BaL 11.04.15 - Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake

[Roehre]

A word of caution here. Many of these recording use the 1895 "Drigo" version which is still used in many performances today, despite heavy cuts and substitutions (even from other composers). By chance, the 4 versions I have (Dorati, Fistoulari, Previn and Svetlanov) all use Tchaikovsky's original (and longer) version. Ansermet and Kirov versions use Drigo.

Like Stravinsky's Blue Bird .
I personally like the Fistoulari recording most (including the brushy violin solos, which are a bit highlighted by close miking as well ), but in terms of interpretation all 4 "complete" ones are enjoyable, the Svetlanov least because of the recording.

[pastoralguy]

Well, for me, the LSO version with Previn which I remember buying on Lp when I was a teenager and listening to them incessantly. Oh, and the violin solos are played by Ida Haendel.

What more does one need?!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My all time favourite (not listed so presumably not available) is a Melodiya set from Rozhdestvensky and the USSR Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra. No one reaches the heights of tragic splendour in this work more than Rozhdestvensky. Anyone not totally allergic to that Russian brass and string sound will love it. The final pages are utterly thrilling in this recording and completely overwhelming.

It was briefly available on a Melodiya two-fer when I snapped it up. Stunning, in a word.

Just one available on Amazon here at a price: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-...rozhdestvensky

This recording urgently needs re-issue!

I agree 100%. And I AM allergic to Russian brass sound. But what a performance! Absolutely complete too, with the two "supplements".

For once we have a BaL with a manageable number of recordings. Let's not add complications by considering recordings of the "suite" (which is variable in any case).

[visualnickmos]

Svetlanov (Melodiya) isn't at all bad..... and a quite good - well, very good recording too...

[BBMmk2]

I am not much of a ballet fan, except for these evergreens eg Swan and Nutcracker. I have Rostropovich's DG account.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Svetlanov (Melodiya) isn't at all bad..... and a quite good - well, very good recording too...

Praise indeed for a Melodiya recording. They usually sound like DAB with a very low bit-rate.

[Barbirollians]

Well, for me, the LSO version with Previn which I remember buying on Lp when I was a teenager and listening to them incessantly. Oh, and the violin solos are played by Ida Haendel.

What more does one need?!

Seconded .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This isn't a very promising start. It's more like a lesson about the ballet than a comparison of different versions. Let's hope it settles down.

[Barbirollians]

Previn seems to have been ignored unless I missed it when I put the bin out .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Previn seems to have been ignored unless I missed it when I put the bin out .

Bonynge seems to on a roll - even without Joan Sutherland as Odette.

[Barbirollians]

I do like the winning Svetlanov though -no holds barred stuff .

[Black Swan]

I agree, I didn't think I could be enticed to buy another recording, but I think I got in just under the wire with the River People as their list of available recordings was decreasing as the program closed.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Quite a short BaL, which I felt should have had more on the wealth of recordings and less about the ballet itself.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Dear God, this is a terrible work - It's like being mugged by an enraged elephant.

Sticking with Previn and Lenard. (And the Nureyev/Fonteyn DVD.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Dear God, this is a terrible work - It's like being mugged by an enraged elephant.

Sticking with Previn and Lenard. (And the Nureyev/Fonteyn DVD.)

Just pretend it's by Mussorgsky and scored for piano, Ferney. You might like it better.