at the finale 'Rejoicing', there can be no doubt that good has triumphed. This is some of the best music ever written. It is a pleasure to hear it in its entirety. The orchestral fantasy 'Fireworks' is a perfect encore to the Firebird with its jubilant percolations. The four Etudes are more modern in tone, but make a delightful curtain closer. "Madrid" especially will capture your attention. In short, this is a Stravinsky disc not to be overlooked!

Boulez's Electrifying Interpretation of Stravinsky.......2001-05-31

Pierre Boulez and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have wrought one of the most emotionally stirring recordings I have heard of Stravinsky's Firebird ballet score. It crackles with warmth, energy, and enthusiasm from the very first note. Boulez's dramatic reading is the latest is a series of exceptional recordings he's made of Stravinsky's music; clearly he's one of its foremost interpreters. Although the Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays brilliantly for its music director, Daniel Barenboim, I have been struck by their exceptional level of playing for Boulez. I doubt I have heard the brass section sparkle with refined, elegant playing as I have heard on Boulez's Chicago Symphony Orchestra recordings for Deutsche Grammophon. The two pieces which follow the rarely heard original Firebird score sound just as radiant too.

This is the joy that the only the CSO & Stravinsky can bring.......2000-07-07

The CSO never disapoints me in the quality of its recordings. I am amazed by this recording. I have seen them preform the Firebirds twice and know that few things are as refined yet passionate as their Firebirds.

This recording is the best Ihave heard and I have listened too different recordings at record stores. This is to good to be true. The trombone and trumpeters are superb in there tempo and dynamics. The basson and oboe haunting and unsurpassed. And the strings and purcussion are perfect. This music is so suttle that it can easly be overpowered by poor dymanic control or imperfect timing, this does not happen her.

Tracks:

The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Introduction
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Harbingers Of Spring
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Mock Abduction
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Spring Rounds
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Games Of The Rival Tribes
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Procession Of The Wise Elder
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Adoration Of The Earth (Wise Elder)
The Rite Of Spring - Part l: The Adoration Of The Earth: Dance Of The Earth
The Rite Of Spring - Part ll: The Sacrifice: Introduction
The Rite Of Spring - Part ll: The Sacrifice: Mystic Circles Of The Young Girls
The Rite Of Spring - Part ll: The Sacrifice: Glorification Of The Chosen One
The Rite Of Spring - Part ll: The Sacrifice: Summoning Of The Ancients
The Rite Of Spring - Part ll: The Sacrifice: Ritual Of The Ancients
The Rite Of Spring - Part ll: The Sacrifice: Sacrificial Dance (Choseon One)
Fireworks (Fantasy For Orchestra, Op. 4)
Suite: The Firebird: Introduction
Suite: The Firebird: The Firebird And Its Dance
Suite: The Firebird: Variation Of The Firebird
Suite: The Firebird: Pas De Deux
Suite: The Firebird: Scherzo (Dance Of The Princesses)
Suite: The Firebird: The Round Of The Princesses
Suite: The Firebird: Infernal Dance Of King Kastchei
Suite: The Firebird: Berceuse
Suite: The Firebird: Finale

Customer Reviews:

Best consumed loud and proud.......2007-06-02

Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps is one of the greatest artistic conceptions of the 20th century. The raw, primitive feel of the musical material is legendary itself, due in large part to its role in Disney's Fantasia, but in its staged version Le Sacre also managed to completely blow the popular perception of what a ballet was supposed to be. Audiences rioted at its 1913 premiere in Paris, disgusted by its overt eroticism, a similar reaction to that which had condemned Carmen to commercial failure four decades earlier. And similarly to Bizet's masterpiece, it took years for audiences to warm to its forward-looking, ultrarealistic elements, but once they did, its place in the pantheon was cemented permanently. To this day, it remains an unsurpassed landmark in the creative use of extreme dissonance, extended instrumental technique, and ever-shifting, never-settled, barless rhythmical patterns.

Ozawa's 1968 performance of Le Sacre with the CSO is fierce, crisp, and extremely clean. The brass players are emotionally wide-ranging and bold, the woodwinds are poignant and technically acute, and the strings compete with both remarkably well on all fronts. The brisk tempi seem not to pose much difficulty for the players, and the urgency of the conception is irresistible.

