I am new to this forum. I am a long time Ballet fan. I saw Nureyev and Fontyn dance Giselle in 1963, than some years later I saw Baryshnikov and Kirkland dance Giselle at the Kennedy Center.I saw both the Kirov and Bolshoi do Swan Lake at Wolf Trap in Virginia. I have been to the Marinsky in St Petersburg. I have an excellent collection of Ballets on DVD. Three I recommend are Merry Widow on kultur D 4529, Coppelia with the Australian Ballet on Kultur D 2114 and Snow White with Tamara Roja DG 004404416. I recently purchased Flames of Paris and was impressed by the dancing of Natalie Osipova. I have 8 versions of Swan Lake and I like the ABT version best but the La Scala version is beautifully mounted and danced. I would be interested in hearing from fans other favorite versions of the great ballets.
I am a great fan of ballet, and I think I have most of the existing music, at least that what is recorded. Watching ballet is one of my favourite past times. If it comes to my most beloved dancers, it would fill too many pages.
I posted this on the 'Ballet on DVD' thread, but thought I'd post it again here.
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Any fan of ballet music (hello Harry!) :) will most definitely want to see this production by Opus Arte. To be noted, this was my very first listen to the complete Sleeping Beauty ballet, and I was incredibly impressed, with both the music and the beautiful, lavish production on this DVD. Now, Sleeping Beauty has nowhere near the same amount of dramatic content as does Swan Lake or Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet. However, that is about the only thing that is lacking (if indeed one is looking for dark and dramatic moments in spades in ballet).
Choreography by Marius Petipa and Sir Peter Wright
Holland Symfonia, conducted by Ermanno Florio
Principal dancers:
Princess Aurora - Sofiane Sylve
Prince Florimund - Gael Lambiotte
Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet)
Release date: 2004
Beautiful, colorful, ornate, lavish sets and gorgeous, sumptuous costumes. Sofiane Sylve is breathtaking. Gael Lambiotte also is brilliant as the Prince. Happy to say, that on a local note, Gael Lambiotte is now one of the principal dancers with my local Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and I've seen him dance on several occasions, and he is absolutely marvelous!
I can't recommend it highly enough for ballet lovers! :)
Smitty, I'm a huge fan of ballet, and there are many on here who are as well, probably Harry being the most notable. :)
Yep have that one, and I agree with you, its a real treasure.
Another ballet fan here, thought most of it is through listening. I don't get a chance to watch many, but the Mezzo channel often has something, many of which I watch when I catch them.
Neal, have you gone through this entire box set yet? What a treasure trove box set this is! I still have 7 unlistened to discs (and all new works too!)
I think Harry also hasn't quite completed his entire first run through.
Anyone else have this set?
My only wish was if this set had included more 20th Century ballet, including Shosty's The Golden Age, and Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince.
However, what is included in here, is fantastic! :)
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Quote from: ChamberNut on March 27, 2013, 05:18:52 PMShosty's The Golden Age, and Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince.
Some of my favorite ballets, Ray! I think Shostakovich's
The Golden Age is the most underrated of these three.
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 27, 2013, 06:37:20 PM
Some of my favorite ballets, Ray! I think Shostakovich's The Golden Age is the most underrated of these three.
Yes, I believe I will eventually get the Serebrier/Naxos recording, that I sampled some years ago through my public library. :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 27, 2013, 06:38:48 PM
Yes, I believe I will eventually get the Serebrier/Naxos recording, that I sampled some years ago through my public library. :)
There are three recordings of the complete ballet: Serebrier, Rozhdestvensky, and Simonov. The only one I lack is the Simonov. Anyway, the Serebrier is my favorite and is excellent. The RNSO really strut their stuff in this particular performance.
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 27, 2013, 05:18:52 PM
Neal, have you gone through this entire box set yet? What a treasure trove box set this is! I still have 7 unlistened to discs (and all new works too!)
I think Harry also hasn't quite completed his entire first run through.
Anyone else have this set?
My only wish was if this set had included more 20th Century ballet, including Shosty's The Golden Age, and Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince.
However, what is included in here, is fantastic! :)
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I don't actually have the box. I do have 70-80% of those performances though (purchased separately before it came out) and I have a few ballets that I don't think are in this box (like a few from Adam, for example, or Bayer). Most of what I don't have from this box - well I just have a different version on a differerent label (like Mackerras in the Nutcracker). I really love ballet music though, so always looking to get something I don't know. For anyone who is new to ballet or just doesn't have many on disc, that box is the one to get. It has some great performances.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on March 27, 2013, 07:22:25 PM
I don't actually have the box. I do have 70-80% of those performances though (purchased separately before it came out) and I have a few ballets that I don't think are in this box (like a few from Adam, for example, or Bayer). Most of what I don't have from this box - well I just have a different version on a differerent label (like Mackerras in the Nutcracker). I really love ballet music though, so always looking to get something I don't know. For anyone who is new to ballet or just doesn't have many on disc, that box is the one to get. It has some great performances.
Oops, my mistake Neal. ;D Which Adam ballets are you talking about? This box does include Giselle and Le Corsaire.
Another ballet I wish was on here was Beethoven's 'The Creatures of Prometheus'.
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 27, 2013, 07:29:45 PM
Oops, my mistake Neal. ;D Which Adam ballets are you talking about? This box does include Giselle and Le Corsaire.
Another ballet I wish was on here was Beethoven's 'The Creatures of Prometheus'.
Adam wrote others as well, for example these two (both very enjoyable):
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There is a wonderful Promethes with Mackerras conducting on Hyperion. But I have always wanted to hear the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra version - they are so good in everything they do.
If you get the chance, go and see La Bayadère - it has everthing classical ballet ought to have - a real delight.
I love all of Copland's ballets, especially Billy the Kid, and Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin is a favorite. Stravinsky's Agon is great, and I wish more of Stravinsky's later ballets got as much attention as the first three.
