Igor Stravinsky's L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird) is one of his most beloved works, and there are many fine recordings available of the complete 1910 ballet or the variously configured suites of 1911, 1919, and 1945. This double CD by Dennis Russell Davies and the Sinfonieorchester Basel presents the full orchestral version on the first disc, and a transcription for piano four hands on the other, prepared by Davies from Stravinsky's solo piano arrangement, which was used primarily for ballet rehearsals, in spite of being ...
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Igor Stravinsky's L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird) is one of his most beloved works, and there are many fine recordings available of the complete 1910 ballet or the variously configured suites of 1911, 1919, and 1945. This double CD by Dennis Russell Davies and the Sinfonieorchester Basel presents the full orchestral version on the first disc, and a transcription for piano four hands on the other, prepared by Davies from Stravinsky's solo piano arrangement, which was used primarily for ballet rehearsals, in spite of being almost impossible for one person to play. The lush orchestral writing is lovingly rendered, and Davies elicits warm and vibrant sonorities from the orchestra, giving the music a magical luster that suits its fairy tale subject. The keyboard arrangement is less obviously colorful and nuanced; even though Davies and his wife Maki Namekawa play with great coordination, energy, and sensitivity, their performance suffers in comparison with the original orchestral version. This may be more...
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