The Firebird is less of an icon than Le Sacre, but it too is a masterwork from the golden period of Stravinsky's life, when his creative instincts were in full harmony with his erudition and his works were as satisfying to the public at large as they were to professors and theoreticians. This performance is of the 1945 suite (which contains more of the original ballet's material than the 1919 suite), though with the Pantomime movement seemingly omitted. The lushness and warmth of Leinsdorf's very Romantic reading provides a nice counterpoint to Ozawa's ferocity in the first half of the disc. The BSO's strings lilt as well as they scythe, and the feeling of this very large orchestra fading to a whisper in unison, then rising out of it, is magical.

I simply cannot detect the faults that other reviewers of this CD have pointed out. This is a superb disc and represents a fine value.

An excellent Chicago recording from Ozawa's early years.......2005-09-15

Seiji Ozawa's Stravinsky LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS is a very good recording. I give this 5 stars because it has a single minded purpose behind the driving rhythms, so prevalent in Stravinsky's pivotal and forever famous ballet score. Ozawa showed alot of promise in his early years, and this recording, from 1968 when he was just 33, was made 5 years before he became music director of the Boston Symphony, (1973) succeeding outgoing conductor William Steinberg.

RCA's 1968 analog sound is very good in LE SACRE, and equally as fine in FIREWORKS (Ozawa) and FIREBIRD Suite (Erich Leinsdorf/Boston Symphony).

Ozawa's tempos in SACRE are very fast, and some may prefer a more expansive approach to parts of the score. But I found it very enjoyable, and for variety have several other recordings of LE SACRE: Colin Davis/Concertgebouw (Philips), Karel Ancerl/Czech Philharmonic (Supraphon), Claudio Abbado/London Symphony (DG), Antal Dorati/Detroit Symphony (Decca). It's hard to name just ONE preferred recording for Stravinsky's SACRE since it is such a complex, colorful, fascinating work, but Ozawa's can hold company with the best. Recommended, and a bargain, too.

Technically great, emotionally lacking.......2003-07-07

This was one of the first Sacres that I listened to while reading from the score. This recording is great for music students, in my opinion, because of the great clarity and rythmic exactness that one has come to expect from the Chicago Symphony. Every line on the score can be virtually "seen" while listening to the music, especially in the winds. The great price and the clarity of the recording make it ideal if you want to really understand the orchestration and other technical aspects of this complex piece. However, I found that these merits can also be interpretive pitfalls. I suppose it depends on what kind of piece you expect from Stravinsky. Do you look at Le Sacre as an outgrowth from the impressionism of Debussy, or as a clean, pre-serialist piece? Judging by the orchestration, rythms, and thematic material, its exact place in music history is rather obscure (though no one would argue that it is not extremely powerful and important!). I suppose that is part of the magic of this piece that is lacking from this recording. I just can't seem to find the character in it that I find in other recordings. You want a monumental piece like this to be treated as such! The other Rite by the same conductor is really much better.

Technically great, emotionally lacking.......2003-07-07

There's better..........2003-02-02

This recording just doesn't do it for me. Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is such an emotional ride because of it's strong rhythmic qualities. The first time you hear it done right, you feel wrong. It's freakishly piercing at a primal level, which would explain why its the most famous piece of Primitivism. Those qualities are dumbed down to a measure that makes the piece seem more annoying than involving. This recording gets its 2 stars instead of what would be one because I cannot be too hard on the Firebird Suite, as this is the first I've heard it.

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird/Petrushka/Fireworks

Average customer rating:

Pointed Dissonance

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird/Petrushka/Fireworks

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B000003CXJ
Release Date: 1991-06-14

Tracks:

The Firebird (Suite 1919 Version)
Petrushka (1947 Version)
Fireworks, Op. 4

Customer Reviews:

Pointed Dissonance.......2001-10-24

The Baltimore Symphony offers a percolating Firebird. If you love this piece you will love this recording. The orchestra careens freely from theme to theme interrupted only by the occasional brass outburst. Even more thrilling than the Firebird is Petruska; a hybrid between the romantic orchestration of the Firebird and the guttural rhythms of Rite of Spring. Telarc's engineering allows for perfect clarity of all the elements of the orchestra. More layers become apparent on each successive listening, a testament to the wonderous complexity of Stravinsky's music.

