Prokofiev: Cinderella - Ballet (Cendrillon)/Symphony No. 1 in D "Classical"

Sergei Prokofiev (Composer), Andre Previn (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Andre Previn
• Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
• Audio CD (July 16, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002SCN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,317 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Cinderella is the second of Prokofiev's three great ballets, falling between Romeo and Juliet and The Stone Flower. It's a more acerbic, sharply pointed score than the lushly Romantic Romeo, and it's many numbers are correspondingly shorter. There's also a lot less repetition, making the complete ballet a more highly varied listening experience. Some of the scenes are literally fantastic, not least the famous "clock" sequence, when midnight strikes at the Prince's ball to what sounds like bombs detonating. Otherwise the music ranges from Cinderella's own soulful, lyrical themes to the biting parody that characterizes her two ugly stepsisters. André Previn's performance is very enjoyable. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of two great recordings of the work, December 2, 2000

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"kv581" (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prokofiev: Cinderella - Ballet (Cendrillon)/Symphony No. 1 in D "Classical" (Audio CD)

While the Ashkenazy/Cleveland recording on London is not necessarily better than this recording, the filler (Glazunov's The Seasons) is definitely more worthwhile than the Classical Symphony included here. As to "Cinderella" though, you can't really go wrong with either recording at any price. Just make sure to make either this or the Ashkenazy your first recording of the work; currently, other available complete recordings of the work are more expensive (and not really better) than either the Previn or the Ashkenazy sets.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This Cinderella is sleeping on her feet, July 15, 2006

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Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prokofiev: Cinderella - Ballet (Cendrillon)/Symphony No. 1 in D "Classical" (Audio CD)

In the Sixties when I first heard Stokowski's riveting suite from Prokofiev's Cinderella, I was eager to hear the whole ballet. The first complete version that emerged here was this one from Previn and the London Sym., who were then in their Seventies honeymoon phase.

But I was disappointed--there's too much careful conducting, not enough mystery and drama, and little magic. The LSO plays beautifully, and EMI's recording, if not exactly dynamic, is fine. Later I acquired the version from Ashkenazy on Decca, which is both more exciting and better recorded. Since then we've had a so-so reading from Pletnev on DG, but after forty years, I'm still waiting for the complete set that recaptures the whimsy and enchantment of Stokowski's excepts (you can still find them and hear for yourself.)

P.S. -- At the time of writing I had yet to discover the gripping Cinderella from Rozhdestvensky, which is available on several labels, as it common with Melodiya recordings. It has all the energy and dramatic impact that Previn lacks. The playing isn't elegant, but I think Prokofiev's score benefits from a few rough edges, in order to keep the sweet melodies form turning cloying.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Seek Cleveland and Ashkenazy, June 13, 2000

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j - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prokofiev: Cinderella - Ballet (Cendrillon)/Symphony No. 1 in D "Classical" (Audio CD)

If you are interested in a recording of Prokofiev's 'Cinderella,' seek the recording featuring Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Cleveland orchestra. In general it is better played, better interpreted, and better recorded. In addition, Glazunov's 'The Seasons' provides a more interesting filler than the common 'Classical Symphony' of Prokofiev.