Thoughts on Living Stereo Firebird Suite?

[RichTeer]

Hi all,

I keep hearing good things about the Telarc Firebird Suite, but as far as I know that version isn't available on vinyl. It seems that the best alternative I can find is the 200g Classic Records reissue of the Mercury Living Stereo one conducted by Pierre Monteux. I'm not familiar with the music, but my interest in piqued. Living Stereo has a good rep, so would I be correct in thinking that this record is worth the $33?

 

[aliveatfive]

"Firebird" was available on Telarc vinyl (DG10039,) but it digitally mastered. I have it and it is fairly good sounding. Living Stereo vinyls have always been well reviewed, but I have no first-hand experience with this one. Are you buying new or used?

 

[RichTeer]

"Firebird" was available on Telarc vinyl (DG10039,) but it digitally mastered. I have it and it is fairly good sounding. Living Stereo vinyls have always been well reviewed, but I have no first-hand experience with this one. Are you buying new or used?

I'd be buying new (from Acoustic Sounds).

 

[Gordon Gray]

Hi Rich,

The Firebird is a wonderful piece of music. Same goes for the Rite of Spring. If you are not used to listening to more contemporary classical music, you may find it difficult at first but a few listens will take care of that.

Also be aware that the entire Firebird Suite is some 70 minutes long. If you buy it in vinyl and it is a single disc, the recording will likely contain the latter "movements" of the piece, which happen to be the most dramatic.

GG

 

[RichTeer]

Hi Rich,

The Firebird is a wonderful piece of music. Same goes for the Right of Spring. If you are not used to listening to more contemporary classical music, you may find it difficult at first but a few listens will take care of that.

Also be aware that the entire Firebird Suite is some 70 minutes long. If you buy it in vinyl and it is a single disc, the recording will likely contain the latter "movements" of the piece, which happen to be the most dramatic.

GG

I'm not sure what you mean by contemporary classical music. This is all relatively new to me! The sort of classical music I love is Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Beethoven's symphonies, Holst's The Planets, and the like. I listened to Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss and (apart with the exception of the very famous opening bars) found it not to my taste. Perhaps another spin on the turntable is warranted...

 

[MiTT]

Rich, I think you may be mixing up a couple of different versions. The Monteaux you mentioned is an RCA Living Stereo release. It's a great recording and a stirring performance. In my mind well worth the $33.00 cost of admission.

Better still is the Dorati, London Symphony Orchestra version on a Mercury Living Presence release. This version is the "Complete" work including some horn sections that were later removed from the original score. It was also released by Classic Records, but I believe it may be out of print on LP although it is available on SACD. I prefer this version both for it's performance as well as sonics.

 

[Bernard]

Hi Rich,

The Firebird is a wonderful piece of music. Same goes for the Right of Spring. If you are not used to listening to more contemporary classical music, you may find it difficult at first but a few listens will take care of that.

True, but I have never warmed up to either.

 

[Bernard]

I listened to Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss and (apart with the exception of the very famous opening bars) found it not to my taste. Perhaps another spin on the turntable is warranted...

It definitely warrants another listen as it develops into wonderfully lyrical and sweeping music that is really gorgeous.

 

[Gordon Gray]

I'm not sure what you mean by contemporary classical music. This is all relatively new to me! The sort of classical music I love is Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Beethoven's symphonies, Holst's The Planets, and the like. I listened to Also Sprach Zarathustra by Strauss and (apart with the exception of the very famous opening bars) found it not to my taste. Perhaps another spin on the turntable is warranted...

Hi Rich,

The music you mention is what I call "traditional / mainstream" classic music. Very lyrical with a strong thematic structure. When you get into folks like Stravinsky, Shostakovich et al, some of their music is much less structured with abrupt changes in tempo, theme, and dynamic drive.

I love it and have personally gravitated to this type of music but it is generally not "approachable" for the first time listener and, like anything that differs from mainstream material, it may take awhile for "it to grow on you".

Even after repeated listenings, folks like Bernard and many others I suspect, may not find it to be their cup of tea.

Hope that helps.

GG

PS: I will add that IMHO, a well recorded piece of classical music really spotlights ML's design strengths and capabilities.

 

[RichTeer]

Rich, I think you may be mixing up a couple of different versions. The Monteaux you mentioned is an RCA Living Stereo release. It's a great recording and a stirring performance. In my mind well worth the $33.00 cost of admission.