Quote from: Adam of the North(west) on March 29, 2013, 02:49:56 PM
I love all of Copland's ballets, especially Billy the Kid, and Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin is a favorite. Stravinsky's Agon is great, and I wish more of Stravinsky's later ballets got as much attention as the first three.
Agree on points. Have you heard Copland's
Dance Panels? This is a fantastic ballet IMHO.
Happy to report that after almost two years since purchasing this marvelous box set, I've completed listening to every disc! I go in 'ballet music binges'!
For me, the greatest single discovery (there are dozens and dozens I could mention), but I'll mention just one:
Delibes - Sylvia
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Recently I've been checking YouTube for videos of Le Sacre du Printemps. Out of several versions, I think my favorite is the Pina Bausch/Wuppertal video. Amazing what that woman could draw from the dancers, especially on a blank stage dressed in minimal outfits! 8)
[Part of a post I made earlier this evening to the Purchases Today thread. I'd prefer to post in the Ballet on DVD thread, but I can't locate it at the moment.]
From the library, two DVDs, one of Shirley Verrett in Cavalleria Rusticana, and the second of Gergiev conducting Stravinksy at the Mariinsky Theater--Firebird and Rite of Spring.
The Rite of Spring was interesting because it uses a reconstruction of the original sets and costumes, and Najinksy's original choreography. ( A similar effort was aired many years ago on PBS as part of Dance in America.) Frankly, without a track listing and cast listing, it would be hard to figure out what was supposed to be represented by the dancing. At least in Najinksy's version, the Rite is better heard than seen, and since I was focusing so much on figuring out the dancing, I didn't take in enough of the instrumental performance to say how Gergiev did, and how it might sound as an audio only performance. As it is, I'd say this is a performance to watch once and only once.
Firebird had nice production values, and uses the Fokine choreography. The filming in both ballets was marred by too much use of overhead shots, which made for nice Busby Berkeley effects but didn't improve the experience of the performances as dance. A while back I viewed a DVD of the Royal Ballet doing Firebird and Les Noces. That performance also used the Fokine choreography, and while the production values--meaning sets and costumes--were not as good as this Mariinsky production, it was marginally better from the terms of actually viewing the performance. Les Noces was also a better experience. As an aside, it used the choreography for that work devised by Najinskaya, and at the time of first viewing it seemed rather unique and groundbreaking--but having seen this Najinsky Rite, it was obvious that she derived much of the gestural and dance vocabulary from that.
Of course, I have to give mad props to Prokofiev's ballets: Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, On the Dnieper, The Prodigal Son, The Stone Flower, Le Pas d'Acier, and Chout. He was such a natural in this medium.
Quote from: Mirror Image on November 08, 2013, 06:26:03 PM
Of course, I have to give mad props to Prokofiev's ballets: Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, On the Dnieper, The Prodigal Son, The Stone Flower, Le Pas d'Acier, and Chout. He was such a natural in this medium.
+1 Not a dull one in there.
Of course, I also must mention Pierne's Cydalise et le Chèvre-pied. What a stunning ballet.
The dance sequence in Adams's Nixon in China with its incredible orange juice...
Mirror, I still haven't been able to access a recording of the Pierne work...
Quote from: Sean on November 10, 2013, 05:42:23 AM
Mirror, I still haven't been able to access a recording of the Pierne work...
Here's a link for you:
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Quote from: Mirror Image on November 09, 2013, 04:09:57 PM
Of course, I also must mention Pierne's Cydalise et le Chèvre-pied. What a stunning ballet.
Fulltime seconded, one of my discoveries of recent years.
Quote from: Christo on November 10, 2013, 06:46:06 AM
Fulltime seconded, one of my discoveries of recent years.
Brian actually turned me onto this ballet. So many thanks must go to Brian for this one! This led me to buying several other Pierne recordings.
Quote from: Mirror Image on November 10, 2013, 07:05:00 AM
Brian actually turned me onto this ballet. So many thanks must go to Brian for this one! This led me to buying several other Pierne recordings.
By far the best other Pierne recording I know, is the one with Jean Martinon conducting a superb reading of the Divertissements sur un theme pastoral, his masterpiece IMHO. ["fulltime" appears to be an overseen autocorrection by my Dutch-language iPad BTW ???]
I'll have to check that out, Christo. Thanks for the suggestion.
Two other ballets I love are Ginastera's Estancia and Panambi. I know they're a bit derivative of Le sacre du printemps, but I don't care. They're magnificent works.
Thanks, actually I do have access to that on Naxos. It's a bit annoying the way it's broken in to 24 tracks to click on but I'll persevere with it over the next week or two.
Quote from: Mirror Image on November 10, 2013, 06:05:48 AM
Here's a link for you:
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Quote from: Sean on November 10, 2013, 07:00:12 PM
Thanks, actually I do have access to that on Naxos. It's a bit annoying the way it's broken in to 24 tracks to click on but I'll persevere with it over the next week or two.
You can't select all the tracks and let them play continuously?
I don't think so. They'd rather you bought their CDs...
The work sounds a little like Ravel's Daphis or the exquisite Poulenc Barber the elephant, or Respighi-Rossini's Boutique fantasque.
Quote from: Sean on November 10, 2013, 09:26:43 PM
I don't think so. They'd rather you bought their CDs...
The work sounds a little like Ravel's Daphis or the exquisite Poulenc Barber the elephant, or Respighi-Rossini's Boutique fantasque.
If you're listening to this recording from Naxos Music Library, which I trust that you are, then there should be a little box next to the main title where you can select from the tracklist. All you have to do is hover your mouse, or finger if you're on a hand-held tablet device, and check that little box which will select all of the tracks for you and then click on 'Play Selection.'
