This is another of
Telarc’s successful reissues of discs
previously issued at full price. Sir
Charles Mackerras is a well known Tchaikovskian,
as well as being a superb ballet conductor,
and so he is well equipped to direct
these suites from two of Tchaikovsky’s
three full-length ballets.
The Royal Philharmonic
was on good form when these recordings
were made. So with Telarc’s superb recording
quality, this is a release that deserves
to do well, except for one factor. Whilst
not long enough for the complete suite,
there is sufficient space left on the
disc to include a suite from the Nutcracker,
which would bring the present release
into direct competition with a number
of competitive discs. Alternatively,
more music from either of the current
two ballets could have been included;
probably not practicable because they
were not recorded at the time. The current
disc’s content is therefore relatively
poor value for money. It is not as though
the company couldn’t have included the
Nutcracker, as they recorded the complete
ballet in 1986 with Sir Charles, this
time with the London Symphony Orchestra.
I am afraid that Telarc have missed
an opportunity here. As the company
is re-releasing earlier recordings,
often combining two discs onto one,
this is even more surprising.
The disc is also strangely
balanced, with 25 minutes of Sleeping
Beauty followed by 41 minutes of Swan
Lake. Just under 40 minutes from each
ballet would have been feasible. The
main highlights of Sleeping Beauty are
there, with the Introduction, Rose Adagio,
Puss in Boots and the White Cat, the
Panorama, Waltz, The Three Ivans Act
III, No. 28, and the Polacca from Act
III, No. 22.
When we reach Swan
Lake, the selection is much greater
– the Waltz from Act 1, No. 2, Scene
Act II, No 10, Dance of the Swans Act
II, No.13, Parts 1 – 4, the Pas de Deux,
Act 1, No. 5, Parts 1, 2 and 4, the
Hungarian Dance Act III, No. 20, and
Nos. 28 and 29 from Act IV, the finale
to the ballet.
The other strange thing
about this release - which I am quite
prepared to accept - is that the disc
front, and sleeve-notes list Sleeping
Beauty followed by Swan Lake, whereas
on the disc itself Swan Lake is first.
The track listing however is correct.
We are treated to the
usual sonic feast of a typical Telarc
release: extreme clarity, full bass
and very low background. There is the
usual caution that some playback equipment
will have problems dealing with the
extremes of the dynamic range and a
warning that loudspeakers are in potential
danger of damage. These recordings have,
by and large, always been the same –
digital recording and editing techniques
throughout the entire process, without
the use of transformers. This means
that the dynamic range of the original
performance is maintained, whatever
the final effect on the disc.
The performances of
both suites are fine, except for the
smallest sense of sleepiness which creeps
in every once in a while. Specific examples
are the Panorama (Sleeping Beauty),
the Scene Act II, No. 10, parts of the
Dance of the Swans, Act II No. 13, parts
of the Pas de Deux, but by the time
the finale is reached, conductor and
orchestra are thrillingly in synch.
Recommended, with reservations,
primarily over the playing time, rather
than the performances or recordings.
John Phillips
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
