Customer Reviews

Adolphe Adam: Music from Giselle

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Adam's ever popular "Giselle" has been well served on disc, and this recording from 1986 by the London Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas is arguably one of the finest. Tilson Thomas, with a representative and well-recorded selection of the score (running for almost 77 minutes), proves this ballet music can stand on its own. Recommended.

Having seen Giselle many times and listened to the music many more, I've discovered that there are good versions of the music-and then there are bad. This one is certainly one of the good versions. The tempo is fast where it needs to be and slow where it is appropriate. The orchestra is simply wonderful. Plus, it's all on one CD-a rare find.

Adolphe Adam wrote several quite pleasant ballet scores and one genuine masterpiece: Giselle. Giselle was the first great ballet, setting a standard later followed by the the ballets of Delibes and Tchaikovsky. While Giselle -- as the earliest great ballet -- is somewhat less sophisticated musically than the later ballets of Delibes and Tchaikovsky, it is charming, very beautiful, and very moving emotionally. In fact, it is quite simply unique. In my opinion, no one who loves classical music -- or simply great music in any genre -- should be without a recording of this uniquely beautiful work.

This CD done by the London Symphony Orchestra is the best available of the music from Giselle. It's superb. It's better than the music at any performance I have attended or watched on DVD, and it's better than the Giselle CD available by a Russian orchestra. The English always add that extra touch, the subtle nuisances that set this recording apart. It brings alive the enchantment of Giselle.

The lovely music of the ballet Giselle is hard to relax and enjoy when the listener must hop up and down to regulate the volume. The volume is not at all universal for this CD.

You must like ballet and classical music, if you do this is a great product.