This very fine collection offers Alexander Gibson’s enthusiastic and seriously underrated performances of Stravinsky’s three orchestral symphonies and Ode. More to the point, these are among the finest-sounding discs in the Chandos catalogue, on a par with that fabulous collection of Elgar overtures that put Gibson, his orchestra, and Chandos on the musical map, at least in this country. The Elgar disc seems to be out of print at present, but these vibrant renditions of the Stravinsky symphonies help to make up for that deficiency. The complete ballet The Fairy’s Kiss, based on the music of Tchaikovsky, and the Symphonies of Wind Instruments conducted by the young Simon Rattle, generously round out a program that offers exceptional value for the money. A fine reissue.
