Stravinsky, Igor - The Firebird / Symphony of Psalms - Nelsons, Andris

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City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons

“There is plenty of colour and razor-sharp playing in this new version, the recording vividly capturing the orchestra in the splendid acoustics of Symphony Hall...The control in the woodwind fugue opening the second movement [of the Symphony of Psalms] is mesmerising, and the CBSO Chorus is meticulous in following the nuances of the score.”
(BBC Music Magazine)

After their much lauded CD of Richard Strauss, Stravinsky is the next great composer of the 20th century to feature the CBSO under its music director Andris Nelsons. On this, their third CD with Orfeo, Stravinsky the avant-gardist on his way to world fame is represented by the complete Firebird ballet, while the Symphony of Psalms is testament to the mature composer. Nelsons and the CBSO leave us in no doubt that even at the age of 27, Stravinsky could draw on an embarrassment of compositional riches. By contrast the Symphony of Psalms is steeped in Orthodox austerity and as you would expect, the CBSO Chorus, trained by Simon Halsey, offers a well-drilled interpretation that captivates the listener until the last “Laudate Dominum”.