Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights)

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), John Lanchbery (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: John Lanchbery
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (October 19, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00001ZSXE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,936 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #67 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Classical Instrumental

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, wonderful &c., December 8, 2003

By 

Nicholas Edwards (Belchertown, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

Not many people know about John Lanchbery. He was a wonderful ballet conductor in the '60s and he was a composer too: he wrote, among other things, the music for a ballet film called "Tales Of Beatrix Potter". (Now, if you don't know that film or that music, you have to check it out - be ready to make a friend for life. It's Frederick Ashton and the Covent Garden and boy is it something. It was, as if this weren't good enough, directed by Reginald Mills, who edited THE dance film: Michael Powell's "The Red Shoes"). Now - as to this disc: a fine hour-long condensation of this long and variegated score. It's a
well-articulated, even idiosyncratic performance - not exactly smooth and creamy like Ormandy and the Philadelphia's, and this is a good thing. We've all heard this music so many times, the last thing we want is something nondescript. Lancbery swings the hell out of this music, and he gives us detail, depth, and cogency too. The Philharmonia sound great, particularly the brass, as well as the woodwinds (who get a lot to do in this score). In short, it's a winner - maybe not as polished as some others, but tons of heart, which is ultimately what counts with this music. Get it and trip the light fantastic.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as it gets, July 16, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

Since a small child, I have loved the music from "The Nutcracker." This CD does not disappoint, more importantly, it is a good value with all the full body of a professional orchestra, all the many different pieces are performed, and I was flooded with pleasant memories as I listened raptly. I'm glad I bought it. This will be a wonderful addition to anyone's classical music CD library.

4.0 out of 5 stars the complete nutcracker, December 14, 2011

By 

EM (FL) - See all my reviews

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

As a previous reviewer said, the English Gigue is a hard-to-find song, and few people know of its existence. This is actually because it was the first thing that Tchaikovsky wrote (according to ballet lore), and the first thing that he threw out. That said, this is a good album. The Divertissements sound a tiny bit fast, but every orchestra has a different spin on it, and all-in-all, this was worth buying. Many Nutcracker albums out there are an embarrassment, so this is refreshing.