Quote from: Mirror Image on November 10, 2013, 10:16:54 AM
Two other ballets I love are Ginastera's Estancia and Panambi. I know they're a bit derivative of Le sacre du printemps, but I don't care. They're magnificent works.
Seconded. Our symphony orchestra played
Estancia a couple of seasons ago, prompting me to by a recording, which also includes
Panambi. I've played it a lot.
Hi Mirror, no I just have a subscription with Naxos.com the regular service. I know the full Library is much larger but I've had enough to get on with from other sources for the last couple of years. I guess you recommend it though. Perhaps I should make the change soon.
Quote from: Wendell_E on November 11, 2013, 02:59:16 AM
Seconded. Our symphony orchestra played Estancia a couple of seasons ago, prompting me to by a recording, which also includes Panambi. I've played it a lot.
Yep, that's a nice recording. Giselle Ben-Dor is an excellent conductor. She really knows Latin American music well. This Naxos recording was actually a reissue on an older recording on the Conifer label.
Quote from: Sean on November 11, 2013, 04:31:29 AM
Hi Mirror, no I just have a subscription with Naxos.com the regular service. I know the full Library is much larger but I've had enough to get on with from other sources for the last couple of years. I guess you recommend it though. Perhaps I should make the change soon.
Ah, okay. Cool, Sean.
For me, I am going to make December 'Ballet Month', one of my favourite forms of Classical Music.
It is the time of the year that I am most eager to listen to ballet music, and not just because of the great Nutcracker!
Great, wonderful memories of attending Royal Winnipeg Ballet concerts in December.
So, anyone else who wishes to join me (perhaps Neal?) :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on November 24, 2013, 07:49:29 AM
For me, I am going to make December 'Ballet Month', one of my favourite forms of Classical Music.
It is the time of the year that I am most eager to listen to ballet music, and not just because of the great Nutcracker!
Great, wonderful memories of attending Royal Winnipeg Ballet concerts in December.
So, anyone else who wishes to join me (perhaps Neal?) :)
Every month is ballet month for me! I listen to them all the time, though I don't always post about them. This morning was the first act of sleeping beauty...
Quote from: mc ukrneal on November 24, 2013, 07:53:45 AM
Every month is ballet month for me! I listen to them all the time, though I don't always post about them. This morning was the first act of sleeping beauty...
Well, it is true for me too. :D Never a time I don't enjoy listening to great ballet music.
Sleeping Beauty will definitely be on the menu! :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on November 24, 2013, 07:49:29 AM
For me, I am going to make December 'Ballet Month', one of my favourite forms of Classical Music.
It is the time of the year that I am most eager to listen to ballet music, and not just because of the great Nutcracker!
Great, wonderful memories of attending Royal Winnipeg Ballet concerts in December.
So, anyone else who wishes to join me (perhaps Neal?) :)
Sounds great, I'm in. :) That could be the perfect chance to peacefully listen to Previn's Tchaikovsky Ballets I bought some time ago......
Quote from: ChamberNut on November 24, 2013, 07:49:29 AM
For me, I am going to make December 'Ballet Month', one of my favourite forms of Classical Music.
It is the time of the year that I am most eager to listen to ballet music, and not just because of the great Nutcracker!
Great, wonderful memories of attending Royal Winnipeg Ballet concerts in December.
So, anyone else who wishes to join me (perhaps Neal?) :)
Count me in! I love so many ballets, especially those of an impressionistic bent (
Daphnis,
Firebird, etc).
Count me out! I love ballet (def. one of my favorite genres), but I'm currently pursuing my own musical interests.
Any ballet blu-rays I should get? Looking in particular for a Nutcracker just now.
It is now December. I will listen to at least one ballet per day for December.
Starting it all off with Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, with this wonderful performance.
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Chamber, don't stress yourself, there's Sleeping, Swan L and a couple more but that's it.
Quote from: Sean on December 01, 2013, 05:35:17 AM
Chamber, don't stress yourself, there's Sleeping, Swan L and a couple more but that's it.
Hi Sean! I have to disagree, there are countless great ballets! :)
There's the ballet in Nixon in China...
https://app.box.com/s/9r4jhiceq4xnppq0stpd
Quote from: Sean on December 01, 2013, 05:35:17 AM
Chamber, don't stress yourself, there's Sleeping, Swan L and a couple more but that's it.
??? Umm...there a lot more great ballets than these, Sean. From the looks of it, you have much exploring, and listening, to do.
Now on to listening to this marvelous ballet. What an outstanding work! :)
Job: A Masque for Dancing
Sir Adrian Boult
London Symphony Orchestra
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Now listening to Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarin. Speaking of, it is almost Mandarin Orange season. Yummy! ;D
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Charles Dutoit
Decca
Might as well join in for some ballet listening:
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0001/074/MI0001074901.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
I'm going to be listening to this later on tonight, though. It's been a year or so since I've heard this work. I remember rather liking it.
Now listening to the maginicent ballet, The Wooden Prince.
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Quote from: ChamberNut on December 01, 2013, 09:32:39 AM
Now on to listening to this marvelous ballet. What an outstanding work! :)
Job: A Masque for Dancing
Sir Adrian Boult
London Symphony Orchestra
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POUNDS THE BRITISH TABLE!
Job is such a fantastic work, encompassing moods from the heavenly to the demonic. The performance is top-notch, too. I've been digging into that box set yet again recently and it's definitely a cornerstone of my collection.
As good as Boult's may be, I'll always prefer Hickox's (also on EMI w/ the Bournemouth SO). I think Hickox gets to the heart a bit better and he gives many of the musical passages some much needed clarity.
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 01, 2013, 10:59:02 AM
Might as well join in for some ballet listening:
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0001/074/MI0001074901.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
I'm going to be listening to this later on tonight, though. It's been a year or so since I've heard this work. I remember rather liking it.
