Dorati and The Nutcracker

[richardfinegold]

It's that time of year again and the Tchaikovsky is in the air--or these days it may be more accurate to say in the bits. My 18 year old Niece just capped off years of ballet study with some impressive solos (as opposed to being the perennial village girl) in the Spanish Dance and Waltz of the Flowers. Warhorse that it may be, I just never tire of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece.
The Dorati Concertgebouw recording on Phillips was my first encounter wit the complete ballet, as opposed to the Suite, and it bowled me over when it appeared in the mid 1970s. The immaculate lp, the music simply bursting from the speakers larger than life, the horns in the Waltz of the Flowers, and the crushing climax of the Pas de Deux....for years I couldn't be tempted to listen to any other version. This past week, since the triumph of my Niece, I have pulled out the first of the big Mercury Reissue boxes, and lo and behold there are two previous Dorati/Minneapolis recordings, one each for stereo and mono. They are much faster than the Phillips version--the stereo set in particular would have broken a few dancers ankles--but great fun.
Favorites?

[Keraulophone]

The Nutcracker is the subject of ‘The Gramophone Collection’ in the current December 2017 edition of the magazine, discussed by Mark Pullinger over five pages.

He points out that Dorati was the first to record the work complete in 1953, but his preference among Dorati’s three versions is for the stereo remake with the LSO in 1962, also on the Mercury Label (i.e. not with the Minneapolis SO). The Concertgebouw recording is ‘a little less hectic’ but ‘the playing isn’t quite as characterful as the LSO’s’. Of the same generation, Ansermet in Geneva also receives approval for elegance, though the 1958 recording shows its age. The overall recommendation is Gergiev’s excitable (as opposed to danceable) 1998 Kirov version for Philips, followed by the slightly less thrilling Neeme Järvi in Bergen.

I have the two Mercury recordings with Dorati as well as the 1998 Gergiev, so I’d like to add a more balletic version. Mark Ermler conducting the Orchestra of the ROH, Covent Garden in 1989 on the Sony Label is suggested for ‘balletomanes’.

(I hope Mr P doesn’t mind me quoting him. It’s a very useful article, well worth a read.)

[BBMmk2]

i have Previn's complete three ballets of Tchaikovsky. Haven't played The nutcracker but I will in due course!

[richardfinegold]

The Nutcracker is the subject of ‘The Gramophone Collection’ in the current December 2017 edition of the magazine, discussed by Mark Pullinger over five pages.

He points out that Dorati was the first to record the work complete in 1953, but his preference among Dorati’s three versions is for the stereo remake with the LSO in 1962, also on the Mercury Label (i.e. not with the Minneapolis SO). The Concertgebouw recording is ‘a little less hectic’ but ‘the playing isn’t quite as characterful as the LSO’s’. Of the same generation, Ansermet in Geneva also receives approval for elegance, though the 1958 recording shows its age. The overall recommendation is Gergiev’s excitable (as opposed to danceable) 1998 Kirov version for Philips, followed by the slightly less thrilling Neeme Järvi in Bergen.

I have the two Mercury recordings with Dorati as well as the 1998 Gergiev, so I’d like to add a more balletic version. Mark Ermler conducting the Orchestra of the ROH, Covent Garden in 1989 on the Sony Label is suggested for ‘balletomanes’.

(I hope Mr P doesn’t mind me quoting him. It’s a very useful article, well worth a read.)

Right you are that the Stereo Dorati is with the LSO. When I was listening to it a couple of days ago I was thinking boy, the Minneapolis Orchestra was really good back then! The playing is very characterful but it would be a tough call vs the mid seventies Concertgebouw.
The most recent Gramophone on the shelves here is the October issue with Trifanov on the cover but I’ll keep a heads up in February or thereabouts.

[Dave Payn]

I've heard many fine things about the Ermler/ROH version. I must listen to it some time! I have Philharmonia/Lanchbery, Kirov/Gergiev, BPO/Rattle, OSR/Ansermet and Moscow RTV SO/Fedoseyev which has been growing on me the more I hear it.

[cloughie]

i have Previn's complete three ballets of Tchaikovsky. Haven't played The nutcracker but I will in due course!

...and he cracked it twice, once with the LSO, and later following his move with the RPO. Both are very good!

[Petrushka]

I have the 'complete-on-one-disc' Gergiev and also his second recording (alas split) but not yet heard the latter despite having bought it a few months ago!

My first recording was the 1960s Rozhdestvensky while I also have the rather lukewarm Jansons. Act 2 is much more memorable and I was present at a 1981 Prom in which Rozhdestvensky and the BBCSO gave a delightful performance of it, now happily available on an ICA DVD.

