“The pas de deux is an essential element of classical
ballet: the moment when the principal couple’s relationship
finds expression in an extended dance. This collection explores
the rich diversity of pas de deux: in the great central works
such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet or Giselle; in showpieces
such as Le Corsaire, La Bayadère or Les Sylphides; in
hidden treasures by relatively little-known composers, or in
sparkling adaptations of Johann Strauss and Verdi.”
[Brief note on the reverse of the CD.]
Well, that just about sums up this generously filled double
disc set, choc-full, as you’d expect, with glorious melodies
ranging from the swooningly romantic to the irresistibly foot-tapping.
As we see more and more ballet DVDs coming onto the market,
dance aficionados will often prefer, quite understandably,
to watch their favourite performances as well as listening to
the scores. But compilations like this one are still undeniably
useful, whether as offering pleasant and undemanding music for
the house, the car or the beach, or for listeners who enjoy
the tunes without necessarily having an appreciation of ballet
technique itself.
The performances are of a uniformly very high standard and,
thanks to some judicious digital re-mastering, show few, if
any, signs of their age. The musicians of the London Festival
Ballet Orchestra were well versed in this repertoire and, under
Terence Kern’s highly idiomatic direction, turn in hugely
enjoyable accounts of Le Corsaire and Giselle.
But while none of the other featured orchestras were specialist
ballet ensembles, all are equally up to the mark. It naturally
helps that several of the conductors - Irving, Lanchbery and
Wordsworth - were figures closely associated with the world
of ballet. Having been rather dismissive of the Elizabethan
Trust Melbourne Orchestra in other releases in this EMI ballet
mini-series, I am pleased to note that their (brief) contribution
here is one that avoids any crude coarsening of Minkus’s
colourful score.
In spite of the post-war revival of interest in the ballets
of the great 19th century Danish ballet master August
Bournonville and in Ludwig Minkus, Ballet Composer of the St
Petersburg Imperial Theatres from 1871 until 1886, and his circle,
the works on the first disc may well be unfamiliar to many listeners.
On the other hand, Tchaikovsky’s ubiquitous scores, probably
the sum total of ballet music known to the man in the street,
are the major feature of the second CD. André Previn’s
1970 recordings are preferred for Sleeping Beauty and
The Nutcracker but his Swan Lake, which featured,
if I recall aright, no less than Ida Haendel as the solo violinist,
has been displaced by the Philharmonia Orchestra’s version
directed by John Lanchbery (who also conducts Kurt-Heinz Stolze’s
confection Onegin - a ballet). Previn returns, however,
with distinctive accounts of two Prokofiev masterpieces that
may encourage anyone who loves his Romeo and Juliet to
go on to explore the attractive score to Cinderella.
With two atmospheric and idiomatic performances from the late
Sir Charles Mackerras rounding off the disc with aplomb, this
set offers more than 2½ hours of music that passes by
in, you’d swear, less than half the time and provides
a great deal of pleasure.
One brief word of caution, however ... If you’ve been
collecting the other releases in this continuing EMI ballet
series, you’ll already know that there is considerable
duplication between discs. Do, therefore, check the contents
with appropriate care before you buy.
Rob Maynard
Performance details
London Festival Ballet Orchestra/Terence Kern (Le Corsaire
and Giselle)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Robert Irving (Don Quixote
Act 3)
Sydney Symphony Orchestra/John Lanchbery (La Bayadère
and Onegin)
Elizabethan Trust Melbourne Orchestra/John Lanchbery (Don
Quixote Act 1)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth (La
fille mal gardée )
Bournemouth Symphoiny Orchestra/John Lanchbery (The two pigeons)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Robert Irving (Les Sylphides)
Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra/Ole Schmidt (The kermesse
in Bruges and Flower festival at Genzano)
Philharmonia Orchestra/John Lanchbery (Swan Lake)
London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn (Sleeping Beauty,The
Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras (Graduation
ball)
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras (The
lady and the fool)
rec. details not given
EMI CLASSICS 6486352 [77:21 + 78:14] 
