Firebird Suite Finale - Valery Gergiev Conducting the Vienna Philharmonic - Salzburg Festival 2000

The final 5:15 of one of the greatest musical compositions of all time, The Firebird. Composed by Igor Stravinsky, masterfully performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and passionately conducted by Valery Gergiev, if this doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, nothing will!

[MrPedal]

I have the upbeat part as my ringtone. I still get chills thinking of Yes taking the stage back in the seventies.

[chuckchase]

The difference a conductor can
Listen for how long Gergiev holds out the final chord.   No wonder it brought the house down.

[gerardgrzyb]

The comment about Stravinsky vs. Gergiev as conductors of this work reminds me that I have always used Stravinsky as a prime example of a great composer who did not fully realize what he had created. I know this is true of some great playwrights as well Anyone who belittles the impact of conductors and directors doesn't know what they're talking about.

[RobertKrebill]

ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME? The last few notes he conducted are the best! The notes in the end of the Firebird Rescue episode from LE were quite long, but not as long as these, but those notes are much shorter on most comps. BEST ENDING!

[ianwidick]

I love the sound of the horn starting the solo and the melody

[rieske]

Maestro Gergiev owns the Firebird. This is the ultimate rendition. Such inspiration, such intensity. He lifts the whole orchestra, amazing how the horn section can deliver this! Every time my heart start pounding like mad, temperature raises. What a performance.

[AIVDT]

Yes! I hate it when most orchrstras play this too fast. How amazing

[rrfirefly]

The intensity, the complete surrender to the music. Some may poke fun at Gergiev but in my estimation he can only be admired and respected for bringing these musicians to the level at which they performed.

[Musiqman]

OMG....unbelievable! Those brass players have iron lungs....such a long chord but glorious! He had woodwinds come out of thin air @ 4:18..beautiful intepretation!  Bravo!!

[scuunjieng]

one of my favorite endings and what an interpretation many thanks

[jazzman]

Wow! I’ve only just “discovered” this conductor and so far, each time I’ve seen him I enjoy it more. I started with Prokofiev’s Symphony number 1, 1st movement then the 4th movement then this. Superb music from a superb orchestra by a superb conductor. I love the way he puts all of his passion into it.

[shijoejoseph]

My God! That sustained note in the end! GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER! :"D :"D And the audience went wild for all the right reasons!

[aarons]

0:48 the 2nd violins note sounds HAUNTINGLY beautiful.

[KlldbyCuriosity]

How can Gergiev make everything 1000x better

[katie]

I love how the camera gets closer and closer and closer and closer to Gergiev at the start.

[darylvail]

Brilliant performance! Gergiev has such control of the orchestra and his own abilities with great confidence. This allows him additional enhancements to the performance as seen here.

[izmailph]

Indeed the best finale of its kind! This to me concludes the entity of Music from the Renaissance to the Post Romantic Period of Music! Bravissimo!!!

[jeremyellismusic]

Almost forgot to listen to this this week. Almost.

[georgespence]

This performance of Stravinsky's marvellous work, the Firebird, is quite magnificent. Stirring and spectacularly conducted by Gergiev, I watch it over and over again and it never fails to amaze me.

[brunocella]

j'avoue ne pas vraiment connaître ce chef d'orchestre...mais plus je l'entends, plus je pour cette interprétation