Track Listing

1. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Introduction
2. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Le jardin enchant� de Kastche�
3. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Apparition de l'oiseau de feu porsuivi par Ivan Tsar�vitch
4. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Danse de l'oiseau de feu
5. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Capture de l'oiseau de fue
6. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Supplications de l'oiseau de feu
7. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Jeu des princesses avec les pommes d'or
8. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Brusque apparition d'Ivan Tsar�vitch
9. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Ronde des princesses (Corovod)
10. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Lever du jour
11. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Carillon f��rique, apparition des monstres-gardiens de Kastche� et
12. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Danse de la suite de Kastche� enchant�e par l'oiseau de feu
13. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Danse infernale de tous les sujets de Kastche�
14. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Berceuse (l'oiseau feu)
15. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra: Disparition du palais et des sortil�ges Animation des chevaliers p�
16. Symphony No. 5 in F sharp major for piano, organ, chorus & orchestra ('Prometheus, Poem of Fire'), Op. 60: Le Po�me du feu

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40610 in Music
• Brand: Philips
• Released on: 1998-10-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

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

Incandescent!
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...
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!

Electrifying
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.