This really is a damn fine work by Britten. It never seizes to amaze me that it's not better known amongst listeners.
December Ballet Month (DBM), continues for me:
Stravinsky
Petrushka Suite
Pulcinella Suite
Firebird Suite
Stravinsky conducting
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
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December Ballet Month (DBM), again, with these 3 stupendous beauties!:
Stravinsky
*Scenes de Ballet
Bluebird - Pas de Deux
The Fairy's Kiss
Stravinsky conducting
*CBC Symphony Orchestra
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
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Quote from: ChamberNut on December 04, 2013, 01:22:05 PM
December Ballet Month (DBM), again, with these 3 stupendous beauties!:
Stravinsky
*Scenes de Ballet
Bluebird - Pas de Deux
The Fairy's Kiss
Stravinsky conducting
*CBC Symphony Orchestra
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
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Encore performance - Spinning this disc again for
DBM!! :)
DBM continuing this evening, with my favourite recording of my favourite ballet!! :)
Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake, Op. 20
Richard Bonynge, conducting
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Decca
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Quote from: ChamberNut on December 05, 2013, 03:26:35 PM
DBM continuing this evening, with my favourite recording of my favourite ballet!! :)
Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake, Op. 20
Richard Bonynge, conducting
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Decca
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Cool, Ray. I'll need to do a full listen sometime of Swan Lake, I know the "excerpts" but that's all.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on December 05, 2013, 04:28:35 PM
Cool, Ray. I'll need to do a full listen sometime of Swan Lake, I know the "excerpts" but that's all.
Hi Greg. Yes, the 'excerpts' really do not do the work justice. Also, I highly recommend the Fonteyn/Nureyev/Lanchberry DVD (that has the dark, sad ending of Swan Lake).
I prefer that ending, rather than the triumphant, happy ending (the more widely staged one).
There is more darkness in the music in Swan Lake than one might think, not just beautiful music.
Here is the Nureyev/Fonteyn/Lanchberry 1967 production of Swan Lake. Vienna Philharmonic. Choreography by Nureyev.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep7HZDa4y2U
One of my favourite pieces in all of Swan Lake, is the supplementary number, the Russian Dance in Act III for Pelagia Karpakova, that features a part for solo violin. It is fantastic, gorgeous! :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 05, 2013, 04:37:11 PM
Hi Greg. Yes, the 'excerpts' really do not do the work justice. Also, I highly recommend the Fonteyn/Nureyev/Lanchberry DVD (that has the dark, sad ending of Swan Lake).
I prefer that ending, rather than the triumphant, happy ending (the more widely staged one).
There is more darkness in the music in Swan Lake than one might think, not just beautiful music.
Have you ever seen the Bourne production? It was shown years ago on PBS, and a revised version is now available on DVD. Completely queers the story (I am using that verb because of its precision) in a Regietheater sort of way, but very well done. Defintely emphasizes the darkness. I have to admit I'm not usually one for extended classic ballets (I was practically bored to death by a PBS presentation of La Bayadere)--seen Swan Lake (again on PBS, which seems to be the only TV channel interested in ballet) years and years ago in a classic production style that did manage to preserve my interest--hero and heroine soared off into the sky at the end, so I assume that means it used "the happy ending".
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on December 05, 2013, 06:25:13 PM
Have you ever seen the Bourne production? It was shown years ago on PBS, and a revised version is now available on DVD. Completely queers the story (I am using that verb because of its precision) in a Regietheater sort of way, but very well done. Defintely emphasizes the darkness. I have to admit I'm not usually one for extended classic ballets (I was practically bored to death by a PBS presentation of La Bayadere)--seen Swan Lake (again on PBS, which seems to be the only TV channel interested in ballet) years and years ago in a classic production style that did manage to preserve my interest--hero and heroine soared off into the sky at the end, so I assume that means it used "the happy ending".
Hmm, no I haven't
Santa Bach. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Sounds like I should check it out. :)
A bit on the lighter side, but Javotte, by Saint-Saens, is thoroughly enjoyable. In any case, it is the only recording, and only OOP now, but used versions are available. It is well performed and sounds good.
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Quote from: mc ukrneal on December 06, 2013, 04:07:09 PM
A bit on the lighter side, but Javotte, by Saint-Saens, is thoroughly enjoyable. In any case, it is the only recording, and only OOP now, but used versions are available. It is well performed and sounds good.
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Neal, one learns something new every day. I did not know that Saint-Saens wrote a ballet. :o
December Ballet Month (DBM), with more Stravinsky:
Stravinsky
L'Oiseau de Feu
Stravinsky conducting
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
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Quote from: ChamberNut on December 06, 2013, 04:08:11 PM
Neal, one learns something new every day. I did not know that Saint-Saens wrote a ballet. :o
It's his only ballet I believe. You can get a flavor for it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WU4bjtQn_c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WU4bjtQn_c)
Hmmph. As I mentioned in the main listening thread, I'm all ballet-enthused again at the moment, thanks to Daphnis and Chloe and reminiscing about a wonderful Ballet Russes exhibition.
But I don't have much ballet in my collection. I've got Stravinsky's first three, but I don't love the performances. Then there's Delibes' ballets (relatively recent purchase), and Daphnis, and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet... and Pletnev's piano version of music from Sleeping Beauty... and then I've virtually run out.
I feel like I want to rectify this, but on the other hand I'm not totally in love with listening to ballet music without seeing it. A couple of years ago I saw a performance of Romeo and Juliet live on stage and it was superb, my whole family thought it was probably the best ballet we'd ever seen. It came alive through the combination of the music with physical expression.
Orfeo if the ballet is indeed great music, it can stand on it's own without the choreography, dancers, etc. People listen to opera recordings all the time on here and don't stress about actually seeing it. If the music is good, then everything else is irrelevant at that point, wouldn't you think?
