BaL 23.12.23 - Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty

[Pulcinella]

Looking at the list in the opening post, there are many CD versions available.
As far as the Previn is concerned, I have a 6-CD set, so I’m wondering whether there’s any extra music in the 7-CD edition.

The music on each of the 7 CDs is visible here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-Ballets-Nutcracker-Sleeping-Beauty/dp/B01GQWSWGO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SYBCCYIZ3BXW&keywords=previn+tcha ikovsky&qid=1703348172&s=music&sprefix=Previn+tch% 2Cpopular%2C57&sr=1-1

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
SWAN LAKE • THE SLEEPING BEAUTY • THE NUTCRACKER
Swan Lake • Schwanensee • Le Lac des cygnes
CD 1 Acts 1 & 2
CD 2 Acts 3 & 4
The Sleeping Beauty • Dornröschen • La Belle au bois dormant
CD 3 Prologue • Act 1
CD 4 Act 2
CD 5 Act 3
The Nutcracker • Der Nussknacker • Casse-noisette
CD 6 Act 1
CD 7 Act 2
London Symphony Orchestra
André Previn conductor
81.47
74.55
67.37
44.50
48.16
44.21
41.59
STEREO • RECORDED IN 1972, 1974 & 1976
NEW REMASTERINGS 2011 (Swan Lake & The Nutcracker) & 2016 (The Sleeping Beauty)
[André Previn's classic recording of The Sleeping Beauty appears complete on CD for the first time]

[visualnickmos]

Looking at the list in the opening post, there are many CD versions available.
As far as the Previn is concerned, I have a 6-CD set, so I’m wondering whether there’s any extra music in the 7-CD edition.

It's the same amount of music. Just the splitting is different. In the 7-CD set, there are no splits within the same act.

[Pulcinella]

It's the same amount of music. Just the splitting is different. In the 7-CD set, there are no splits within the same act.

That makes sense.
And still a snip at only just over £12.

[Maclintick]

Listening to the LSO Previn on RR at the moment. The reviewer praised the orchestral flourishes Previn gets during the Rose Adagio when Aurora picks up the rose. Have to say I found the string playing from the LSO here distinctly scratchy. The Marinsky / Gergiev sounded wonderful.

The excerpt played of the Breadcrumb Fairy in the LSO/Previn recording also had some pretty dodgy intonation.

[visualnickmos]

..........The Marinsky / Gergiev sounded wonderful.

There is no way I would pollute my CD player with any of Gergiev's recordings.

[voltisubito]

Looking at the list in the opening post, there are many CD versions available.
As far as the Previn is concerned, I have a 6-CD set, so I’m wondering whether there’s any extra music in the 7-CD edition.

The 2016 remastering contained in the 7 CD boxset (Warner 0190295974893) restores a couple of numbers, namely No. 27 Pas berrichon and No. 29 Sarabande, missing from earlier CD releases with the 1993 remastering (e.g. the 6 CD boxet EMI 5 73624 2).

I prefer the LSO/Previn account over the recommended ROH/Ermler - Ermler employs some curiously slow tempi throughout the score (the Rose Adage being one example, or the Lilac Fairy's theme at various points). I would also highly recommend the Philharmonia/John Lanchbery recording, available to stream or download.

[ucanseetheend]

There is no way I would pollute my CD player with any of Gergiev's recordings.

Oh dear.Great performance by Mariinsky band.As ever Russian orchestra playing home composer the best.Also the RNO /Pletnev on a double is very good.Russian strings the best!

[cloughie]

What's age got to do with it? An excellent recording is an excellent recording, surely?

…and Andre Previn a genius!

[Alison]

A fair guide to the ballet but not really a compelling library build for the record collector. I fear Allyson Devenish on Schubert will be even weaker next week!

[gurnemanz]

I would also highly recommend the Philharmonia/John Lanchbery recording, available to stream or download.

