Search - Igor Stravinsky, Idil Biret :: Stravinsky: The Firebird (Transcribed for Piano by the Composer)

Why Bother with a Piano Version?

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 09/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It is true that this piano version of Stravinsky's complete ballet 'The Firebird' was made by Stravinsky himself. It is also true that I often like piano transcriptions of orchestral music (including the excerpts from 'Petrushka' that Stravinsky made for Artur Rubinstein). But somehow this transcription, for me, falls flat. I suspect there are two reasons here. One is that the startlingly effective orchestration of 'Firebird' simply cannot be reproduced on the piano. The other, I'm afraid, is that Idil Biret's interpretation is, well, flat. I am a fan of Ms Biret's and have enjoyed many of her releases over the years. But this release as well as the last one I reviewed--Ligeti's Etudes--has left me wondering if she's going through a difficult patch, or perhaps recording too much too quickly. I suspect, though, that even if this transcription were played with more, um, fire it still wouldn't be very satisfying. If you want a piano version of 'The Firebird' I suppose you might go for this release. But otherwise simply haul out your orchestral recordings, either of the various suites made at various times by Stravinsky, or of the complete ballet score. There are numerous good versions available. Scott Morrison"