Of course, I've got to mention my love for Falla's El sombrero de tres picos and El amor brujo. 8)
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 07, 2013, 05:28:22 AM
Orfeo if the ballet is indeed great music, it can stand on it's own without the choreography, dancers, etc. People listen to opera recordings all the time on here and don't stress about actually seeing it. If the music is good, then everything else is irrelevant at that point, wouldn't you think?
Well no, not entirely, and I don't think opera stands in the same category. At the end of the day, one of the primary things that opera characters do is sing, or indeed speak. They are aural characters. Yes, they also stand on stage and over-act, but there's a strong aural component.
With ballet, the characters you are watching make no sound and have no dialogue. You don't retain anything of them directly in an audio recording. And I think that does make at least some difference. An opera character just standing there can still do something. A ballet character just standing there is just standing there.
I can certainly enjoy the ballet music, and I can hear the difference in quality, for example, between Minkus and Delibes in
La Source that shows the talent of the latter. But without movement, far more of the story-telling capacity is lost than occurs with opera.
Quote from: orfeo on December 07, 2013, 06:10:55 AM
Well no, not entirely, and I don't think opera stands in the same category. At the end of the day, one of the primary things that opera characters do is sing, or indeed speak. They are aural characters. Yes, they also stand on stage and over-act, but there's a strong aural component.
With ballet, the characters you are watching make no sound and have no dialogue. You don't retain anything of them directly in an audio recording. And I think that does make at least some difference. An opera character just standing there can still do something. A ballet character just standing there is just standing there.
I can certainly enjoy the ballet music, and I can hear the difference in quality, for example, between Minkus and Delibes in La Source that shows the talent of the latter. But without movement, far more of the story-telling capacity is lost than occurs with opera.
At the end of the day, we're listening to music and music is enjoyed as an aural experience. I personally don't need to follow a story or cast of characters to enjoy a piece of music. It's the music itself that I'm attracted to, nothing else.
Yesterday for DBM , listened to the terrific and entertaining Shostakovich Ballet Suites
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Now listening to three of these Stravinsky works for DBM, (only one of which I enjoy) ;D
The Wedding
Renard the Fox
The Soldier's Tale Suite
Stravinsky conducting Stravinsky
I enjoy 'The Soldier's Tale', I can kind of tolerate 'The Wedding', but I cannot stomach 'Renard the Fox'. :P
I still love Stravinsky! :D
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Quote from: ChamberNut on December 08, 2013, 05:47:36 AM
Yesterday for DBM , listened to the terrific and entertaining Shostakovich Ballet Suites
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Yes, those are great, Ray. BTW, have you heard
The Bolt in its entirety? You'll dig this ballet. Only one recording exists of the complete score and it's with Rozhdestvensky/Royal Stockholm PO on Chandos.
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 08, 2013, 07:08:27 AM
Yes, those are great, Ray. BTW, have you heard The Bolt in its entirety? You'll dig this ballet. Only one recording exists of the complete score and it's with Rozhdestvensky/Royal Stockholm PO on Chandos.
No, I haven't John. I was just going to ask for recommendations of both 'The Bolt', and 'The Limpid Stream', the complete ballets.
Thanks for that recommendation for the complete Bolt recording. :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 08, 2013, 07:10:03 AM
No, I haven't John. I was just going to ask for recommendations of both 'The Bolt', and 'The Limpid Stream', the complete ballets.
Thanks for that recommendation for the complete Bolt recording. :)
No problem, Ray.
The Limpid Stream also exists with only one complete recording and, again, it's with Rozhdestvensky on Chandos.
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 08, 2013, 08:02:39 AM
No problem, Ray. The Limpid Stream also exists with only one complete recording and, again, it's with Rozhdestvensky on Chandos.
Excellent. Too bad there are so few recordings of Shostakovich's complete ballets. :(
Now listening to Adam's Giselle. Gorgeous performance! :)
Bonynge
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
[asin]B002HI6XUO[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 08, 2013, 08:04:16 AM
Excellent. Too bad there are so few recordings of Shostakovich's complete ballets. :(
Well, we're lucky to have three recordings of the complete
Golden Age, so this is a step in the right direction. :)
VERY attractive stuff:
[asin]B00FZ97Y8C[/asin]
Think Khatchaturian but with less noise and more sensitivity. Beautiful playing, Strongly recommended for those of a romanti and melodious nature.
Piazzolla's Tango Ballet is pretty damn cool. 8) So I had to give this a special mention.
DBM again today! :) With this magnificent ballet.
Delibes
Coppélia
Bonynge
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Decca
[asin]B002HI6XUO[/asin]
DBM for today, although not listening to the full ballet tonight. The 3 suites, in this crisp performance. :)
Prokofiev
Romeo & Juliet, Suites Op. 64A, Op. 64B, Op. 101
Paavo Jarvi
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Telarc
[asin]B0000TO0EI[/asin]
DBM for this evening - two performances of this beauty! :) I know Daniel will pound his table! :D
Glazunov
The Seasons, Op. 67
Serebrier
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Warner Classics
[asin]B006W7SV5Q[/asin]
Ashkenazy
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Decca
[asin]B002HI6XUO[/asin]
DBM - continuing with Glazunov! :)
Glazunov
Raymonda - Suite from the ballet, Op. 57a
Serebrier
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Warner Classics
[asin]B006W7SV5Q[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 11, 2013, 04:46:47 PM
DBM - continuing with Glazunov! :)
Glazunov
Raymonda - Suite from the ballet, Op. 57a
Serebrier
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Warner Classics
[asin]B006W7SV5Q[/asin]
That's a good one. I was listening to the first act just a few days ago, when I got interrupted. I didn't even realize that a suite existed- just the full length ballet. Was it arranged by Glazunov or did someone else put that together?
