Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete); Swan Lake Suite

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Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete); Swan Lake Suite
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CD Details

Artist: .
Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Maurice de Abravanel
Orchestra: Utah Symphony Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2006-08-22
Music Label: Vanguard Classics
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Overture
  2. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 1. The Christmas Tree
  3. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 2. March
  4. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 3. Little Galop. Entrance of the Guests
  5. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 4. Drosselmeyer's entrance. Dance Scene. Distribution of Presents
  6. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 5. Scene. Grandfather's Dance
  7. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 6. Guests depart. Children retire to bed. Magis spell begins
  8. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 1. No. 7. Battle between Nutcracker and Mouse King. Nutcracker wins battle and is tran
  9. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 8. Fir Tree Forest in Winter
  10. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Scene 2. No. 9. Waltz of the Snowflakes
Music CD 2
  1. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 10. The Castle. Kingdom of Sweets
  2. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 11. Clara and the Nutcracker appear
  3. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 12. Divertissement. Chocolate (Spanish Dance)
  4. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 12. Divertissement. Coffee (Arabian Dance)
  5. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 12. Divertissement. Tea (Chinese Dance)
  6. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 12. Divertissement. Trepak (Russian Dance)
  7. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 12. Divertissement. Dance of the Mirlitons (Reed Pipes)
  8. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 12. Divertissement. Mother Gigogne and the Tumblers
  9. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 13. Waltz of the Flowers
  10. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Scene
  11. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Waltz
  12. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Dance of the Swans, IV
  13. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Dance of the Swans, V
  14. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Spanish Dance
  15. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Mazurka
  16. The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Final Scene
  17. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 15. Final Waltz and Apotheosis

Music reviews of Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete); Swan Lake Suite

Music Review: Excellent, Much Underrated Recording of "The Nutcracker"
Rating: 5 Stars

As the last of Tchaikovsky's ballets, "The Nutcracker" features some of the most interesting harmonic and rhythmic textures of the Romantic era. It's a popular subject for recording. At present, we have versions by Valery Gergiev, Charles Mackerras, Antal Dorati, Eugene Ormandy, Andre Previn, Richard Bonynge, and many others. All are fine in their own right, but the best recordings of the ballet tend to be among the most overlooked: Mariss Janson's atmospheric take with the London Philharmonic, Arthur Rodzinski's somewhat quirky rendering with the Royal Philharmonic, and John Lanchbery's theatrically insightful performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra (the complete recording currently unavailable in the U.S., but an almost-complete selection of highlights [including Lanchbery's orchestration of the English Dance cut from the original production] is available for a steal). Perhaps the most underrated recording of "Nutcracker" is this 1961 account from Greek-born, Swiss-American Jewish conductor Maurice Abravanel with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Yes, you read correctly: the Utah Symphony Orchestra.

Despite the lack of cachet of the orchestra, this "Nutcracker" is exemplary: clear, warm and brimming with energy. The Utah musicians produce a beautiful sound that works delightfully on a dramatic level. The first time I heard this recording, I was completely blown away. It is so free of pretense, it feels like one is hearing this music for the first time. Abravanel's tempi choices are perhaps the most judicious and insightful I've heard: nothing sounds forced and everything is imbued with excitement and drive. It is clear from the start that this man understands this music. This is not surprising, considering Abravanel spent a good portion of his career conducting theatre music. A friend and student of composer Kurt Weill (with whom he escaped from Germany during the rise of the Nazis), he conducted operas in the pit of the Metropolitan Opera House, as well as works by choreographer George Balanchine, and even had some stints on Broadway.

All this results in a highly sensitive reading of Tchaikovsky's music. Abravanel knows intuitively how to make the music breathe, shifting tempos quite naturally in response to the music. At times, his choices may lean on the fast side, but nowhere near the rapidfire pace of Gergiev or Dorati (whose three recordings are spoiled for me by almost flippantly delirious tempi). In fact, everything feels refreshingly grounded without ever becoming heavy-handed (which has been my problem with Previn's recording). The "Journey through the Pine Forest" has a sense of momentum without being jarring and overstated. The popular "Russian Dance" is given a performance as raucous and red-blooded as anything the Bolshoi or Kirov has managed. The famous "Waltz of the Flowers" is handled sensitively, becoming a breathing and flowing piece, and the Adagio of the final "Pas de Deux" is given a lilting, romantic performance. In short, this is simply the most dancerly "Nutcracker" I've heard.

The most interesting part of the recording is actually a piece I tend to skip over on most recordings: the "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy", which can often be boring and uninspired. Here, the celeste takes on an interesting glittery, toy-like quality that has character and charm. I haven't heard anything like it on any other recording. This is bound to be what entranced Tchaikovsky enough to have the instrument imported from France for the very first performance.

The sound quality is excellent, especially considering this is a forty-year-old analog recording. From the first few bars of the "Overture" I was struck by how vivid the sound actually was. For some reason, digital recording can sometimes lack the natural warmth and depth of analog. There is no such problem here. The sound is rich and living. Vanguard has done a wonderful job restoring this long overlooked recording. Hopefully, this review will help bring Abravanel and company some much needed attention. (Also recommended is a 1967 recording of "Swan Lake" from the same group, a suite from which is included as a bonus here.)
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