Better still is the Dorati, London Symphony Orchestra version on a Mercury Living Presence release. This version is the "Complete" work including some horn sections that were later removed from the original score. It was also released by Classic Records, but I believe it may be out of print on LP although it is available on SACD. I prefer this version both for it's performance as well as sonics.

Ah, thanks for pointing that out! The one on the left (RCA Living Stereo) is the one I'm thinking of, but I've heard of the Dorati one.

 

[RichTeer]

Hi Rich,

The music you mention is what I call "traditional / mainstream" classic music. Very lyrical with a strong thematic structure. When you get into folks like Stravinsky, Shostakovich et al, some of their music is much less structured with abrupt changes in tempo, theme, and dynamic drive.

I love it and have personally gravitated to this type of music but it is generally not "approachable" for the first time listener and, like anything that differs from mainstream material, it may take awhile for "it to grow on you".

Even after repeated listenings, folks like Bernard and many others I suspect, may not find it to be their cup of tea.

Hope that helps.

GG

HI Gordon,

Many thanks for the whirlwind tour of the classical genre! Popular classical is another label I've heard in relation to the type of classical music I seem to prefer. I don't mind experimenting a bit because one can sometimes discover great new music that way, but with my limited budget I try to lean towards stuff I have a better chance of liking at first listen.

 

[SundayNiagara]

Get the Mercury Living Prescence/Dorati, if you can find it.

 

[risabet]

. . . but with my limited budget I try to lean towards stuff I have a better chance of liking at first listen.

Get thee to your local used record store and buy some of these works from the $2.00 section. I recently introduced myself to Hindemith this way and have become of big fan of this neoclassical composer's later works which are filled with counterpoint and unique instrumental colors.

Regarding the Rite of Spring, try to find either Metha w/the NYPO on Columbia or the Goossens w/LSO on Everest, both of which are good interpretations. I lean towards the Everest personally.

Firebird is a powerful bit of music. Both the RCA and Mercury are excellent but you may be able to get an original for a lot less than $33 dollars. Here is a Mercury Rite on E-bay


http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercury-SR-90253-Stravinsky-Rite-Spring-DORATI-FR2-NM_W0QQitemZ380107443472QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item380107443472&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

The Telarc is all over E-Bay!

 

[Bernard]

The sort of classical music I love is Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Beethoven's symphonies, ...

If you like Beethoven's symphonies, I have a whole slew of other stuff to recommend, by Beethoven, Schubert (my other favourite), and others.

 

[MiTT]

If you like Beethoven's symphonies, I have a whole slew of other stuff to recommend, by Beethoven, Schubert (my other favourite), and others.

There's and endless stream. I discover more about classical music every day, often on the recommendations of others. I was going to add that if you like Beethoven's symphonic work you should check out Sebelius (my other favorite).

We (those of us who enjoy classical music) need to do a better job of getting some of our favorites into the Recommended Recordings section. I love all forms of music, but I agree with Gordon Gray, our Martin Logans sound especially good with well recorded classical music.

 

[RichTeer]

I think I might've found the solution to my problem. The Dorati/LSO version seems to be the better, and I've just found out that I can buy it new. It's one of the 3 records (Petrouchka and Rite of Spring being the others) in this Speakers Corner boxed set.

What do you guys think? The set was reasonably well received in issue 185 of TAS.

 

[MiTT]

I think I might've found the solution to my problem. The Dorati/LSO version seems to be the better, and I've just found out that I can buy it new. It's one of the 3 records (Petrouchka and Rite of Spring being the others) in this Speakers Corner boxed set.

What do you guys think? The set was reasonably well received in issue 185 of TAS.

Rich, if I didn't already have 2 of the 3 LP's I'd be all over it. I think you should go for it.

 

[RichTeer]

Rich, if I didn't already have 2 of the 3 LP's I'd be all over it. I think you should go for it.

OK. I might just have to treat myself...

Ironically enough, in the Acoustic Sounds catalogue I have from late last year, I'd earmarked this set as something to buy!

 

[SundayNiagara]

I just tried and failed to find TAS Super Disc list, where I believe the Dorati Firebird has resided for many years and justifiably so.

 

[risabet]

I just tried and failed to find TAS Super Disc list, where I believe the Dorati Firebird has resided for many years and justifiably so.

Here you go!

http://www.audiophile-records.com/index.cfm?get=TAS_Super_Vinyl_List