Quote from: mc ukrneal on December 12, 2013, 04:35:52 AM
That's a good one. I was listening to the first act just a few days ago, when I got interrupted. I didn't even realize that a suite existed- just the full length ballet. Was it arranged by Glazunov or did someone else put that together?
Good question, Neal. I'm not sure. I'm on the flip side - I've only heard the suite, not the full ballet. However, my library downtown has an extensive classical CD and DVD collection, and I remember seeing a DVD there for Glazunov's Raymonda. Maybe I will check it out during the holidays, as I'm planning to re-start my library visits for music.
Glazunov....yawn. Now, Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince, on the other hand, that's where it's at for me. :)
DBM:
Shostakovich - Limpid Stream
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
[asin]B000000AYB[/asin]
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 12, 2013, 06:48:22 AM
Glazunov....yawn. Now, Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince, on the other hand, that's where it's at for me. :)
Are you commenting on Glazunov in general or Raymonda? I am not the biggest fan of Glazunov, but I find I enjoy his ballet better than many of his other works - symphonies for example.
Quote from: orfeo on December 07, 2013, 05:22:26 AM
Hmmph. As I mentioned in the main listening thread, I'm all ballet-enthused again at the moment, thanks to Daphnis and Chloe and reminiscing about a wonderful Ballet Russes exhibition.
There's a youtube of the entire Daphnis & Chloe (chopped in nine parts) by the Royal Ballet, in the best available choreography, i.e. Frederick Ashton's. It's well worth your time IMO.
Quote from: Herman on December 13, 2013, 02:51:53 AM
There's a youtube of the entire Daphnis & Chloe (chopped in nine parts) by the Royal Ballet, in the best available choreography, i.e. Frederick Ashton's. It's well worth your time IMO.
Thanks. Noted. Although it risks upsetting me if it doesn't have the right costumes for the pirates.
I've seen the right costumes! They're here!Truly, one of the most fascinating exhibitions I've ever seen.
EDIT: And it seems all the online information is still up. For example... http://nga.gov.au/Exhibition/balletsrusses/Default.cfm?MnuID=3&GalID=15 (http://nga.gov.au/Exhibition/balletsrusses/Default.cfm?MnuID=3&GalID=15)
Quote from: orfeo on December 13, 2013, 03:01:50 AM
Thanks. Noted. Although it risks upsetting me if it doesn't have the right costumes for the pirates. I've seen the right costumes! They're here!
Truly, one of the most fascinating exhibitions I've ever seen.
The Royal Ballet costumes are definitely different; they don't even try to look like the Ballets Russes look.
I have seen a similar exhibition of Diaghilev material, and one thing is immeadiately noticable. These costumes are way too heavy for today's requirements. Ahton wanted a light, "mediterranean" style.
Both Ashton and Balanchine had seen Diaghilev ballets up close and wanted a more fleet style.
Quote from: Herman on December 13, 2013, 05:40:41 AM
The Royal Ballet costumes are definitely different; they don't even try to look like the Ballets Russes look.
A pity; I love
Bakst's work (no surprise, there).
Quote from: karlhenning on December 13, 2013, 06:03:12 AM
A pity; I love Bakst's work (no surprise, there).
yeah, but it's of its time.
DBM for this evening - two performances of 'The Nutcracker', with ballet music from 'Eugene Onegin' as in Interlude! :)
Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, Op. 71
Eugene Onegin - ballet music
Semyon Bychkov
Berliner Philharmoniker
Decca
[asin]B002HI6XUO[/asin]
Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, Op. 71
*Gergiev
Kirov Orchestra
Philips
*I do vastly prefer the very brisk tempos taken in the very lively Gergiev/Kirov performance.
[asin]B00000A1GL[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 13, 2013, 04:53:22 PM
*I do vastly prefer the very brisk tempos taken in the very lively Gergiev/Kirov performance.
[asin]B00000A1GL[/asin]
+1
Nutcracker is one of those works in which too much beauty is a bad thing.
Gliere's The Red Poppy anyone?
Yesterday and again this morning for DBM , listened to the terrific and entertaining Shostakovich Ballet Suites I love this so much, I could listen to it everyday, quite honestly! :)
[asin]B0002TXT3Y[/asin]
For DBM, my first listen to these three works (ok, only the suite from 'The Bolt' is ballet), but dance music, nevertheless.
My impressions were 5 stars out of 5 for all 3 of these works. The one I enjoyed the most was 'The Gadfly' suite. Incredible!!! I wasn't expecting such dramatic content in Gadfly, compared to some of Shostakovich's 'lighter' dance music. Great stuff, will revisit this often indeed! :) *I will cross post this into the Dmitri's Dacha. My esteem for Shostakovich just continues to soar and soar higher. :)
Shostakovich
Moscow-Cheryomushki - Suite from the operetta, Op. 105
The Bolt - Suite from the ballet, Op. 27a (1934 version)
The Gadfly - Excerpts from the film music, Op. 97 (original orchestration)
Chailly
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Decca
[asin]B0000042F8[/asin]
I know I said I wasn't going to be participating in 'Ballet Month," but I always end up eating my own words at some point. Like, for example, I'm finishing up Schnittke's Peer Gynt from last night. BTW, Ray, you've got to check out Schnittke's three ballets: Peer Gynt, Labyrinths, and Sketches. You'll dig them. 8)
For tonight's DBM, a recent 'new favourite'. The Golden Age ballet. Such a colourful work! :)
Shostakovich
The Golden Age, Op. 22
Serebrier
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Naxos
[asin]B000IY068O[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 14, 2013, 02:05:13 PM
For DBM, my first listen to these three works (ok, only the suite from 'The Bolt' is ballet), but dance music, nevertheless.
