Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights)

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Michael Tilson Thomas (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029SQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,951 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Takes too many liberties with Tchaikovsky's score, October 15, 2010

By 

John O'Neill (Alpharetta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights) (Audio CD)

Michael Tilson Thomas may be regarded as one America's premier conductors, but perhaps he should stick to American composers, like Ives and Copland, whom he has done so much to champion. Frankly this disc of highlights from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" doesn't work for me at all. (The complete recording (Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete)) is no longer in print but is available through Amazon Marketplace sellers.)

Thomas takes too many liberties with the score and adds special effects which are just out of place. For example there is the chiming of the clock during "Arrival of Drosselmeyer", which is noticeable but hardly intrusive. However when it makes a reappearance during "Clara and the Nutcracker", Thomas actually brings the music to a complete stop. The chimes build in volume, intensity, and dissonance until the resulting sense of menace sounds like it would be more at home on a Nox Arcana or Midnight Syndicate CD. This is just before the tree transforms/grows and the music should be wondrous, not frightening. Also the entire beginning of "Clara and the Nutcracker" is just taken way too slowly: it's almost a full 80 seconds longer than any other recording I own including Previn, Slatkin, Lanchbery, Davis and Gergiev. Then in the very next segment, "The Battle",... wait... is that a kazoo that I hear playing along with the main military theme? Yes, it is supposed to be a battle between "toys" and mice but a kazoo? Also when the brass comes in during both the "Children's Galop" and "Mother Gigogne" it is much heavier and brasher than on other recordings. And while all the recordings include some children's toys to indicate the boys' mischief during "Grandfather's Dance", here the drums and trumpets are augmented with whistles which add nothing to the recording.

In terms of the selections on this 70-minute highlights disc, all of Act I is left in tact and the cuts taken from Act II are relatively painless: the Kingdom of Sweets, Clara and the Prince, and two items from the Pas de Deux. Also the playing of the Philharmonia is fine except when Thomas's poor musical choices get in the way. There is an excellent alternative, all digital highlights disc featuring the Philharmonia on EMI's Seraphim label under the direction of John Lanchbery (Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights)). Lanchbery is much more in touch with Tchaikovsky's intent although he also throws in something unexpected: during the Divertissement we get an additional selection: Gigue (English Dance) which was apparently recreated from Tchaikovsky's original notes for the score and this is the only recording, I know of, which includes the movement. It's charming and as an addition to the score works so much better than any of Thomas's tinkering. (EMI leaves most of Act II in tact, except for "Clara and the Prince" but makes some considerable cuts in Act I for this 62 minute highlights disc: the selections jump right from the #3 "March" to #8 "The Battle".)

Still nothing beats the complete score and I recommend either the 2-disc London Symphony Orchestra/Andre Previn (EMI) recording from the early '70s (Nutcracker / Cinderella Highlights) or, as a second choice, Valery Gergiev leading the Kirev Orchestra on Phillips (Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet) which is the complete ballet on one 82 minute disc. (My complete reviews of both complete versions can be found by following the links.)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights), March 14, 2003

By 

Brad Low (Boulder City NV 89005) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights) (Audio CD)

This is an AWESOME CD.
The Bells on # 7 will make you shiver. These are the scariest bells I've EVER heard. In Boulder City Miss Amy Does The Nutcracker Yearly. This Is 1 cd she use's. It has a Great Chinese, Spanish, and Battle. The Battle is The Best I have ever heard. On # 2 When Drosselmyer Comes in, there are Bells in the background(Like Miss Amy's). I would recomend this cd to any body. If you are doing the Nutcracker I would Strongley suggest Geting This CD. It is Just Highlight but it is the best Nutcracker Cd I have out of 54.