Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site spar.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!spar!ellis
From: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Stravinsky's Firebird
Message-ID: <612@spar.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Oct-85 05:14:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: spar.612
Posted: Wed Oct 23 05:14:16 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 25-Oct-85 01:53:18 EDT
References: <3041@sdcc3.UUCP> <501@adelie.UUCP>
Reply-To: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research, CA
Lines: 22

>I am not familiar with any specific recordings of the full-length
>original, but I am sure they are out there.  Look for Pierre Monteaux or
>Ernest Ansermet conducting. - JAK

    Stravinky himself conducts the full Firebird score, recorded in the
    60's on Columbia. I believe it has been released in several forms,
    including in a boxed set with Petrouchka and the Rite of Spring. 
    The sound quality is still fine.
    
    Stravinsky's interpretations strike me as not particularly spectacular.
    The climaxes, rather than bombastic, sound almost classical, especially
    in the Firebird. I particularly enjoy the clarity of Stravinsky's
    treatment of all the weird extra details that are excised from the
    shorter Firebird suite. The composer conducted this piece hundreds of
    times during his career (more than any other piece) and grew somewhat
    weary of hearing it as an hyper-romantic potboiler (Stokowski's old
    version of the suite on London is my favorite kick-ass interpretation)
    
    One of my favorite compositions by Stravinsky is L'Histoire du Soldat
    (without narration). Can anyone recommend a recent version?

-michael