My impressions were 5 stars out of 5 for all 3 of these works. The one I enjoyed the most was 'The Gadfly' suite. Incredible!!! I wasn't expecting such dramatic content in Gadfly, compared to some of Shostakovich's 'lighter' dance music. Great stuff, will revisit this often indeed! :) *I will cross post this into the Dmitri's Dacha. My esteem for Shostakovich just continues to soar and soar higher. :)
Shostakovich
Moscow-Cheryomushki - Suite from the operetta, Op. 105
The Bolt - Suite from the ballet, Op. 27a (1934 version)
The Gadfly - Excerpts from the film music, Op. 97 (original orchestration)
Chailly
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Decca
[asin]B0000042F8[/asin]
This is an outstanding disc. I can listen to this one over and over and over without tiring of it.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on December 15, 2013, 04:07:24 PM
This is an outstanding disc. I can listen to this one over and over and over without tiring of it.
I was amazed just how good it was, although I shouldn't have been. It is Shostakovich, after all! :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 15, 2013, 03:40:24 PM
For tonight's DBM, a recent 'new favourite'. The Golden Age ballet. Such a colourful work! :)
Shostakovich
The Golden Age, Op. 22
Serebrier
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Naxos
[asin]B000IY068O[/asin]
Someone please help me. Is there a Golden Age Anonymous support group I can join. Seriously, I love this work so much, it has become one of my favourite of all Shostakovich's oeuvre. Incredible orchestration.
I need help. Someone remove this recording from my household. ;D
Cool, Ray.
My present obsession is that White Nights should eventually be someone's favorite ballet ;)
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 16, 2013, 04:34:20 AM
Someone please help me. Is there a Golden Age Anonymous support group I can join. Seriously, I love this work so much, it has become one of my favourite of all Shostakovich's oeuvre. Incredible orchestration.
I need help. Someone remove this recording from my household. ;D
Maybe you need a sort of
Golden Age technique. :D
Joking aside, I recently listened to Shostakovich's ballet for the
DBM too, I agree it is an absolutely marvelous work.
Well, I have been singing nothing but praises for The Golden Age almost immediately after I heard it three years ago.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on December 15, 2013, 04:07:24 PM
This is an outstanding disc. I can listen to this one over and over and over without tiring of it.
Yes, it is. It was in my wish list for some time and I was very delighted to find it within the Chailly box set I recently bought.
For DBM, this marvelous performance! :)
Ravel
Daphnis et Chloe
Dutoit
OSM
Decca
[asin]B008KGWWL6[/asin]
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 17, 2013, 01:56:28 PM
For DBM, this marvelous performance! :)
Ravel
Daphnis et Chloe
Dutoit
OSM
Decca
[asin]B008KGWWL6[/asin]
Of the 26
Daphnis performances I own, Dutoit's is still my favorite. One of his best performances on record IMHO.
This afternoon's DBM listening....and on repeat! :)
Strauss, R.
Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome
Schlagobers Waltz, Op. 70
Josephslegende, symphonic fragment, Op. 63
Kempe
Staatskapelle Dresden
EMI Classics
[asin]B000026D4K[/asin]
Some Herold and Messager. Very enjoyable...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DjHCEGZeL._SX450_.jpg)
For DBM, this fantastic work and brilliant performance! :)
Ravel
Daphnis et Chloe
Ansermet
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Decca
[asin]B002HI6XUO[/asin]
John (MI), please don't hate me :D.....I think I enjoy this performance even more than Dutoit/OSM. :o
Delius wrote some ballet music which is featured in Hassan. Unfortunately, the only way to get this recording (Handley/Bournemouth Sinfonietta) is to buy the 150th Anniversary set on EMI, but there are still used copies floating around, but you'll pay a lot for it, though. The original recording of Hassan was coupled with Elgar's Starlight Express, which is a good work, but pales in comparison to the Delius IMHO.
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 17, 2013, 05:57:46 PM
Of the 26 Daphnis performances I own, Dutoit's is still my favorite. One of his best performances on record IMHO.
Oh good, because I've only got one, and that's it.
Quote from: orfeo on December 19, 2013, 02:25:47 AM
Oh good, because I've only got one, and that's it.
:P Well, there are several fine performances, but after the dust has settled, Dutoit still is the winner. :)
Quote from: Fafner on December 21, 2013, 05:24:51 AM
Liszt Ferenc - Faust Symphony
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein
[asin]B000001GQZ[/asin]
I suppose I could count this for
DBM as I first came to know this music via Kenneth MacMillan's ballet Mayerling. Definitely one of my favourite ballets!
That would be a cool piece to choreograph, indeed.
Quote from: karlhenning on December 21, 2013, 05:39:40 AM
That would be a cool piece to choreograph, indeed.
Yesindeedy!
http://www.youtube.com/v/gXsmtBdu8d0
One of the seven deadly sins is gluttony. Guilty as charged.
The staggering amount of ballets I have listened to so far in December is down right embarrassing. :-[ There are still five more days to go this month. :D
Well.....I've enjoyed every minute of it! :)
Probably my only contribution to DBM, but I watched this wonderful production of The Nutcracker. My only complaint is the editing - the number of perspective changes in a short amount of time was at times distracting and disconcerting.
Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker
San Francisco Ballet
Helgi Tomasson, choreographer
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
Martin West, conductor
[asin]B002NUYK9M[/asin]
The final DBM listen, with probably my favourite discovery of the year. Seems fitting. :)
Shostakovich
The Golden Age, Op. 22
Serebrier
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Naxos
[asin]B000IY068O[/asin]
This December Ballet Month was incredible to find and explore new compositions; among my favourite discoveries, I certainly include Shostakovich's The Golden Age, de Falla's El amor brujo and El sombrero de tres picos, and Schnittke's Labyrinths and Peer Gynt.
I will end with a very enjoyable selection - Arenky' Egyptian Nights.
[asin]B000004686[/asin]
Well, my December Ballet Month listening was to be a goal of one ballet per day in December. Well....I far exceed that!!
