Stravinsky: The Firebird / Symphony of Psalms

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”.