Customer Reviews

Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments / The Firebird (Original Versions)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't know the credentials of the two "geniuses" who wrote the previous reviews, but the following is a quote from Gramophone magazine and pretty much sums up my opinion of this outstanding Virgin recording. From Gramophone..."The reissue of Kent Nagano's vividly detailed new LSO recording of the original Stravinsky Firebird score is a different matter, and must go right to the top of the recommended list. From the very opening the clearly delineated kaleidoscope of orchestral colour reminds one of Dorati's famous Mercury recording (11/91), but the new Virgin sound balance produced by Andrew Keener is even finer, slightly softer grained, richer, but with hardly less impact. At the opening, the playing generates a slightly less tension than with Dorati, but the concentration steadily increases, the orchestral colour glows radiantly, and the big set pieces - the spectacular `Danse infernale' of Kashchei, the lovely `Princesses' Round Dance' and the `Berceuse' - are all superbly played. The final climax expands gloriously. Nagano also uses the original 1920 score of the Symphonies of wind instruments and the result is ear-tickling in the best sense, with sonorities juxtaposed most skilfully, textures keenly balanced, and a well-maintained onward flow."

I have to admire Nagano for attempting a Firebird that is more delicate and mysterious-sounding than any other I've ever encountered. All sharp angles have been softened, and a soft, hazy air hangs over everything (the very opposite of the dry, detached style the composer himself preferred). It's easy to appreciate all the atmospherics, but ultimately the Firebird needs to be more dramatic and explosive when the time comes. Pretty twittering isn't enough, and Nagano's occasionally slack rhythms don't cut it.

The LSO plays so beautifully and the sonics are so crystal-clear that one can forget Nagaon's lapses--anyone who wants to hear Stravinsky dressed up as Debussy will be thrilled. The filler is a clean, clear and yet fatally limp reading of the Symphonies of Wind Instruments.

When I first bought and listened to this CD I was disappointed. The recorded sound was so low-volume and nearly inaudible in really soft, delicate passages that it really colored my estimation of the performance and interpretation.

Recently I gave Nagano's Firebird a second hearing, since I usually like his way with music like this. This time I threw caution to the wind and cranked up the volume, risking alienating my neighbors. But what a change! A gorgeous transparent highly detailed sound and masterful interpretation emerged.

I think I've heard at least six dozen performances (well maybe not, but many) of this ballet over a number of years, live, on radio, television, LP and now CD. It's simply magical music. Among my favorite interpreters is Stravinsky himself, straightforward, matter-of-fact but magnificent since the music speaks for itself. French conductors such as Pierre Monteux and Ernest Ansermet (who both premiered many of Stravinsky's works) have done very well with this music too. And there are many others that range from good to great. Nagano comes very close to this latter level and at times sets a standard of interpretation all his own, as though he'd not only carefully studied the score and historical context, but also interpretations of many of its greatest conductors. He finds his own way very convincingly.

This performance could rightly be called transparent in that it finds the right balance and integration of detail and nuance with energetic drive and romantic glow right when they're called for. It's a very discerning point of view and very respectful of the composer's intentions.

The volume problem is a drawback however. Many other recordings will sound more "dramatic" just because they're cut to a higher sound level. But if you give Nagano's Firebird enough volume, I think you may be very impressed and delighted.

Very high recommendation to all Stravinsky and Firebird lovers.
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**UPDATE: 3 January 2009. Four and a half years have passed since the above review and something of the shine has worn off my esteem for this CD, enough I think to qualify my enthusiastic recommendation. In addition, some comment on Nagano's performance of Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments is needed. I tend now to agree with Santa Fe Listener that Nagano is too deliberate in his leadership: he doesn't let his hands go enough to allow the vibrancy and energy the ballet really demands of the performers and conductor. Not dull but not quite exciting either.
The performance and recording of the Symphonies of Wind Instruments *is dull*, unfortunately, and should disappoint anyone familiar with this fascinating and strangely moving work. If you have not heard a recording of this work before, I doubt you would want to hear it ever again, and that's a shame.

I give one less star for this CD, therefore. That does not mean, however, that you shouldn't enjoy it, only that you might enjoy it even more elsewhere.

I don't know why I even purchased this CD with Stravinsky's Symphonies Of Wind Instruments/The Firebird(Complete Ballet) with the London Symphony Orchestra with Kent Nagano. The sound engineers must have fell asleep throughout the whole performance of The Firebird. I am not happy with these performances! Unless you like totally bad sound quality, never come across this album.
I'm not kidding, this CD is no full-length one.