Your Favorite Nutcracker?

[MN Dave]

Please. 

[Brahmsian]

For a fast paced one, try Gergiev with Kirov Orchestra.

Oh, and it fits on 1 disc!

[MN Dave]

You can also list "classic" versions you've heard of (vs. what your favorite might me).

[MN Dave]

For a fast paced one, try Gergiev with Kirov Orchestra.

Oh, and it fits on 1 disc!

It seems to be the most popular one at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Pytor-Illych-Tchaikovsky-Nutcracker-Complete/dp/B00000A1GL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1261062309&sr=1-1

[bhodges]

Slightly off topic, I can't wait to see and hear the performance with the WSO and Royal Winnipeg Ballet on Dec. 22nd!  It will be my second time attending a performance of it.

I saw The Nutcracker there some 20 years ago--a fantastic, unusual version that (IIRC) took place on a rehearsal stage, surrounded by tall curtains and ladders. 

But back to recordings: another huge vote for Gergiev's version.  It's really fun, and very, very fast.  I've heard him and the orchestra do excerpts here as encores, e.g. the "Trepak," the fastest version of that I've ever heard.

--Bruce

[MN Dave]

I saw The Nutcracker there some 20 years ago--a fantastic, unusual version that (IIRC) took place on a rehearsal stage, surrounded by tall curtains and ladders. 

But back to recordings: another huge vote for Gergiev's version.  It's really fun, and very, very fast.  I've heard him and the orchestra do excerpts here as encores, e.g. the "Trepak," the fastest version of that I've ever heard.

--Bruce

Is it too fast? Does the speed ruin the slower parts?

[Brahmsian]

Is it too fast? Does the speed ruin the slower parts?

No, it doesn't.  It was a bit of an adjustment, but only for the first few minutes, then you get used to it.  And certainly doesn't ruin the slower parts.

[bhodges]

Just saw Ray's post, and I agree--but then, I haven't heard the disc in awhile.  The slow parts didn't seem "too fast," but the fast parts are really speedy.

--Bruce

[Herman]

I like the Gergiev, too.

For a DVD I recommend the old Bolshoi one, with Maximova and Vasiliev.

http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Nutcracker-Maximova-Vasiliev-Bolshoi/dp/B00003M5G8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1261070947&sr=1-1

[MN Dave]

Thank, Herman. The price is certainly right.

[Tsaraslondon]

I'm not sure if the DVD version I'd go for is still available. It's a truly magical Birmingham Royal Ballet production starring Irek Mukhamedov and Miyako Yoshida.

I also enjoy Mark Morris's totally different version, which he calls The Hard Nut, a modern take on this classic fairy tale, that loses none of its magic.

[MN Dave]

Thanks, Tsar.

[MN Dave]

"I did not pop that woman's cork."

[Christo]

"I did not pop that woman's cork."

No.
                                                       

[dirkronk]

I'll be the old guy who goes back to topic and drops a bunch of names of even older guys.


For the complete work, Gergiev is one of the best of the newer conductors. However, for my ears he doesn't top Dorati, who did two very good ones: with the LSO on Mercury and--probably the prettiest and my overall favorite--with the Concertgebouw on Philips. I have both of these, and on both CD and the original LPs (which, in this piece, is the way I prefer to listen). The Mercury is a bit raw and "hi-fi" and the ensemble isn't utterly polished, but has both excitement and freshness to commend it; the Philips is more refined overall, a bigger sound but beautiful sonics, and the playing is superb. I feel compelled to mention two others: Rodzinsky on Westminster and Ansermet/Suisse Romande on Decca/London. Both of these are classic and well loved by many collectors. Me, I actually prefer Ansermet in an excerpt disc (see below).

For suites and excerpts, I love Reiner/Chicago and Ansermet/ROHO Covent Garden most of all (I have both on vinyl), but there are a LOT of really good recordings out there.

For "different" compilations of excerpts, Mravinsky will open your ears with both his selection AND his conducting (one old one from the 1940s, the other much newer in stereo--both available on CD...at least they used to be). Highly recommended to those who've become jaded by more typical selections of sweets from the ballet.

Happy holiday listening!

Dirk

[DarkAngel]

Agree with Gregiev/Phillips and both Doratis........probably go with older Mercury version if you only want 1

This CD is a great find, has electrifying extended excerpts of Nutcracker with excellent piano concerto 1:
Do not hesitate to get this gem

[MN Dave]

I like both Dorati and Reiner as conductors.

[DarkAngel]

This CD is a great find, has electrifying extended excerpts of Nutcracker with excellent piano concerto 1:
Do not hesitate to get this gem

If there existed a complete Reiner/CSO Nutcracker from that performance it would sweep the board for me!
Have to look very closely to even see  it listed on CD artwork

[(poco) Sforzando]

I saw The Nutcracker there some 20 years ago--a fantastic, unusual version that (IIRC) took place on a rehearsal stage, surrounded by tall curtains and ladders. 

But back to recordings: another huge vote for Gergiev's version.  It's really fun, and very, very fast.  I've heard him and the orchestra do excerpts here as encores, e.g. the "Trepak," the fastest version of that I've ever heard.

--Bruce

And so absurdly fast as to be undanceable, though the performance is incisively phrased. (Remember guys, this is a ballet.) To get it all on one CD, a minor cut was made in the party scene in Act One.

My favorite? The New York City Ballet as choreographed by Balanchine. The DVD with Damian Woetzel and Darci Kistler in their prime more than makes up for Macaulay Culkin struggling to mime the little prince.

And is anyone else finding the posting window is very slow, and is unstable vertically?

[dirkronk]

If there existed a complete Reiner/CSO Nutcracker from that performance it would sweep the board for me!
Have to look very closely to even see  it listed on CD artwork

Yep. That's the one. I can't believe that RCA didn't give it bigger billing--the Nutcracker excerpts LP was on their lists for literally decades (though never coupled with Gilels' PC1 until the CD), and was obviously a great seller for them. If Reiner ever did a complete version, I've never seen it. More's the pity.

Dirk