Recordings That You Are Considering

[Que]

The info I found on Amazon US sounds like this set is some remastering of some 1950 recordings, which clearly would have been in mono if the recordings were done in the USSR ...

Ah, I see. Then the recordings are different from the seperate recordings I have of each ballet. I wasn't aware that Svetlanov recorded them earlier as well.

Q

[Coopmv]

Ah, I see. Then the recordings are different from the seperate recordings I have of each ballet. I wasn't aware that Svetlanov recorded them earlier as well.

Q

There are really not that many versions of Tchaikovsky's complete ballet recordings out there.  I have the EMI versions by Andre Previn on both CD and on LP.  But it seems most other well-known conductors only recorded the suites rather than any of the complete works.  Seiji Osawa might have recorded the complete Sleeping Beauty IIRC ...

[Opus106]

The info I found on Amazon US sounds like this set is some remastering of some 1950 recordings, which clearly would have been in mono if the recordings were done in the USSR ...

The "Melodiya 1951" may well refer to the catalogue's numbering system. The description, however, states that these are "highly dynamic, magnificently dramatic readings from the 1980's" (emphasis mine).

[Coopmv]

The "Melodiya 1951" may well refer to the catalogue's numbering system. The description, however, states that these are "highly dynamic, magnificently dramatic readings from the 1980's" (emphasis mine).

Well, does any GMG member actually have that set of 8 CD's?  It looks like Q has the individual CD's, which may well be different from what are included in the set ...

[mc ukrneal]

There are really not that many versions of Tchaikovsky's complete ballet recordings out there.  I have the EMI versions by Andre Previn on both CD and on LP.  But it seems most other well-known conductors only recorded the suites rather than any of the complete works.  Seiji Osawa might have recorded the complete Sleeping Beauty IIRC ...

Well, that is not exactly true. In terms of complete ballet sets, there is Bonynge, Gergiev, Ansermet, Svetlanov, Previn, Ozawa/Pletnev (box with two from Ozawa and one from Pletnev), and Dorati (his was the first LP series I think, but not sure if they made it to disc, but there is a disc of each by him across Mercury and Phillips). Perhaps there are more. Then, when we consider the complete works (individually), there are a seemingly endless number (especially for Swan Lake and Nutcracker).

My favorites (but I only know a handful of each each) so far are:
Swan Lake - Dutoit
Nutcracker - Mackerras or Ashkenazy
Sleeping Beauty - Rozhdestvensky (not the best sound, but wonderful playing).

Alas, I don't have the Svetlanov set, so cannot help much there. But the melodiya website (http://shop.melody.su/item.php?id=922)indicates years of 1988, 1980, and 1988 recorded (where it lists the cds). So it looks like Que's advice stands. 

[Coopmv]

Well, that is not exactly true. In terms of complete ballet sets, there is Bonynge, Gergiev, Ansermet, Svetlanov, Previn, Ozawa/Pletnev (box with two from Ozawa and one from Pletnev), and Dorati (his was the first LP series I think, but not sure if they made it to disc, but there is a disc of each by him across Mercury and Phillips). Perhaps there are more. Then, when we consider the complete works (individually), there are a seemingly endless number (especially for Swan Lake and Nutcracker).

My favorites (but I only know a handful of each each) so far are:
Swan Lake - Dutoit
Nutcracker - Mackerras or Ashkenazy
Sleeping Beauty - Rozhdestvensky (not the best sound, but wonderful playing).

Alas, I don't have the Svetlanov set, so cannot help much there. But the melodiya website (http://shop.melody.su/item.php?id=922)indicates years of 1988, 1980, and 1988 recorded (where it lists the cds). So it looks like Que's advice stands.

I know those folks at Qualiton Imports, which imports these Melodiya recordings.  I can inquire and confirm before I buy from them.  I am no big fan of orchestral performance in mono sound ... 

[mc ukrneal]

I know those folks at Qualiton Imports, which imports these Melodiya recordings.  I can inquire and confirm before I buy from them.  I am no big fan of orchestral performance in mono sound ... 

Did you see the last paragraph I wrote? The melodiya site clearly gives recording years of 1988, 1980 and 1988. The 1951 you mentioned earlier is an ID number. That is what their site says anyway.

[Conor71]

Just wanted to mention that this set of the full ballets is available too if youre looking for a version with Russian conductor/orchestra:


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[Coopmv]

Just wanted to mention that this set of the full ballets is available too if youre looking for a version with Russian conductor/orchestra:


[asin]B008F5FWK0[/asin]

Thanks for the heads up.  I was not aware of this set ...

[Octave]

Thanks Jens for feedback re: Mozart/Moravec.  Also thanks a lot Wanderer for those tips and suggestions; I will check them out!

[Mandryka]

Here are two I am considering:



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Yes the Gould is excellent, I listened to the Byrd just a couple of weeks ago and was astonished by how nice it is.

I've never heard the Kuijken Musical Offering but if you get it I hope you'll post something  about it.

[Octave]

Well, does any GMG member actually have that set of 8 CD's?  It looks like Q has the individual CD's, which may well be different from what are included in the set ...

Coop, I think Mirror Image said he owned that Tchaikovsky ballets by Svetlanov (Melodiya, 8cd) set; maybe you could ask him about the details.

[Leo K.]

Just wanted to mention that this set of the full ballets is available too if youre looking for a version with Russian conductor/orchestra:


[asin]B008F5FWK0[/asin]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Mirror Image]

Considering this Prokofiev set:

[Conor71]

Quote from: Leo K. on January 13, 2013, 11:00:24 PM

Thanks for the heads up!

Youre welcome Leo - good to see youre listening to Russian romantic music at the moment too! 

[Daverz]

Considering this Prokofiev set:

Yes to that one.  Rhozhdestvensky is kind of a no-brainer in Prokofiev, and the remastering is good.

Also, you might try to get ahold of the Ormandy Prokofiev set from Tower Japan.  A more resourceful friend sent it to me.

[Mirror Image]

Yes to that one.  Rhozhdestvensky is kind of a no-brainer in Prokofiev, and the remastering is good.

Also, you might try to get ahold of the Ormandy Prokofiev set from Tower Japan.  A more resourceful friend sent it to me.

Kudos, Daverz. I just bought. Yeah, Rozhdestvensky is a no-brainer in Soviet music. I already own his recordings of Prokofiev's ballets, so this will be a nice companion set.

[Brian]

Has anybody got any suggestions on the necessity/non-necessity of these?

[mc ukrneal]

Has anybody got any suggestions on the necessity/non-necessity of these?

I think Harry recently recommended the Molique - you might see if you can track down the comments on the listening thread. Alas, I cannot help on any of the others myself (though I do like the Rontgen symphony discs). By the way, I would highly suggest the Farrenc discs (if the style is of interest) - very good stuff by an under-rated female composer.

[Brian]

I think Harry recently recommended the Molique - you might see if you can track down the comments on the listening thread. Alas, I cannot help on any of the others myself (though I do like the Rontgen symphony discs). By the way, I would highly suggest the Farrenc discs (if the style is of interest) - very good stuff by an under-rated female composer.

I loved Rontgen's "Waltz Symphony" but so far when I've sampled odds and ends they haven't been as immediately appealing. Do you have a particular favorite starting-point?

I have the CD of Farrenc's First and Third symphonies - love the First, have no memory of the Third though, and the chamber music albums are already in my shopping cart. Is the Second Symphony something I should grab too?