This album is a must-have for any person interested in classical music, particularly Russian classical music...This is such an incredible version of this very well known composition. It is even more special since it is Igor Stravinsky conducting his own composition. I recently acquired a copy of this in NM condition, and it is truly one of my favorite vinyl records in my collection.The music itself is incredible, but the audio dynamics projected from vinyl through your stereo, under the baton of Maestro Stravinsky are mind blowing! Many of the interesting scoring and playing techniques which are tell-tale Stravinsky (for the strings, as an example) create an eerie and phenomenal sound altogether-somewhat like a Theremin.The material is historically significant as it was commissioned directly by Sergei Diaghelev for the Ballets Russes, one of two very famous ex-pat ballet troupes consisting of Russian born and trained dancers living and performing in exile after the Russian Revolution. The Ballets Russes is a fascinating story in and of itself.The Ballets Russes is significant for (at the time), very modern and avant-garde performances-very different from the classic repertoire in the canon of Russian ballet such as Paquita, Sylphides, Swan Lake. Stravinsky's works for the Ballets Russes-The Firebird in particular, are now considered part of the canon of works very frequently performed. The inimitable correography of Mikhel Fokine and Vaslav Najinsky are often retained to present-day performances.