Search - Manuel de Falla, Igor Stravinsky, Lorin Maazel :: Falla: El amor brujo (Love, the Magician), Dances from "El sombrero de tres picos" ("The Three-Cornered Hat"); Stravinsky: Suite from L'Oiseau de feu (The Firebird), 1919

An Excellent Re-Release

Steve Kersten | Coral Springs, FL United States | 11/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a release of works from the mid 60's (the Falla pieces) and the late 50's (Stravinsky's "Firebird"). The remastering was excellently done on the Falla pieces, but the "Firebird" is showing its age (an occasional tape pop, but then I listen with headphones, so it is noticeable). I used to stay away from DG CD releases whenever possible, because I found them to have a "harsh" sound (unlike their LP releases, which I would always buy when available), but they seemed to have gotten their act together. All three pieces were digital processed to remove the analog tape hiss (well done, I might add) and to add additional stereo separation (also well done) to yield a very enjoyable album. I bought this for the Falla pieces to replace an LP I bought in 1974 (the same recording) and I am very happy with the results. Buy this one if you are looking for a good Falla "El Amor Brujo (The Love Spell)" or a good non-vocal "Hat". Skip this one if you are looking for a "Firebird".Curiously, even though the "Firebird" has top billing, it really is relegated to a tertiary position on the album."

A stunning disk

Josef Krebs | Seattle | 03/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Clearly this version of the firebird suite deserves all the praise it has recieved over the years. A crisp performance, up to tempo, rehearsed to perfection by a tremendous orchestra. The de Falla peices are well played too, Grace Bumbry is superb in El amor brujo. These recordings forshadowed the illustrious career that Maazel was embarking on, and they're a chance to hear a young, infectously vibrant interpritation - the sort of performance that made him famous."

Get This For Falla, Not Firebird

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This release in the DG Originals series combines the music from three ballets, two of Falla's and Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite." Quite frankly, there isn't much similar about the music other than the conductor/orchestra in these particular performances (Maazel/Berlin RSO), and the fact that one of the Falla's ballets and "Firebird" were both written in 1919. Despite this the music is all wonderful. Jazz fans will recognize one of the excerpts from "El Amor Brujo" as "Will O' The Wisp," borrowed for the Miles Davis/Gil Evans collaboration "Sketches of Spain." Of course, Miles' version comes without the vocal talents of the lovely mezzosoprano Grace Bumbry. Since I was mostly familiar to this point with Falla transcripitons for guitar, these orchestral works are quite inspiring. The "Firebird" was recorded by conductor Maazel when he was only 27, and it apparently catapulted him to stardom. However, for my money I find Leonard Bernstein's and Ernset Ansermet's Firebirds to be more compelling. Bernstein in particular slows the tempo down to draw out certain parts of the finale, while Maazel keeps the pace up and embellisehes things with some bells (literally) and whistles that are unnecessary. If you are looking for this CD to be your definitive "Firebird Suite" recording, you've come to the wrong place in my opinion. If you want some terrific Falla recordings with "Firebird" thrown in as a bonus, get this while you can."