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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are many, many recordings of this children's classic by different narrators and more than a few of them are very good to excellent. This is my emotional favorite. I say emotional, because there are other recordings with better sound and a crisper tempo. Personal preference as to narrator also plays into it. For me, however, there is no more thrilling, enjoyable recording than this one.
Boris Karloff expertly narrates this classic tale, with emotion and verve. This is one of two versions I grew up on as a child, the other narrated by the superb Basil Rathbone, also excellent. (I have that one as well) The Karloff recording is my reference standard, though, perhaps because of my childhood remembrance. The hair on the back of my neck still stands on end as the sinister horns describe the menacing wolf.
As it was for me, this is a delightful introduction to classical music for children. The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev wrote this piece to tell the story of a young boy who tracks and traps a dangerous wolf, with the help of hunters and features a supporting cast of his grandfather, a bird, a duck, and a cat, all represented in the story by various musical instruments. The wolf, for example, is represented by horns, Peter by wind instruments, the cat by clarinet, etc. The story is narrated by Karloff and then given life by the musical instruments to represent the action. The story itself is entertaining and, at 25 minutes or so, easy to digest for children. That is not to say that I never find time to play it when I've had my fill of heavier fare...
Boris Karloff, for those of you unfamiliar with him, played Frankenstein (the monster, that is, not the doctor) in the 1931 classic, was the voice of the Grinch (original version), and appeared in dozens and dozens of movies. This adds a certain coolness factor to an already classic recording.
In the end, I can recommend this as a good choice among many excellent recordings. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Boris Karloff expertly narrates this classic tale, with emotion and verve. This is one of two versions I grew up on as a child, the other narrated by the superb Basil Rathbone, also excellent. (I have that one as well) The Karloff recording is my reference standard, though, perhaps because of my childhood remembrance. The hair on the back of my neck still stands on end as the sinister horns describe the menacing wolf.
As it was for me, this is a delightful introduction to classical music for children. The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev wrote this piece to tell the story of a young boy who tracks and traps a dangerous wolf, with the help of hunters and features a supporting cast of his grandfather, a bird, a duck, and a cat, all represented in the story by various musical instruments. The wolf, for example, is represented by horns, Peter by wind instruments, the cat by clarinet, etc. The story is narrated by Karloff and then given life by the musical instruments to represent the action. The story itself is entertaining and, at 25 minutes or so, easy to digest for children. That is not to say that I never find time to play it when I've had my fill of heavier fare...
Boris Karloff, for those of you unfamiliar with him, played Frankenstein (the monster, that is, not the doctor) in the 1931 classic, was the voice of the Grinch (original version), and appeared in dozens and dozens of movies. This adds a certain coolness factor to an already classic recording.
In the end, I can recommend this as a good choice among many excellent recordings. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Glad to see that this is back in print. As a little boy, I had the record (unfortunately misplaced) and played it until the grooves were worn. Boris Karloff's narration and the Vienna Orchestra sound spectacular on this CD, though. Hopefully my five year old will love this album as much as I did.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Boris Karloff, the voice is delicious, but his reading is rather uninspired, unimaginative and cautious-sounding, but not nearly so pedestrian as the conducting of Mario Rossi, who has at his disposal the highly capable Vienna State Opera orchestra (read, Vienna Philharmonic) who could play the pants off this piece even if left to their own devices, and not held back by the willful torpor of their baton-waiver. But alas, the performance simply drags along tediously, if such a thing is possible with this most delightful of musical stories. The Kije is merely a serviceable performance, too, of something that should effervesce. I regret not being more positive; the voice of Karloff should have been coupled with a more vital conductor. The recorded sound (from 1957) as typical of Seymour Solomon's audiophile work for Vanguard and other labels is superlative analog.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great cd
This cd brings back so many wonderful memories. And now the grandkids are enjoying the story and music. I gave two as gifts and kept one for myself.
Published 15 days ago by B. Foye
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boris Karloff narates
I have loved the music since I played it on the piano as a child. The chord progressions are a joy. But just as much fun is the story itself narated by bad boy Boris Karloff. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Carolyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great CD
It's so good that I can't get it back from my grandchildren. The oldest one is in her first year of teaching Jr Hi band and she's using it with her students.
Published 1 month ago by Joy Pierce
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent CD!
This was a gift for my grandson on his 5th birthday. He loved it! He wanted to listen to it several times and with excitement shared it with his older cousin.
Published 3 months ago by Barbara L. Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible!
No one can tell Peter and the Wolf better than Boris Karloff. Especially when the wolf swallows the duck! My kids love it, they wait for it. His voice is perfect for this story. Read more
Published 4 months ago by MommaJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music from my Childhood
I heard an exerpt from this recording on Sirius XM Pops radio and decided I wanted to get the whole work. Read more
Published 4 months ago by S. Le Grant
4.0 out of 5 stars
musical fun
It sure is fun to share this with the young and old, with a beautiful story that goes with it. dizzy
Published 4 months ago by river
5.0 out of 5 stars
Peter and the Wolf CD
I was listening to NPR when they were playing Peter and the Wolf. It brought back such memories of elementary school music class and how this was used to give us better... Read more
Published 4 months ago by S. McDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars
great CD
I ordered this for my granddaughter as she is a music major in college and I knew she would love it.
Published 4 months ago by grammy gaga
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf+Lieutenant Kije Symphonic Sioye
Concise explanations and narrative; music is outstanding quality. I have enjoyed this recording of Peter and the Wolf for many years and am happy I finally purchased it.
Published 4 months ago by Pandora