[pastoralguy]

The Miniature Overture, seemingly so innocent and gentle an introduction, is actually a violinist's graveyard. It's one of the most difficult works in the repertoire, being so quiet and exposed and just bloody awkward. I used to practice this every day when I played in a ballet orchestra and never really felt satisfied. If one listens carefully enough, even the very top orchestras have their insecure moments.

[richardfinegold]

The Miniature Overture, seemingly so innocent and gentle an introduction, is actually a violinist's graveyard. It's one of the most difficult works in the repertoire, being so quiet and exposed and just bloody awkward. I used to practice this every day when I played in a ballet orchestra and never really felt satisfied. If one listens carefully enough, even the very top orchestras have their insecure moments.

At least no critic has referred to it as music that stinks to the ear

[Pianoman]

The Miniature Overture, seemingly so innocent and gentle an introduction, is actually a violinist's graveyard. It's one of the most difficult works in the repertoire, being so quiet and exposed and just bloody awkward. I used to practice this every day when I played in a ballet orchestra and never really felt satisfied. If one listens carefully enough, even the very top orchestras have their insecure moments.

That’s interesting as it’s that lovely little overture that does seem to be the most scrappily played on many recordings, including some big names bands!

[Keraulophone]

...and he cracked it twice, once with the LSO, and later following his move with the RPO. Both are very good!

Mark Pullinger is rather disparaging about Previn’s LSO recording: “disappointed...stolid opening...dutifully paced rather than shot through with drama and is just a bit deliberate...uninspiring.” But he does like the harp cadenza at start of the Waltz of the Flowers, and “the pas de deux reaches an explosive climax” after the “stolid opening”.

I can remember this being among the top recommendations when first issued, but it can’t compete with today’s much stronger field. Mr P doesn’t discuss Previn’s RPO version, though he mentions “the RPO’s finest Nutcracker comes on its own label under ballet specialist David Maninov, recorded in 1995, shortly before his death... a very enjoyable account.”

[BBMmk2]

Mark Pullinger is rather disparaging about Previn’s LSO recording: “disappointed...stolid opening...dutifully paced rather than shot through with drama and is just a bit deliberate...uninspiring.” But he does like the harp cadenza at start of the Waltz of the Flowers, and “the pas de deux reaches an explosive climax” after the “stolid opening”.

I can remember this being among the top recommendations when first issued, but it can’t compete with today’s much stronger field. Mr P doesn’t discuss Previn’s RPO version, though he mentions “the RPO’s finest Nutcracker comes on its own label under ballet specialist David Maninov, recorded in 1995, shortly before his death... a very enjoyable account.”

I cant see how? It's one of the best!

[mahlerei]

While I once adored the Previn/LSO recording, I must agree with Mark about its now apparent shortcomings. Not only that, I found the CD transfer rather fatiguing. (I gather there was a high-res download at some point, but not sure if it's still available.) Didn't care for his RPO remake, though - didn't it have a ghastly side break? Listened to quite a few versions in recent years, and Mackerras/LSO (Telarc) is still hard to beat. Lanchbery is pretty good - all three of his Tchaikovsky ballets can be had for about a tenner from Qobuz - and so is Dutoit/OSM. Jarvi and Kitaienko very dull, IMO. However, for something different, may I recommend pianist Stewart Goodyear's sensational performance of his own transcription? Engineered by the top-notch Sono Luminus team for Steinway, it's one of my Recordings of the Year.

[Barbirollians]

While I once adored the Previn/LSO recording, I must agree with Mark about its now apparent shortcomings. Not only that, I found the CD transfer rather fatiguing. (I gather there was a high-res download at some point, but not sure if it's still available.) Didn't care for his RPO remake, though - didn't it have a ghastly side break? Listened to quite a few versions in recent years, and Mackerras/LSO (Telarc) is still hard to beat. Lanchbery is pretty good - all three of his Tchaikovsky ballets can be had for about a tenner from Qobuz - and so is Dutoit/OSM. Jarvi and Kitaienko very dull, IMO. However, for something different, may I recommend pianist Stewart Goodyear's sensational performance of his own transcription? Engineered by the top-notch Sono Luminus team for Steinway, it's one of my Recordings of the Year.

I remain loyal to the Previn I don't hear what IGI heard in it at all .

Then again these works are very subjective I found the much raved about BAL winning Svetlanov Swan Lake not a patch on the Previn let alone the Monteux Swan Lake highlights disc.

[Pulcinella]

I've heard many fine things about the Ermler/ROH version. I must listen to it some time!....

Extended extracts of the ROH/Ermler Swan Lake and Nutcracker appeared on this early BBC MM CD, cheap used copies of which are still available (but the whole Nutcracker is not very expensive!).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-Extended-suites-Nutcracker-Orchestra/dp/B00BHMFL9U/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1512831900&sr=1-7&keywords=Nutcracker+ermler