This is a very good performance of The Firebird, make no mistake. Jukka-Pekka Saraste has a keen feeling for the work’s atmospheric effects (the Magic Carillon episode is particularly vivid), and the orchestra plays splendidly from start to finish. It’s only when compared to the reference versions listed above that this performance comes up a bit short. The Infernal Dance is just that much more sluggish, the finale a hair less uplifting, the overall pacing a touch less convincing. This is one of those classic examples of how the glut of fine versions makes it so difficult for even a very good newcomer to make an impression. The Scherzo fantastique is also very well done, and far less frequently heard than the ballet, but it’s obviously not enough to tip the balance in favor of a firm recommendation. No one hearing this will be disappointed; it’s just not among the best.
