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Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet |  | Artists: Valery Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra and Choir, Tchaikovsky
Label: Philips
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $9.78
as of 11/27/2009 20:47 CST details
You Save: $7.20 (42%)
New (27) Used (13) from $8.46
Seller: moviemars
Rating:  80 reviews
Sales Rank: 831
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 462114
UPC: 028946211427
EAN: 0028946211427
ASIN: B00000A1GL
Release Date: October 20, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Overture | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 1. The Christmas Tree | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 2. March | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 3. Galop and Dance of the Parents | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 4. Dance Scene - The Presents of Drosselmeyer | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 5. Scene - Grandfather Dance | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 6. Clara and the Nutcracker | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 7. The Nutcracker battles against the Army of the Mouse King - He wins and is | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 2. No. 8. In the Christmas Tree | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Tableau 2. No. 9. Scene and Waltz of the Snowflakes | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 10. The Magic Castle on the Mountain of Sweets | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 11. Clara and Prince Charming | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): a. Chocolate (Spanish Dance) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): b. Coffee (Arabian Dance) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): c. Tea (Chinese Dance) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): d. Trépak (Russian Dance) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): e. Dance of the Reed Pipes | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): f. Polichinelle (The Clown) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 13. Waltz of the Flowers | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: a. Intrada | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: b. Variation I (Tarantella) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: c. Variation II. (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy) | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: d. Coda | | • | Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 15. Closing Waltz - Grand Finale |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Although Gergiev is highly experienced in the theater, and he is leading an opera-ballet orchestra, this is definitely a concert Nutcracker. Tempos are brisk, textures streamlined, and dancers might have a good deal of difficulty keeping up with the music. For us home listeners, though, this is a superb way to hear Tchaikovsky's complete score and to remind ourselves of how much good music isn't included in the familiar suite. Gergiev justifies his reputation as an interpreter and as an orchestra leader, getting amazingly precise playing from the ensemble. Best of all, Philips has somehow crammed more than 81 minutes of superb sound onto this disc, making it a remarkable bargain. Very highly recommended! --Leslie Gerber
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 80
 Beautifully recorded single-disc Nutcracker October 14, 2009
John O'Neill (Alpharetta, GA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a fabulous sounding CD with sparkling clarity and detail in the instruments. Also, for the most part the playing is sumptuous, rich sounding, and beautifully captured. As for the complaints about the pacing of this "concert" Nutcracker, it isn't really as fast as I had thought it would be based upon the other reviews. My favorite recording is still the early '70s version with Andre Previn leading the London Symphony Orchestra and for many of the selections, especially the divertissement of the second act, the timing here comes in within seconds of the Previn. The faster pacing does not always work to the benefit of the music, such as on the "The Christmas Tree" which is delightful music and loses some of its charm and "Clara and the Nutcracker" which is supposed to start as a lullaby yet doesn't sound like one at this speed. But apart from a few exceptions the tempos are not a major concern for me.
There does seem to be some problems with balance as well. The flutes on the "Dance of the Reed Pipes" sound a bit harsh in some spots as does the brass during the "Battle", as others have mentioned. And where are the supporting strings during the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"? They should be there but the celesta is so forward in the mix that it dominates everything.
Again, for the most part, the sound is incredible and the playing is beautiful even if there are a few rough spots in the pacing and balance. If you are looking for a complete Nutcracker on one CD then this is currently your only option. (Although EMI/Seraphim offers a dynamite single CD of "highlights" which captures the bulk of the complete ballet in an incredible performance with John Lanchbery conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra for only $6.98.) Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Highlights)
If you're looking for a complete performance of the Nutcracker this disc certainly has much to recommend. My 1st choise still is the LSO/Previn performance which is available on a 2-disc EMI Classics for Pleasure set at Amazon for around $12.00 and includes as bonus tracks Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, March Slave, and Romeo and Juliet PLUS 7 selections from Prokofiev's "Cinderella". Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker; Prokofiev: Cinderella
My 2nd choice would be the Antal Dorati recording with the Concertgebuow Orchestra on a Philips DUO set with 15 selections from "Sleeping Beauty" as "filler". Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Complete); The Sleeping Beauty (Highlights)
 Crisp, clean, lively, tastefully aggressive December 27, 2008
David Scott Phipps (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX USA)
I have never heard a Nutcracker that was done more tastefully than this one. The faster tempos that some here complain about (I suspect simply because it's just not what they're 'accustomed' to) lend it an energy and drive that I have never heard before. As for being too fast for dancers, who cares? I wasn't planning on hiring a dance troupe to perform in my living room anyway.
