Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake; Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet

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

 

 

While I don't own this particular disc, I have heard it and it is wonderful (I do own Ansermet's excerpts from Swan Lake on Penguin Classics, and this very same performance of the Romeo and Juliet Suite on a 2CD Decca Legends disc). A mathematician prior to his life as a conductor, Ansermet had his critics as he was virtually self-taught, though he did study music as a youth. But that mathematics background served him well in the studio as his early stereo recordings of everything from Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev to Falla and Haydn (see my reviews) are engineered to perfection, and often sound better than the recordings by so-called more famous conductors. But don't take my word for it, buy some for yourself and see. Ansermet is never worth a mere one-star rating.

Once a front-line conductor for Decca, Ernest Ansermet is now overlooked, even though at his best he had no rivals in the French-Russian repertoire he specialized in. Only Markevitch and Monteux consitently performed at this high level. Ansermet's best work was probably in the Fifties, and this 1959 Swan Lake, in wonderful sound despite being on a budget line, is a fine example.

The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, based in Geneva, was Ansermet's private domain, and they follow his precise, detailed conducting superbly. Without mistaking them for the best musicians technically, one hears a Gallic tang and crispness that is very refreshing in music that easily turns sodden.

Given his reputation for precision, Ansermet delivers an affectionate, free-spirited performance, based on springy, alert dance rhythms. If you have been looking for a Swan Lake that sounds as if it comes from a great night at the balet instead of Carnegie Hall, I think this is a front-runner. Now Decca needs to re-issue Ansermet's Sleeping Beauty, which is even better (his Nutcracker, on a cheaper Decca budget line, sounds thin and humorless, however). This is a performance to live with for a lifetime.

I was looking for a complete recording of Swan Lake and bought this one, thinking since it was a 2 CD set and did not indicate that it was excerpts or suites, that it would be complete. It isn't complete however but rather is abridged which is clearly stated _within_ the program booklet. That being said, it is an excellent abridgement and serves well if you want more than just the suites. I am not enamoured of the Romeo recording and suggest that there are better recordings of those excerpts elsewhere.

this is a good cd, perfect tempi and sound performance, ansermet is never worth one star... i agree, and i think any of ansermet's performances on the market is worth at least 4 stars.

ansermet is the real star here,the playing from the suisse orchestra is to sloppy at times and the sound from london decca is good for the time but it shows its age,and ansermets tempos are a little uneven,and he didnt phrase some of the themes that well,but overall he did a good job and got good playing at times from his group,though he is always dynamic at times,its more of a lightness and strict classical dance approch to the scores,and he was a major influence on charles dutiot and some of his recordings,but there is differences between them.in swan lake dutiot conveys the high romance of the score and the synphonic scope as well and a wonder and enchanment that ansermet doesnt,but if you liked this recording i think youll like ansermets nutcracker recording its one of his best recordings and one of the best nutcrackers there is.

Ansermet left the Swan Lake an orginal and classic perform.