Aside from the Mercury/Dorati Firebird complete recording which has been reissued a number of times, sound quality wise, this recording is to die for. It is a real workout for a fine analog system. I've owned a vinyl copy of this since the '70's and it still makes me happy that I've gone the audiophile route every time I play it. The details captured by Decca border on being too forward with the clacking of woodwind valves, musicians shifting etc. The sound of the brass (particularly the french horns and trombones) is as good as I've heard recorded. The dynamic range has got to be right on the bleeding edge of what was posable with the cutting heads of the the time (and now for that matter). Neville Marriner and The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields do a fine job interpreting the neo-classic Stravinsky. When I think about Pulcinella I "hear" the blatt of the trombones, the warm burnishing of the french horns, and the "swing" of the double reeds and flute. These memories come from this album. If I never heard it again, I'd still enjoy it! Argo ZRG 575
