Stravinsky - Firebird, original 1910 piano transcription

I used to have Biret's recording of this piano transcription
(http://www.amazon.com/Firebird-I-Stravi ... stravinsky)

and recently I bought Lydia Jardon's
(http://www.amazon.com/Firebird-Stravins ... stravinsky).


While reading the booklet of Jardon's CD, she said her recording is basically the Stravinsky's own 1910 piano reduction, but with some alterations she got from other piano transcriptions, mainly Soulima Stravinsky's. She refused to use Guido Agosti's transcription (which I myself find very annoying and unmusical), but she likes Soulima's transcription a lot. She said the Infernal Dance she plays is the Soulima's version, which is more luxuriant than Stravinsky's, according to her.

But when I came to Biret's recording, her Infernal Dance has much more notes than that of Soulima version Jardon plays (I'd say Biret version is much more luxuriant). For example, in measure 171 Biret plays hundreds of notes in the left hand. These notes I couldn't even find in the score of Firebird published Schirmer and Dover, though they claim this is the 1910 piano transcription by Stravinsky himself.
(http://imslp.org/wiki/The_Firebird_(Stravinsky,_Igor))



I'm really interested in playing "Three movements from Firebird" (Infernal Dance, Lullaby and Finale), but not the Agosti transcription, which is impossible technically for me to play, and also very annoying (much more piano effects than music itself). I was studying this Dover version, which is not easy, but maybe it's not the correct and "full" version. (Or maybe Biret also altered the text, just like Jardon? There is nothing about it in the booklet!)

Does anyone know where I can find this version played by Biret? Or even Soulima Stravinsky's version, played by Jardon? I couldn't find them on Amazon.

And if someone knows another interesting Firebird piano transcription, I'd appreciate too!

 

Wow, some plan to have ! Not easy is probably an understatement. You surely are not daunted by anything. Trois Mouvements next ? Although that is not as original a repertoire choice.

I can't see what problem you have with the Agosti transcription, and why it's irritating. I watched Maria Mazo's performance of it, and it is absolutely
stunning as is her playing of it. There can of course be other, valid ways to do it. You did not mention Emile Naoumoff's transcription, maybe that is
what Biret plays ?

 

Thank you, Monica. I haven't looked on Hawley's site (it was long ago, I lost the link) but for your description I can say it has the same versions I found on eMule.

Thank you, Andrew! I'll chek them!

Hi, Chris!
I watched several versions of this Agosti transcription on YouTube, Trifonov, Russo, Mazo, Piemontesi. Right in the beginning I don't like how the melody is spread within different octaves. It seems the only reason for it is to write a difficult score. Three Movements from Petrouchka are very difficult, but every note there has a musical meaning. In this Agosti there are lots of superficial musical effects.


By the way, I just bought the Soulima version on Amazon.co.uk:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Firebird-Scherz ... bird+piano

Let's see how it is...

 

I agree luissarro it's like they spread the octaves just to make it more difficult. Wonderful melody though.

 

I can't see what problem you have with the Agosti transcription, and why it's irritating. I watched Maria Mazo's performance of it, and it is absolutely
stunning as is her playing of it. There can of course be other, valid ways to do it. You did not mention Emile Naoumoff's transcription, maybe that is
what Biret plays ?