Igor Stravinsky - Suites from Petrushka; The Firebird (Carlo Maria Giulini)

Information

Composer: Igor Stravinsky

• Suite from Petrushka (1947 Version)
• Suite from the Firebird (1919 Version)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor

Date: 1970 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

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In these 1970 recordings, Carlo Maria Giulini masterfully shapes the formidable brass and wind sections of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra into performances of remarkable precision, clarity, and poetic insight. Rather than emphasizing the harsh modernist elements often associated with Igor Stravinsky’s music, Giulini reveals an unexpected warmth and expressive continuity, especially in The Firebird, where the orchestral textures radiate with exceptional brilliance and transparency. The collaboration achieves a striking balance between power and refinement, with the orchestra displaying chamber-like sensitivity while retaining its characteristic intensity. These interpretations present Stravinsky not only as a pioneering modernist, but also as a composer of vivid emotion and compelling musical storytelling.

Carlo Maria Giulini (1914–2005) was an Italian conductor celebrated for his refined interpretations of both opera and symphonic repertoire. A student of Bernardino Molinari at Rome’s Accademia di Santa Cecilia, he began his career as a violist before debuting as a conductor in 1944. Giulini later led the Milan Radio Orchestra and succeeded Victor de Sabata at La Scala, collaborating with artists such as Maria Callas and Franco Zeffirelli. Renowned for his deep musicality and integrity, he conducted major orchestras including the London Philharmonia, Chicago Symphony, Vienna Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His legacy rests on eloquent interpretations of Verdi, Mozart, Mahler, and Bruckner.