Igor Stravinsky: Firebird (Finale) Pierre Boulez / Wiener Philharmoniker

[60ECg]

@Magnas01 The ballet was composed in 1909-1910. Three suites were made from the ballet. The 1911, 1919, and 1945. Ansermet was thought to be the best interpreter of Stravinsky aside from Stravinsky himself. Ansermet did not like the suites. This is a snippet from the ballet that Boulez and the Wiener orchestra are attempting to play.

[garrillas]

What do you mean by "attempting to play"?

[jamal90981]

this is

[D92Torre]

They performed it in a perfect way.

[Magnas01]

does anyone know what version this is? 1919?

[g7727]

"meine Lieblings-Orchester"

[RRpitchperfect]

Beautiful.

All male orchestra?

[jhb134]

@RRpitchperfect - (all-male) - No, but it must SEEM like it! I see one woman, next-to the bassoonist, and another, in the string/violin section. Boulez has specialized in Stravinsky's music, for decades; this is, but, one example.

[iOnlySignIn]

@jhb134 Berlin Phil has always been a bit male chauvinist. Karajan met great opposition when he introduced Mutter. Agreed Boulez is the best Stravinsky interpreter!

[jhb134]

@iOnlySignIn - Well, Karajan was often, in the SHADOW of his, great predecessor - Furtwangler. To be honest, I like Monteux, in parts of Stravinsky's legacy, ESPECIALLY the (seemingly) ancient version of Rite of Spring interpretation, from 1929! Monteux also recorded some, excellent Stravinsky recordings, with the Boston Symphony, et. al. Thanks!

[FilmComposeRaHoppe]

VPO was and will ever be my favorite orchestra and I am proud that it is so wonderful,… people may criticize them as often as they want to, but in my opinion it is one of the greatest orchestras ever in this world.

[naoking0205]

抑制されたフォルテの中にも響きがしっかりと残っている。音楽の­渦に飲み込まれた印象。ブラボー！！！

[kdsf12]

I really don't like this performance. There's a "soul" missing in it.

[ECHORAVE]

Ive seen this Entire piece Perfomed live.. fucking Epic!!!

[ParkJunWoo2011]

7:40 Really impressive and it makes me sleepy..

[60ECg]

@Josep489 After a few seconds of this video, I hear this awful blat, and lo and behold it is the first trombone. You Austrians need to send your brass players to England to hear what brass tone is really like. You still have to deal with horrible orchestral tone whether it is Muti, Boulez, or Gergiev. Of the three, and if that's all that are available, then Gergiev does the better job. Is he better than Stravinsky? No. Are any of the orchestras up to the standard of the Philharmonia? No.

[Josep489]

@60ECg and my dear friend, the last question! [is interesting read your post]

why all version of stravinsky's firebird are played at last minutes, without the "staccato" heared in the video of Stravinsky and the Phihamornia? That's something that i dont understand, and dont' know who of them is best: with or without scattato!

[BrainiacFingers]

@Josep489 The staccato strings towards the end only appear in Stravinsky's 1947 revision of the score. I much prefer the revision for that very reason.

[Josep489]

@60ECg sorry for my terrible english!

[60ECg]

@Josep489 No, the Vienna piccolo is shrill like the strings. The version you downloaded in far better. The piccolo in your version has a much broader sound that I prefer. He also observes accents and dynamics better. Muti was principal conductor of the Philharmonia for years, I like what he did with that orchestra, Boulez conducted La Mer, with the Philharmonia and Cleveland, and I liked what he did with both orchestras. But I do not think his conducting is up to par in this work.

[Josep489]

@60ECg And the Gergiev's version, maybe MTT's (what a lazy!) or Mutti... what do you thing?

Between them, i preffer Gergiev's or Boulez versions.

[Josep489]

Feel the power of the goddamngreat-piccolo --> 01:42

[60ECg]

@Joseph489, I believe that you have downloaded the most perfect version of the Firebird. The orchestra, and the conductor are at fault in this performance. The orchestra does NOT PLAY IN UNISON. They do not play together on the beat, sorry they just don't. When the score calls for the orchestra to play a piano dynamic, the bottom falls out of the sound. It is not me, it is the orchestra. This is especially true of the strings. Brass and woodwinds are weak. Oboe sound is especially bad.

[Josep489]

@60ECg The version of own stravinsky conducting is the most perfect of all, but this is freaking good also. It haves a lot of power and energy. The only thing i'm not agree, is at the ending (09:46)... there's a little no-unison sound (sorry for my terrible english), and the play-mode should be ¿staccato? , like the original version. Anyways, Boulez, Gergiev and maybe Mutti make a fucking great interpretation. For other way, i hate the version of Tilson Thomas, it's too lazy and dont have power!

[60ECg]

I was quietly displeased with the sound made by this orchestra. What is this about playing wind instruments out the side of one's mouth. The sound of oboe reminds one of a duck's quack. Weak string sound abounds, and it is not helped by being out of tune. Trumpets and horns lack power. I could not hear the horns at all at one point.  The conductor does not help matters, he should listen to videos of Stravinsky conducting to see what to do.

[expertizzlist]

@60ECg you should have your hearing implants checked pal

[Josep489]

@60ECg Are you crazy my friend?!

This is probably one of the most powerful and perfect versions of the Stravinsky's firebird. Boulez did make a great job here!

[rudderhardtoport]

@60ECg you must be fucking good to give such comment. maybe you're son of god. or god himself.

[mjsk8er90]

7:42 <3 :D

[fctchk]

@blechmusik Then perhaps you do understand the sense of keeping women and non-"Aryans" out of an orchestra such as is the policy of the sexist and racist Wiener Philharmoniker?

[bogorzelak]

Very very good :-)

[smut1985]

i buy'd a 3set lp box from him for 1€ hehehe

[mortalfrog0815]

that bassoonist is just magnificent! just as the rest of the orchestra, i also love the horn solo!

[heinerle456]

@blechmusik

Danke, für das Hochladen dieser wirklich beeindruckenden Interpretation. Ein wunderbares Finale, und das, obwohl nur fünf oder sechs Damen die Herren dabei unterstützen konnten.

[Dazmaster75]

9:05, isn't that a female harpist at the front?

[heinerle456]

@SophiaMacLoren @Voodopuppe87

VPO's headcount is 140 (8 women + 132 men); 2 women are on stage: 1st violin, bassoon;

[SophiaMacLoren]

Only men in the orchestra; even the harpists... :(

[Voodoopuppe87]

@SophiaMacLoren  i saw one woman playing viola :D

[phonetrick]

Best quality! 

[b286guy]

There is another wonderful performance of this piece on YouTube, also with Pierre Boulez, but instead conducting the Chicago Symphony. It's interesting not only to hear the different approaches taken by two great orchestras, but also similarities and differences in Mr. Boulez's own interpretation.

[Shaktidej]

from 7.00 till the end : absolutely jawdropping !!!

[The1976spirit]

It´s really hard to find a better video on youtube!!

[mortalfrog0815]

best video on youtube!

[quiquekoi]

Personne ne va l'écouter, mais bon ...

[Malone1022]

plus que ce qu'on croit je pense

[uberengl]

°-°

[mortalfrog0815]

i used not to like the firebird! but that is just wonderful!

[75classix]

Wunderschön!

[googlekopfkind]

zdf theater rox

[swupstik]

Boulez is by far the best version IMO. Thanks!

[shaosuye]

vielen dank!!