Stravinsky: The Firebird (L'oiseau de feu) - download (MP3 & FLAC)

“It's The Firebird that takes the honours here, especially the marvellously descriptive woodwind allied to the tiptoeing pizzicato strings. Here, Sokhiev seems to have penetrated to the fantastic, mythical heart of the piece.” The Independent, 12th January 2013 ***

“These are broad, big-boned accounts; if the Rite’s final chord isn’t cataclysmic, what goes before is convulsive and compelling.” Sunday Times, 20th January 2013

“Sokhiev's Rite of Spring takes heed of the work's many textural contrasts, with plenty of bite and bounce from the strings in the 'Mystical Circles of the Young Girls' and darkly wailing lower strings in 'Spring Rounds'...I'd call it a driven performance rather than especially elemental” Gramophone Magazine, February 2013

“Sokhiev's new recording with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse seems aimed at younger listeners, and would form a fine starting point for school projects...there's a DVD of the performance of The Rite of Spring that focuses on whichever instrument is prominent at any given time, and films Sokhiev from the relevant player's viewpoint, giving a real sense of what it's like to be in an orchestra.” The Guardian, 7th February 2013 ****

“As for the performances, these are polished and duly exciting...as an imaginative introduction to the world of the ballets, this is a welcome set.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2013 ****

“The playing on this disc from Andrew Litton and the Bergen Philharmonic is in many ways marvellous, with a good sense of pace throughout much of the ballet. Recorded sound is sensational, especially in surround...The caveat, though, is that...there is much excellent music-making but not such convincing drama.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2012 ***

“Litton allows [The Firebird] more delicacy than some of its later interpreters, to its great advantage in such moments as the very opening...If Kashchey has sounded more formidable in the hands of others (including the composer himself), Litton gives the old sorcerer a spectral quality that is at least as sinister. It is all beautifully played, not least thanks to a woodwind section of players who really listen to one another.” Gramophone Magazine, June 2012

“the fine grain of the recording ensures that nothing in this remarkable score is missed; the Bergen orchestra really is a very fine ensemble these days. Yet too often it's hard to believe that this is a work that was intended for the theatre” The Guardian, 29th March 2012 ***

Gramophone Editor's Choice Award, November, 2003

“Saraste directs a brilliant performance of both works, skilfully recorded so as to do justice to the suitably fantastic orchestration of this fantastic tale...The 'Khorovod of the Princesses' may sound more 'Western' than it does in Russian performances but it is gracefully and well done, and Saraste is excellent at keeping the sense of drama driving forward throughout the ballet's length.” Gramophone Magazine, January 2012

“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