Igor Stravinsky - Petruska; Firebird Suite; Symphony of Psalms (Ernest Ansermet)

Information

Composer: Igor Stravinsky

• Petrushka, K12 (1911 Version)
• The Firebird, K10, 1919 Suite
• Symphony of Psalms, K52

London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra

Ernest Ansermet, conductor

Compilation: 2026

Label: Decca

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Widely regarded as one of the most epochal innovators of twentieth-century music, Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) revolutionized compositional style through his mastery of rhythm, harmony, and fluid orchestration. Best known for groundbreaking works like The Rite of Spring—celebrated for its primitive, offbeat drive and massive orchestral scale—Stravinsky transformed rhythmic structure into an independent art form. Throughout a dynamic career that evolved from a distinctly Russian phase into neoclassicism and serialism, his compositions consistently retained clarity of form and vital energy across diverse instrumental forces. Ultimately, Stravinsky redefined modern music by spearheading a radical departure from Romanticism into the contemporary era.

Ernest Ansermet (1883–1969) was a prominent Swiss conductor renowned for his interpretations of 20th-century French and Russian composers, particularly Stravinsky, Ravel, and Debussy. Originally a mathematics teacher, he later studied music with Ernest Bloch and conducting with Felix Mottl and Arthur Nikisch. In 1915, he became conductor of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and, in 1918, founded the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, leading it until 1967. Ansermet was known for his intellectual approach to music and his skepticism toward 12-tone techniques later in life. His own compositions include a symphonic poem and orchestrations of Debussy’s works.