Average customer rating:

Stravinsky the Composer, not Stravinsky the Conductor
Staggering! All the Stravinsky I'll ever need!
Magnificent!
Where's my Petrushka?
legendary

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Original Jacket Collection: Vladimir Horowitz
Memories and Commentaries: New One-Volume Edition

ASIN: B000031X11
Release Date: 1999-12-07

Customer Reviews:

Stravinsky the Composer, not Stravinsky the Conductor.......2006-09-18

It is a pretty good collection, lots of music from Stravinsky's entire carreer, but one must keep in mind that Stravinsky was a brilliant composer, and not a commanding maestro. You will not necessarily be getting the best recordings of these works. For example, something like the Boulez/Cleveland Rite of Spring is far superior to those in this collection. He is a vastly better conductor, and is much more capable of making the orchestra perform Stravinsky's intentions than Stravinsky is. All in all, however, I am more than glad I own this set.

Staggering! All the Stravinsky I'll ever need!.......2006-05-20

While I had heard some Stravinsky compositions prior to my purchase, this was the first (and only) Stravinsky material I have ever owned. As a young music enthusiast, the draw to me was to hear these pieces as Stravinsky conducted them and to get so many of them at such a great price, not to have the original jackets for the purpose of reminiscing. So, as someone who needed a good jump start into the works of Stravinsky (by Stravinsky), this set has proven totally invaluable. And while more information could have been packed onto these cds, I do appreciate how closely these discs have stuck to the original releases. I don't know about the portion of Petroushka which some reviewers claim is missing (as I don't know any other version), but I was totally blown away at hearing this version of Petroushka anyhow. In all, for whatever faults some sticklers may find here or there with this set, the value of this material collected in such a way (and at such a price) by far outweighs any possible faults.

Magnificent!.......2006-03-02

A great collection. There is simply no substitute for hearing Stravinsky as the great composer wanted to have his music played. Here is so much and also so varied a collection. I have been enjoying this set a great deal. One of the 20th century's greatest composers conducting his own compositions.

Where's my Petrushka?.......2003-08-01

The main reason I bought this box is because I was introduced to Stravinsky's Petrushka in the spring of 2003, and I loved it.
Along with Rite of Spring I think it's the most brilliant music Mr. Stravinsky ever wrote...so, I've been listening to the 34-minute long 1960 CSO recording of it at least once a day since I first heard it, naturally sort of memorizing it, but it didn't fit when I made this CD spin. The recording of Petrushka in this box is the VERY SAME RECORDING (1960) that I'd listened to, but it's cut to a suite! It's only 24 minutes long. You can tell it's obviously cut at certain points if you're familiar with the uncut version. 10 WHOLE MINUTES ARE MISSING FROM "PETRUSHKA!" I was (and still am) very disappointed by this.
Familiarizing myself with the rest of the discs was very fulfilling, though; I love the Ebony Concerto with the Columbia Jazz Combo featuring Benny Goodman...but the "suite-cut" of Petrushka made me paranoid...I can't be sure if anything else is edited or not...
There are 75 pages of notes in the booklet about the recordings but only 1/3 is in English.
The special multimedia feature disc is nothing much. With awful graphics it features the same notes as in the booklet, and there are lyrics for those who want to use the box for karaoke.
These 400 minutes of music (an average of 45 minutes per disc) could fit on only 5 CD's instead of 9, but it seems that this collection is made for nostaligs who will love watching and touching these tiny LP-jackets - after all, it is called the "Original Jacket Collection."
Incidentally, all of Stravinsky's recorded work which he conducted himself is not in this box. It is not at all complete; aside from the missing part of "Petrushka," his own reading of "Symphony in Three Movements" is missing (but available on CBS.)
Hats off to the man himself anyway. The music is brilliant, and considering that these recordings are 40+ years old, the sound quality is very good. Excellent stereophony on Rite of Spring!
It's a good thing that his music is still available and that people are offering refurbished products thereof. But if you love Petrushka like I do...buy the real thing...this just might disappoint you...
The 3 stars is a compromise of the music and the package; (5 stars for the music & its quality - 1 star for the package, choice of discs and--considering the price--somewhat weak linear notes.)

legendary.......2002-06-30

This 9 cd set is an historical one...more than half of Stravinsky's works are collected in this set. i clearly can say that there isn't any better recording for Stravinsky's works. especcialy first released USA's national anthem and a 12 tone work "Fanfare for two Trumpets" are remarkable.and we can also mention that some noises during the recording procces (i.e: Stravinsky's turning the page of the partition) gives a different taste to the listener. This is a real golden box of music.

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