Stravinsky Ballets: The Firebird, Petrushka, The Rite of Spring

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Stravinsky sent shockwaves through classical music in the 20th century. His first three ballets—The Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring, all composed between 1909 and 1913—brought a new and frenzied sense of rhythm, so distressing to audiences that it caused uproar; The Rite of Spring even caused a riot.

And it’s not hard to see why. Is there any moment in music more demonic than the opening to The Firebird, a terrifying rumble of strings that would make Jaws tremble? There are few pieces more unsettling than The Rite of Spring with its carnal, tribal rhythms; or Petrushka with its impish Punch and Judy puppets.

A notable voice of authority on the works of Stravinsky, Sir Simon Rattle masterfully brings these three creations to life in this dramatic performance, recorded live in the Barbican Hall as part of his inaugural season as LSO’s Music Director.

Composer Stravinsky
Conductor Sir Simon Rattle
Performers London Symphony Orchestra

1-11. The Firebird [L'oiseau de feu] - Ballet (1910)
12-26. Petruskha [Petrouchka] (1911, rev. 1947)
27-39. The Rite of Spring [Le Sacre du Printemps] (1913, rev. 1947)

Release date 25 March 2022
LSO5096 | 0822231509622

2 SACD Hybrid discs in Brilliant box jewel case
Booklet in English, French & German
SACD incl. stereo | multi-channel 5.1

Producers Jonathan Stokes, Neil Hutchinson
Executive Producer David Millinger
Engineers Classic Sound Ltd
Recorded live in 24bit 96kHz PCM on 21 & 24 September 2017 in the Barbican Hall, London

FLAC - 24bit 96kHz - Compatible with Windows and Android devices
MP3 - 320kbps - Universal compatibility
SACD - Compatible with all CD players

Available on streaming services

Reviews

“

'Rattle’s interpretations of The Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring have a freshness that almost makes one believe one has never heard them before: they convey the full excitement of the composer’s experiments with sound and rhythm, and their deep originality remains astounding.'

- The Daily Telegraph
“

'[The London Symphony Orchestra’s] new release of the Stravinsky Ballets—The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite—is everything you could possibly want from modern orchestra performances of these still-crowd-crazing pieces.'

- Bay Area Reporter
“

Performance ★★★★ Recording ★★★★ 'The orchestra responds to the challenge with a spectacular display of sustained firepower, rhythmic control and individual artistry. And there’s much evidence, too, of Rattle’s superlative ear for detail, bringing out exactly what the composer has written down.'

- BBC Music Magazine