Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Francis Poulenc, Benjamin Britten :: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf

A pleasant surprise

aplord | Australia | 07/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many years ago I remember hearing another friend of Barry Humphries', Sir Les Paterson, narrate a piece entitled Peter and the Shark, which climaxed, as I recall, with a platypus receiving a "noah's ark up his blurter". (And if you're not an Australian, or au fait with the Australian vernacular, I suspect that the platypus's plight will remain a mystery to you) So I approached the notion of Dame Edna Everage narrating "Peter and the Wolf" with some trepidation. Some terrible things have been done to the work over the years in the name of "relevance" and I wasn't sure that this wouldn't be yet another jokey updating. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the great lady plays the whole thing remarkably straight. Apart from a "Hello possums!" at the beginning, Dame Edna narrates the work as if she's your favourite aunt, who probably smelt of lavender and perhaps a little splash of brandy. My two year old and four year old children enjoyed the work very much. I also had the old Cyril Pritchard / Eugene Ormandy version, but they both prefer the Grande Dame. As Dame Edna herself says in the notes, Barry Humphries tries very hard in the Poulenc and he aquits himself with great style and taste. And how good it is to find another work for children. The Blessed Trinity of Saint-Sains / Britten / Prokofiev is getting to be a bit of a cliche. The Melbourne Symphony (and as an Adelaide resident it pains me to say this) plays very well indeed. My son is a big fan of the tympanist in Peter and the wolf. Their performance of the Britten Guide to the Orchestra is particularly fine. Here again, Dame Edna's narration is well judged. A very good performance of three delightful works. A CD full of charm and a great favourite in our household. And could I take this opportunity to point out to the reviewer who felt a need to warn the world that Dame Edna is a "female impersonator": Not so - she is the doyenne of style - the arbitrix of taste here in Australia. Far from being a impersonator of females, she is the woman females impersonate."

Well Above Everage recording and performances

Gontroppo | Bathurst, NSW Australia | 06/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You have to be bold to make yet another recording of Peter and the Wolf, after so many previous successful efforts.This is one of the very best, I think. I loved the now deleted Paul Hogan version because of his use of Australianisms,but the orchestra was not outstanding. Barry Humphries has been paired with a terrific Australian conductor and orchestra, and has sensibly narrated something other than the usual Carnival of the Animals, though he did observe tradition by narrating the Britten Young Person's Guide. The Dame Edna narration and orchestral playing in Peter and the Wolf are very enjoyable.Humphries drops his persona for the lovely Poulenc work, and tells the story tenderly. Highly recommended."

Good all around recording

Brett A. Kniess | Madison, WI | 04/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD will be a good buy whether you are buying it for the music or for entertaining your children. Dame Edna is very amusing (in her own right) and is probably the best narrator of any recording on Young Person's Guide, and again, very amusing on Peter and the Wolf.



The orchestra on this recording (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) is amazingly wonderful. They play as full, brilliant, and tightly as any well known symphony orchestra. The brass section is marvelous, the strings are lush, and the woodwinds play sprightly. This recording is a musically superior recording. An added plus is the Poulenc Babar (very rare recording) with unusual Poulenc harmonies.



This CD is wonderful for all ages."