Listened to 58 different ballets/ballet suites combined, and with some being on repeat listens - a total of 89! :)
Most enjoyable, every minute of it. :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 31, 2013, 08:57:36 AM
Well, my December Ballet Month listening was to be a goal of one ballet per day in December. Well....I far exceed that!!
Listened to 58 different ballets/ballet suites combined, and with some being on repeat listens - a total of 89! :)
Most enjoyable, every minute of it. :)
Jesus Christ.
Sets your toes a-twinkling, doesn't it, Dave? :)
I suppose it's fitting that one of the last works I'm listening to in 2013 is indeed a ballet but in the form of RVW's Job: A Masque for Dancing. For anyone that doesn't know this work, go buy a recording now. This is prime RVW and every bit as inspired as his symphonies, choral works, and other orchestral music.
ChamberNut, you say you "listened" to ballets. That raises an interesting philosophical question. Opera, for example, is as much drama as music; the "stage spectacle" is as important to the artistic experience as what's being played in the pit and sung on the stage. Even in songs, the words are as important as the melody and accompaniment, and an important aspect of songs is how well the music fits with the words. Is it the same for ballet? Are the visual and kinetic elements as important as the aural elements?
Quote from: jochanaan on January 05, 2014, 07:35:30 AM
ChamberNut, you say you "listened" to ballets. That raises an interesting philosophical question. Opera, for example, is as much drama as music; the "stage spectacle" is as important to the artistic experience as what's being played in the pit and sung on the stage. Even in songs, the words are as important as the melody and accompaniment, and an important aspect of songs is how well the music fits with the words. Is it the same for ballet? Are the visual and kinetic elements as important as the aural elements?
Well, for me it has always been about the music. I enjoy ballet music, and opera, without having the need to see the visual of the performance.
That being said, I have been to several ballet performances, and it is a marvelous experience.
Some people feel they get a much more enhanced experience with the visual (for ballet and opera), and that is understandable. I simply enjoy the music, period. :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on January 05, 2014, 07:38:37 AMI simply enjoy the music, period. :)
+1 Just give me the music.
Of course those are valid views. Yet I suspect that, if there are any dancers reading this, they'd say the opposite. ;D
Quote from: jochanaan on January 05, 2014, 02:55:13 PM
Of course those are valid views. Yet I suspect that, if there are any dancers reading this, they'd say the opposite. ;D
I was thinking the same thing.
Continuing my 'December Ballet Month' tradition. Well, it is becoming tradition (3rd annual). :D My favourite time of the year. Ballet/dance music.
Started off yesterday with some beauties! Splendid. :)
Such a fun disc of music!
[asin]B0002TXT3Y[/asin]
Increasingly has been working its way towards becoming my favourite ballet, and performance.
[asin]B0000041BY[/asin]
[asin]B0000042F8[/asin]
From this one, only had a chance today to listen to the very energetic suite from Moscow - Cheryomushki. Thrilling 3rd movement 'Dances (Polka-Galop). I know the rest of this disc is superb as well.
No ballet productions/performances on DVD for Shostakovich's The Golden Age, The Bolt or The Limpid Stream? :'(
Quote from: ChamberNut on December 03, 2015, 11:47:14 AM
No ballet productions/performances on DVD for Shostakovich's The Golden Age, The Bolt or The Limpid Stream? :'(
[asin]B000NVL4MY[/asin]
Quote from: mc ukrneal on December 03, 2015, 12:09:50 PM
[asin]B000NVL4MY[/asin]
OK, thank you Neal! At least there is 1 of the 3. :-\
Between Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Bartok, Ravel, Roussel, Vaughan Williams, Copland....I don't think I ever could pick a group of favorites and be satisfied with the outcome. ;D
Quote from: jochanaan on January 05, 2014, 02:55:13 PM
Of course those are valid views. Yet I suspect that, if there are any dancers reading this, they'd say the opposite. ;D
Not necessarily. Even Balanchine famously said that if you weren't interested in the dancing, you could close your eyes and experience a good concert. Nonetheless, unless one has actually experienced the dancing, I don't think one is in the position of saying "I just want to hear the music."
This is complicated by the facts that (a) some ballets were choreographed after the fact to existing pieces, (b) some ballets like Nutcracker exist in multiple choreographies, (c) some ballets like Miraculous Mandarin and Jeux are heard more often in concert or recordings than on stage. Stravinsky said he preferred Le Sacre as a concert piece, and on the few occasions I have seen it danced the experience has not been satisfactory. On the other hand, seeing Petrouchka made me realize how closely the music mirrored the choreography, Agon takes on wholly new dimensions when you see it danced, and if you have never seen the famous "starburst" tableau at the end of Stravinsky's Apollo, then I would say you have not experienced Apollo.
Here are some selections you can see for yourself (not in great visual quality, but absolutely free):
Agon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR7vEOxL5cU
4 Temperaments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk9dG6p5bFg
Bizet Symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wIQyNW1zOc
Fancy Free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ou-O9Awkzo
Apollo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OpiN_aFgRQ
This is Nureyev production at the Paris Opera a few month before his death
[asin]B000294T5G[/asin]
It is a wonderful production of Marius Petipa most famous ballet with Laurent Hilaire as Soror. Even today this ballet is rarely produced in the west
I am on my second rerun of the Big Decca box, and I did a complete first run on the additional box with 10 CD'S also on the label Decca. I rather miss Chambernut, my fellow partner in ballet crime. :(
I would not say this is a favorite in the normal sense of the word, but because of what it is, I love it!
Das Triadische Ballett ~ Oskar Schlemmer's "Bauhaus Ballet." The score is by Paul Hindemith, his Op. 40.
Get ready for a great, 'odd' and surreal eyeful of a ballet, and a very pleasant neoclassical score.
https://www.youtube.com/v/mHQmnumnNgo
Best regards.