Customer Reviews

Prokofiev: Cinderella, complete ballet music Op. 87 (2 CD Set)

5 star:		(3)
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Although this is Prokofiev's second most popular ballet (next to 'Romeo and Juliet'), the complete ballet has been rarely recorded on LP or disc, the most famous being Andre Previn with the LSO, Ashkenazy with the Cleveland (recently re-released), and Pletnev's much heralded 1995 release w/ the Russian National Orchestra on DGG. Rozhdestvensky eclipses them all by a wide margin. Tempos are generally brisk. He accentuates the dark passages lurking within, adding dramatic tension in passages lacking in the other recordings. And his lines are stunning at times. Consider Previn's more popular account by comparison -- it is downright moribund and sluggish.

The orchestral suite from 'The Steel Step' is also excellent. It offers a glimpse into Prokofiev when he tried to write a ballet on Soviet themes at the behest of Sergei Diaghilev. It is a monotonous, steely, dissonant work, but vividly brought to life by Rozhdestvensky's expert conducting.

The only criticism of this title is the recording quality -- the liner notes do not indicate when it was actually recorded although it is likely from the 60s or 70s. As a result, aural defects typical of Soviet recording equipment of the period can be heard, namely shrill brass and tinny violins in the upper treble regions. However, this should not detract from the musicality of these recordings.

Rozhdestvensky's is by far the very best recording of Prokofiev's neglected ballet masterpiece. Neither Previn's nor Pletnev's comes anywhere near it.

You would think as popular as this music is there would be lots of fine performances. Sadly, like Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet there are instead lots of tawdry and crass performances, with points made too broadly and the subtleties of the score ignored. I am not even a big fan of most of G-Rod's conducting, but this one is a big exception. The score is given a delicate and caring reading, with lots of charming little corners. So that when the dramatic moments come, for instance when the bell rings, there is a sort of theatrical terror against the charm and slyness of much of the score. A real delight.

One of my first classical albums was this performance, on Melodya/Angel. The sound was terrific. I later bought this CD version -- and eventually replaced it with Ashkenazy's. The LPs were as vital and dynamic as Rozhdestvensky's conducting. For me, this pressing took much of the magic away. I note that there are numerous other pressings of Rozhdestvensky conducting the work. I wonder if any of them have better sound that this? I haven't heard anybody conduct the work as well as Rozhdestvensky (though I haven't heard Pletnev).