Stravinsky: The Firebird (L'oiseau de feu)

“This striking SACD provides remarkably highcalibre recordings: both works sound pretty marvellous played back through normal CD equipment. But if you have a good four-speaker system and set the rear volume level gently and judiciously, the sound is almost unbelievably realistic. Indeed, this Flemish performance of The Firebird is one of the finest orchestral recordings of recent years. Stravinsky's vivid scoring lends itself to demonstration sound.
Moreover, the music is miraculously well played.
Yoel Levi's totally idiomatic and involving reading, though not lacking drama, is warmly relaxed and evocatively atmospheric, with the Flemish orchestra playing with ravishing sensitivity.
Orchestral textures are delectably diaphonous and transluscent: everything seems to be in a magical haze, with iridescent colouring at the 'Appearance of the Firebird', while the music for the 'Enchanted Princesses' is exquisitely tender.
Arguably the piano-pianissimo opening is a little too quiet but the ear soon revels in the wide range of playing and sound: the whole progression of infernal music for Kashchei brings some quite astounding sounds. For the great closing rejoicing, the lovely horn melody seemingly appears out of the mist, and the climax builds slowly and magically until the brass enter. Then Levi pulls back a little, creating a spacious, no less involving, climax.
In Song of the Nightingale, the orchestra again play with refinement and beauty, especially at the close. The extra dimension of the Glossa recording makes one feel the orchestra really is out there, beyond the speakers.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“…this Flemish performance of The Firebird is one of the finest orchestral recordings I have heard. Moreover, the music is miraculously well played. Orchestral textures are delectably diaphanous and translucent: everything seems to be in a magical haze, with iridescent colouring at the 'Appearance of the Firebird', while the music for the 'Enchanted Princesses is exquisitely tender. In Song of the Nightingale, the atmospheric Flemish version is similarly telling, the orchestra again playing with refinement and beauty, especially at the close.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2006