Audio CD review:
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antal Dorati, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete), Suites for Orchestra 3 & 4

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antal Dorati, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete), Suites for Orchestra 3 & 4

Band: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antal Dorati, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra Title: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete), Suites for Orchestra 3 & 4 Rating: Release Date: 08 May, 2001 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Overture 2: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 1 Scene: The Christmas Tree 3: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 2 Marche 4: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 3 Children's Galop And Entry Of The Parents 5: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 4 Scene dansante: Drosselmeyer's Arrival And Distribution Of Presents 6: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 5 Scene: The Nutcracker And Grandfather Dance 7: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 6 Scene: Departure Of The Guests - Night 8: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act One: No. 7 Scene: The Battle 9: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Two: No. 8 Scene: A Pine Forest In Winter 10: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Two: No. 9 Waltz Of The Snowflakes 11: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 10 Scene: The Enchanted Palace Of The Kingdom Of Sweets 12: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 11 Scene: Arrival Of Clara And The Nutcracker 13: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 12a. Divertissement: Chocolate (Spanish Dance) 14: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 12b. Coffee (Arabian Dance) 15: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 12c. Tea (Chinese Dance) 16: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 12d. Russian Dance 17: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 12e. Dance Of The Reed Pipes 18: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 12f. Mother Cigogne And The Clowns 19: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 13 Waltz Of The Flowers 20: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 14a. The Prince And The Sugar Plum Fairy - Intrada 21: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 14b. The Prince And The Sugar Plum Fairy - Variation 1: Tarantella 22: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 14c. The Prince And The Sugar Plum Fairy - Variation 2: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy 23: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 14d. The Prince And The Sugar Plum Fairy - Coda 24: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act Three: No. 15 Final Waltz And Apotheosis 25: Suite For Orchestra No. 3 In G Major, Op. 55: I. Elegie: Andantino molto cantabile - New Philharmonia Orchestra 26: Suite For Orchestra No. 3 In G Major, Op. 55: II. Valse melancolique: Allegro moderato - New Philharmonia Orchestra 27: Suite For Orchestra No. 3 In G Major, Op. 55: III Scherzo: Molto vivace - New Philharmonia Orchestra 28: Suite For Orchestra No. 3 In G Major, Op. 55: IV. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto - Hugh Bean 29: Suite For Orchestra No. 4 In G Major, Op. 61 'Mozartiana': I. Gigue, K574: Allegro - New Philharmonia Orchestra 30: Suite For Orchestra No. 4 In G Major, Op. 61 'Mozartiana': II. Menuet, K355: Moderato - New Philharmonia Orchestra 31: Suite For Orchestra No. 4 In G Major, Op. 61 'Mozartiana': III. Preghiera: Andante non tanto - New Philharmonia Orchestra 32: Suite For Orchestra No. 4 In G Major, Op. 61 'Mozartiana': Theme et variations: Allegro guisto - Hugh Bean

Customer Reviews Dorati competes against himself I'm less enthusiastic about this Nutcraker--Dorati bottles up some tempi and the playing is noticeably not up to the Concertgebuow's standard of the period. Yes, Dorati's Suites are the most satisfying recorded versions and have been for nearly 40 years. Both Dorati's other recordings are preferable--the extraordinary London SO on Mercury is full of frisson and more complete, the standard masterly, the conductor at his highest form. You'll have to go to old vinyl for his Minneapolis SO version, historic, still good-sounding, played with involvement and delight. If you still have your vinyl of the London Nutcracker and the Philharmonia Suites, keep it there. Save your dollars for some other great Dorati jewel you don't have yet. Still the best. The tempi here are a little slower and more dancerly and the strings seem a bit less harsh. Delightful as the 1998 "Nutcracker" recording by Valery Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra is, I still believe Dorati's is the standard by which all should be judged. The sound quality, particularly on this new remastering, is phenomenal for a quarter-century-old recording. If you want to hear this ballet as the masterpiece it is and not simply as holiday background Muzak, you can't go wrong with this CD. Great Nutcracker. best suites available And, on this occasion, he does it as well as usual. There isn't much I can say about the reputation of Dorati as a Tchaikovsky ballets conductor. He deals perfectly with the more menacing as well as with the more smooth passages on this ballet. And the Concertgebouw sounds splendid. I don't know any other versions of the suites but these are regarded as the best ones available. Unfortunately the 1st and 2nd are not published any longer and you can get only number 3 and 4 on this CD. (Naturally I mean Dorati's versions). If only Philips had them re-edited again. . . Finally I must tell that the sound quality is also great, as well as the muscial quality. So, if you're looking for the suites buy these ones. And if you're looking for the ballet ypu won't be dissapointed with this one and it won't be easy for you to find a better one (there are, anyway, another good ones such as Ansetmet or Previn). . You can see a complete list of all Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antal Dorati, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra discography, or go back to the Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antal Dorati, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra tabs