It sounds terrific. Excellent recorded sound, just forward enough to give it a very clear presence, but there's plenty of bloom for the loud passages to resonate nicely. The playing is impeccably clean, uniquely so in my experience with Russian orchestras. The quality of sound from the winds is surprisingly refined and characteristic as well. In short, this would be an excellent recording even if it was a standard two-disc set, but the one-disc factor puts it at the top of my list. Highly recommended.
 typical Gergiev recording December 26, 2008
Chris L
6 out of 12 found this review helpful
Gergiev, regardless of his abilities in conducting live performances of Ballet, Opera, or Orchestral concerts, is a willing tool of The System.
Philips want "Nutcracker" on a single CD - Gergiev will give it to them, and here, as with the other of Tchaikovsky's ballets he recorded to fit on a single CD, he plays it fast.
What does he care - he knows most buyers have not been to a Kirov Ballet performance, but many do watch Sport, and that is usually FAST, as is most Dance Pop Music and Disco.
In the modern world most people relate skill to speed, thus if this is how you want to hear it, you've got it ...
At least he doesn't completely ruin the dynamic range, as he does in some of his other Tchaikovsy recordings, but with so little nuance in the rhythmic expression here the loud/soft delineations are not sufficient to save this performance.
If you want to hear the actual Music of this ballet try to find another Russian recording, or at least one of Andre Previn's two of this work, or buy a DVD of a live performance as there the music will have to be played well enough for the dancers to be able to perform the work.
Tchaikovsky attended ballet performances before he composed any ballet music. He composed ballet music that was able to be danced to, and when performed as such the music tells the story.
"Nutcracker" is not the "Sabre Dance" - give it a chance with another recording, you might be surprised.
Gergiev is famous because he knows The System and he plays The Game -
remember, he worked his way up during the Soviet Union period.
He is a product of it. He was not there before it like the older conductors, and he is not a revolutionary who tried to resist it like a few of the younger conductors have.
Do you want to be taken to places you have not yet been by genuine performances of music ? ,
or do you want to be manipulated or condescended to ?
No hesitation here... get it December 18, 2008
Eric (Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I agree with all the other reviewers. This is a masterful recording. almost perfect, a great achievement.
The orchestra is somptuous, one of the rare ones that gives me shivers
throughout. All of Tchaikovsky's palette is fantastically rendered. The tempi are perfect, bordering on the fast. Witness this fast Trepak... wow...
The only thing missing here is the dancers of course. But as a listening-only experience it is very rewarding. So, just get it.
The Perfect Nutcracker Music December 17, 2008
Tracey Rollison
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the music used by the Indiana Ballet Company, with its direct ties to the Kirov through its artistic director, dancers and school. They slow it down just a hair to make it more danceable.
Who better to provide music for the Nutcracker than the very orchestra for the very theatre in which it was first presented? Indiana Ballet Company uses the earliest surviving choreography and until I found this album, I didn't realize that they also use music from the Kirov's orchestra as well!
Used as such, this is bright, with all the nuances, and exactly perfect with the nearly original choreography. It's evident that Gergiev has the kind of understanding of the music that only someone intimately familiar with the original ballet could have.
Because I've seen this excellent company perform this ballet 6 times to this album, this will forever be the perfect Nutcracker recording to me.
If in doubt, you can see the IBC performing to this music on Youtube.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 80
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