Under Lorin Maazel, who held the Chief Conductor position from 1993 to 2002, the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks reached a new level of performance culture, precision and flexibility. Like no other conductor, Maazel is capable of masterfully handling large-dimensioned works and performing music tightly packed with emotional content clear-headedly to make its effect even greater. The works on this CD mark two key moments in Stravinsky’s development as a composer during the period before the First World War.

The ballet music for L’oiseau de feu (The Firebird) contains many of the attributes that had made the Sacre such a scandalous avant-garde event in the Paris of 1913: unprecedented sound colours, rapidly changing rhythms, orgiastic climaxes and an exotic subject matter. Lorin Maazel and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – a dream combination for Stravinsky’s sensuous and rhythmically irresistible ballet works.

- Individual release from the successful anniversary box of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.

- Two of Igor Stravinsky’s most popular works.

- Highly virtuosic orchestral works in which Maazel’s conducting expertise comes most impressively to the fore.