Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker · Offenbach - Le Papillon

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I picked up this CD for the bargain price of $, I wasn't sure if it would be what I was looking for. I was pleasantly surprised when it blew me away in almost every respect. Bonynge gets a rich, powerful sound out of the National Philharmonic Orchestra. The strings are precise and are never smothered by the brass (as is usually the case in several spots, particularly in the "Coda"--in the Coda on this disc, the strings impressively hold their own). The brass, for their part, are warm and rich, lending an almost percussive punctuation to this energetic music. In fact, the playing in general can be summed up by noting its two most prominent characteristics: its absolute precision and its truly Russian energy and vivacity. This is truly a Nutcracker where the players are enjoying themselves. In addition, Bonynge avoids the tendency to rush the music (a problem that plagues so many other Nutcracker recordings), keeping his tempi fast enough to be energetic but still restrained enough so that the intricacy and beauty of the music can shine through. There are a couple spots where I wish the playing had been slightly more dramatic (particularly in the lack of a ritardando at the end of "Waltz of the Flowers"), but overall this is one of the best "Nutcracker" recordings I've ever heard. As for "Le Papillon"... never having heard it before, I have no basis for comparison, but the aforementioned playing characteristics (precision, energy and well-chosen tempi) apply to it as well. It makes a fine addition to a 2-disc set that already contains an extremely worthy "Nutcracker." It's possible you could do slightly better than this if you're a true Nutcracker enthusiast, but for less than ten dollars, there's no way you could go wrong with these 2 CDs. I'm extremely proud to have them in my collection.

I adore Svetlanov's outrageously grandiose account of Nutcracker (Melodiya 2CD, another Nutcracker Must) or Mravinsky's deeply felt live recordings (sadly not complete), but this truly great and heart-felt recording by Bonynge is the one I always come back to, for its magical atmosphere and other-worldly beauty.

Each time I listen to this music, it never fails to move me with a sense of happy sadness. Maybe because Tchaikovsky wrote this music to the memory of his lost sister and his affection for her is haunting every piece? Or because Tchaikovsky unconciously described the world beyond death, while Symphony Pathetique depicts death itself? Anyway, Bonynge captures that haunting beauty and the sense of other-worldliness better than anyone else.

While so many conductors spoil this inspired music by wrong choice of tempo (Gergiev & Rodzinsky notably), Bonynge manages to judge tempo perfectly in each movement, and his treatment of tempo is never mechanical, but always flexible and subtle. The famous Pas de deux, for example, is played very slowly, but not too slow. After the music reaches climax, tempo is slightly faster to intensify the emotion. The overall effect is deeply moving. Pine Forest scene and Snowflakes scene with children's chorus are most magical and dreamy.

Another remarkable thing about this recording is that the orchestra plays with real feeling and intense emotion, like Russian orchestras do. Unlike Rodzinsky who sacrifices musicality for technical precision, Bonynge puts emotional and musical expression before technical perfection. As a result the music sounds so vivid and alive.

Tchaikovsky is justly popular for his piano and violin concertos, Pathetique Symphony, and many other outstanding compositions. But his greatest compositions were his three ballets: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker each of which is a masterpiece. The Nutcracker was the last ballet Tchaikovsky composed and it is perhaps the most perfect ballet that he -- or anyone -- ever composed; it's music is gorgeous from beginning to end. Many people are familiar with the Nutracker Suite, but have never heard the complete Nutcracker and thereby have missed a lot of beautiful music. Every Tchaikovsky lover should have the complete Nutcracker and there is no finer performance of it than this one conducted by Richard Bonynge, a specialist in ballet and program music of the Romantic era. As a bonus, this 2-CD set contains a rarely-heard but quite beautiful short ballet, Le Papillon, by Offenbach. Highly recommended.

This is a great rendition of the Nutcracker. It's like a dream come true. It lifts me up when I am tired and writing late into the night.

This was just what I wanted, a complete Nutcracker with tempos that work for dancers. Excellent value. And the Offenbach was a nice plus.

My Granddaughter sings with the St. Louis Children's Concert Choir. This choir tours the world. After hearing her choir sing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra this past Christmas,"Waltz Of The Snowflakes," I wanted to keep the magic of that night going.

So I hunted through Amazon's Nutcracker CDs, looking for one backed up by a children's choir. This CD delivered the goods and is a lovely "Nutcracker." But as a proud grandmother, of course I think the St. Louis Children's Choir sounded better.