Notes and Editorial Reviews
The playing is marvelous, with splendidly characterized solos, incisive ensemble attack, and a sustained brilliance without brashness.
Boulez’s readings of the last decade are often warmer, more relaxed than his early ones, and broadly these performances fit that mould. Just occasionally, though, I felt this complete Firebird to be a bit icy; but Boulez could never be as Romantic as, say, Rattle on EMI. For almost half an hour, indeed, I needed to turn up the volume more than usual, the general natural balance, using the 4D Audio Recording system, occasionally seeming on the recessed side. But then the Magic Carillon and the appearance of Kashchei’s monsters suddenly overwhelmed me: a splendid moment, not least because
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it both surprises and seems perfectly integrated.
From a magical and lugubrious ‘Introduction’ to a ferocious ‘Infernal Dance’, this performance in fact offers many insights. The playing is marvellous, with splendidly characterised and well polished solos, incisive ensemble attack, and a sustained brilliance without brashness. And although even Boulez can’t disguise the essentially episodic nature of this work, he manages to bring a typically thoughtful, but never too obviously calculated sense of tension to the balance of sections; there’s a strong overall feeling about the structure, as well as expert attention to timbral light and shade.
This almost ideal combination of remarkable orchestral virtuosity and intelligent, fresh thinking makes the ‘fillers’ feel really substantial too. Richard Taruskin’s scholarly but highly readable booklet notes provide a significant gloss on, for example, The Firebird ’s debt to the Russian tradition. Highly recommended.
Performance: 5 (out of 5), Sound: 4 (out of 5)
-- Keith Potter, BBC Music Magazine
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Works on This Recording
1.
Firebird by Igor Stravinsky
Conductor:
Pierre Boulez
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: Russia
Date of Recording: 12/1992
Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago
Length: 46 Minutes 9 Secs.
Notes: Composition written: Russia (1909 - 1910).
2.
Fireworks, Op. 4 by Igor Stravinsky
Conductor:
Pierre Boulez
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1908; Russia
Date of Recording: 12/1992
Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago
Length: 3 Minutes 54 Secs.
3.
Etudes (4) for Orchestra by Igor Stravinsky
Conductor:
Pierre Boulez
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1928/1952; France
Date of Recording: 12/1992
Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago
Length: 9 Minutes 36 Secs.
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