Le Sacre Du Printemps [The Rite of Spring] / The Firebird Ballet Suite

"The very opening of this performance of The Rite gives a strong clue as to way this version is going. Musical, detailed and a huge acoustic. There are other versions that will over dramatize this incredible work and occasionally more incisive strident hammer blows but seldom will the impact be as great as the beautifull playing and recording quality in this version. I would have preferred the Firebird to be first on the disc as The Rite is a difficult work to follow.
I presume they put it second as it is probably even finer than the Rite .(Ive played them seperatly so didnt notice the time gap between.All we need now is a matching Petrushka coupled with any of Stravs better works..
The Firebird has the silkiest string tone Ive yet heard except for the latest Weingartner release and the overal sound is as near to analogue as Ive yet heard..As Im not convined that Membran have a quality control I presume its sheer luck that all the latest releases sound much better..
Usual moan about cover/notes etc..If you havent got these works then this is one to go for.Actually giving it 5 stars for sound." SACD.net (on the SACD version)