The two performances on this CD reflect Carlo Maria Giulini’s late conducting style, with slowish tempos matched to a directness of expression and solidity of articulation that makes the music sound especially sumptuous. In Pictures at an Exhibition he draws playing from the Berlin Philharmonic that’s notable for its variety of color (the brass in Catacombs is breathtaking) and rhythmic alacrity–qualities not always found in the ensemble’s other recordings.
Turning to the Firebird suite, Stravinsky’s multi-faceted score rarely has sounded with such vividness and clarity of detail, all brilliantly rendered by the Concertgebouw Orchestra (the woodwind playing alone is so lively that you can hear pre-echoes of the composer’s Le Sacre du Printemps). Giulini’s intense manner, with full note values scrupulously observed, makes the orchestra as a whole resonate beautifully.
So, while these performances are really more about the orchestras and less about the composers, Sony’s engineers capture them in some of the best sound ever from both venues, making this disc a highly engaging listening experience. And it’s available once again through Arkivmusic.com’s “on-demand” service.
