Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf

Dame Edna Everage (Conductor), Sergey Prokofiev (Artist), Francis Poulenc (Artist), Benjamin Britten (Artist), John Lanchbery (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Dame Edna Everage
• Audio CD (July 17, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000014GY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,841 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Forms & Genres > Variations

Editorial Reviews

Peter and the Wolf / Dame Edna CD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant surprise, July 7, 2001

By 

"aplord" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf (Audio CD)

Many years ago I remember hearing another friend of Barry Humphries', Sir Les Paterson, narrate a piece entitled Peter and the Shark, which climaxed, as I recall, with a platypus receiving a "noah's ark up his blurter". (And if you're not an Australian, or au fait with the Australian vernacular, I suspect that the platypus's plight will remain a mystery to you) So I approached the notion of Dame Edna Everage narrating "Peter and the Wolf" with some trepidation. Some terrible things have been done to the work over the years in the name of "relevance" and I wasn't sure that this wouldn't be yet another jokey updating. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the great lady plays the whole thing remarkably straight. Apart from a "Hello possums!" at the beginning, Dame Edna narrates the work as if she's your favourite aunt, who probably smelt of lavender and perhaps a little splash of brandy. My two year old and four year old children enjoyed the work very much. I also had the old Cyril Pritchard / Eugene Ormandy version, but they both prefer the Grande Dame. As Dame Edna herself says in the notes, Barry Humphries tries very hard in the Poulenc and he aquits himself with great style and taste. And how good it is to find another work for children. The Blessed Trinity of Saint-Sains / Britten / Prokofiev is getting to be a bit of a cliche. The Melbourne Symphony (and as an Adelaide resident it pains me to say this) plays very well indeed. My son is a big fan of the tympanist in Peter and the wolf. Their performance of the Britten Guide to the Orchestra is particularly fine. Here again, Dame Edna's narration is well judged. A very good performance of three delightful works. A CD full of charm and a great favourite in our household. And could I take this opportunity to point out to the reviewer who felt a need to warn the world that Dame Edna is a "female impersonator": Not so - she is the doyenne of style - the arbitrix of taste here in Australia. Far from being a impersonator of females, she is the woman females impersonate.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Above Everage recording and performances, June 17, 2002

By 

Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf (Audio CD)

You have to be bold to make yet another recording of Peter and the Wolf, after so many previous successful efforts.

This is one of the very best, I think. I loved the now deleted Paul Hogan version because of his use of Australianisms,but the orchestra was not outstanding. Barry Humphries has been paired with a terrific Australian conductor and orchestra, and has sensibly narrated something other than the usual Carnival of the Animals, though he did observe tradition by narrating the Britten Young Person's Guide. The Dame Edna narration and orchestral playing in Peter and the Wolf are very enjoyable.

Humphries drops his persona for the lovely Poulenc work, and tells the story tenderly.

Highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfulness!, February 21, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Lehman (Market Harborough, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf (Audio CD)

Dame Edna has entered the world of classical music. In case you have never heard of her, Dame Edna, an Australian, is the hilarious host of a talk show. (Actually, she is a he--think Mrs. Doubtfire, but with an hideously outrageous sense of style.) What makes her a good choice for narrator? In her own words, "I have always loved music and I'm not ashamed to say that music rather loves me!" She also claims to be the reincarnation of Sergei Prokofiev's mother. (Remember, this is meant to be funny!)
At the end of the day, it is the performances that count, and they are great here. Not for purists, because Dame Edna throws in the occasional extra word (like "This is the story of Peter and the wolf, possums"). But in doing so, she injects the necessary life and humor into her narration. It is meant to be light-hearted, and so it is.
The orchestra also does an admirable job, and the recording is quite good. My only complaint is that there is a bit too much reverb on the voice, which is obvious only when she speaks without the instruments (especially at the very beginning of the CD).
My two-year old son used to listen to this in the car, and he loved it.