So would I, such that I do not feel the need to get another version. (I'm afraid I lost interest in the BaL and tuned away from it at 11 am to listen to Fighting Talk on Five Live, which was much more fun). The 6 CD cfp set of the three ballets was a great bargain when I got it (still around second hand). A slight annoyance is that, as with some other recordings which have been mentioned, several short sections - in this case three - have been cut in order to fit it onto 2CDs. There would have been space on the other CDs in the set. This solution was probably rejected on practical grounds.

[Master Jacques]

Doing that sequence live for a non professional is pretty demanding, There’s often no time to actually listen to the clips live as you’re usually working out what you’re saying next. I suspect she might have lost her place on the script . Very easily done in a BAL as it’s all the same piece. The only one I can remember doing was a Mozart Clarinet Qt. with Ted Greenfield. He chose at one point 3 twenty second identical clips from different recordings with a very tricky in. Thankfully it was a pre-record. The other challenge is the early start on a Sat morning (if it’s live). Back in the dark ages I think it was paired with doing Farming Today. The pub was to be avoided on Friday evening .

Like you, I'd be charitable about Sarah Lenton's brain-fade, under the circumstances, and she was neatly scooped out of it by Mr McGregor (fortunately not tending his cabbage patch at the time). The telling word you use is "non professional". That, of course, is precisely what's gone wrong here as in so many other BaLs. Despite her programme article writing and subsidiary lecturing CV, Lenton is not a professional broadcaster, and it shows.

[Nick Armstrong]

Listening to the LSO Previn on RR at the moment. The reviewer praised the orchestral flourishes Previn gets during the Rose Adagio when Aurora picks up the rose. Have to say I found the string playing from the LSO here distinctly scratchy.

I only dipped in and out of this BAL (the bit I heard was pretty toe-curling) but heard the LSO & Previn in something to do with breadcrumbs… the trombones’ intonation sounded dodgy to this trombonist who knows more than a bit about dodgy intonation

The excerpt played of the Breadcrumb Fairy in the LSO/Previn recording also had some pretty dodgy intonation.

Ah! Only read this, Maclintick, after posting the above. We are of one mind (or two ears…)

[ucanseetheend]

Like you, I'd be charitable about Sarah Lenton's brain-fade, under the circumstances, and she was neatly scooped out of it by Mr McGregor (fortunately not tending his cabbage patch at the time). The telling word you use is "non professional". That, of course, is precisely what's gone wrong here as in so many other BaLs. Despite her programme article writing and subsidiary lecturing CV, Lenton is not a professional broadcaster, and it shows.

And professional journalist broadcasters like Ed Seckerson dont even get asked now. Perhaps the producers likes amateurs and AM can jump in at anytime.

[Nimrod]

Does anyone else remember that live performance in 1979? It was broadcast live on R3 but the bass trombonist was apparently stuck in traffic and didn't get to the Royal Festival Hall until around 8.30. The Sleeping Beauty is a full length ballet and the consequence was that the performance didn't finish until close to 11pm. I wasn't there but listening on R3. Happy days!

I remember it well, listening at home and hearing the announcer saying about the brass player. I have the live performance on Legends and love it. I have Ermler doing the other two ballets with the ROH band, superb, too.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Like you, I'd be charitable about Sarah Lenton's brain-fade, under the circumstances, and she was neatly scooped out of it by Mr McGregor (fortunately not tending his cabbage patch at the time). The telling word you use is "non professional". That, of course, is precisely what's gone wrong here as in so many other BaLs. Despite her programme article writing and subsidiary lecturing CV, Lenton is not a professional broadcaster, and it shows.

There has to be room for non professionals to broadcast and it is one of the key skills of a producer to bring out the best in them. I’ve not produced Radio much but have produced and directed literally hundreds maybe thousands of hours of TV. Believe you me I’ve seen seasoned professionals make a complete hash of things. Even gone the full corn beef myself once or twice…
As one of my better bosses said re live radio it’s only rock ‘n roll..no one dies.

Andrew McGregor’s rescue job was ,as you say, consummate.