Search - Ottorino Respighi, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Gioacchino Rossini :: Tchaikovsky: Excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66; Rossini-Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque (The Magic Toy Shop)

Excellent

D. Dubei | New York, NY | 06/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tchaikovsky did not like his music. for the most part, he hated what came out, except for this. his favorite piece that he composed was the Sleeping Beauty and it shows why. this is an excellent recording, especially of one of my favorite parts, the Pas D'agio."

Orchestral Playing of the highest order

HB | Fort Mill, SC | 03/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the 1960's, there were two orchestras that played with incredible virtuosity, Cleveland and Philadelphia. This recording, from Philly, is a prime example of that virtuosity. The playing on this CD is magnificent, as close to orchestral perfection as you will ever hear. If you want the very best parts of Sleeping Beauty without the entire ballet score, this is the recording to get. As a bonus, there is also a wonderful suite by Resphighi based on the music of Rossini."

2 popular ballets, 1 nifty package

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 07/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A large part of what makes the ballet an aesthetically pleasing art form is the music, and here on one CD, we have 2 pieces that are separated by 3 decades, but thought to be historically connected.
Produced in 1890, Tchaikovsky's "The Sleeping Beauty" was the second of his three great ballet scores, and his most successful, as "Swan Lake" was a failure when it was premiered, and "The Nutcracker" received a mixed reception. All three have similarities: The gorgeous, lush melodies, the beautiful waltzes, the sumptuous, romantic Pas de Deux; it is some of Tchaikovsky's finest and most readily accessible music, and always a joy to listen to.It is said that "The Sleeping Beauty" was the first ballet the grand impresario Diaghilev ever saw, inspiring him to eventually form the Ballets Russes, and in 1919, he commissioned Ottorino Respighi to do "La Boutique Fantasque"; Respighi took several of Rossini's themes, to form this wonderful score, with its sparkling "Tarantella" and exquisite, slow "Nocturne: Andantino". Eugene Ormandy, who led the Philadelphia Orchestra for 42 years, had a flair for ballet music, and I always thought he brought the classic scores to life better than anyone else. Though this recording is over 20 years old, it has been remastered, and the sound, though not perfect, is good. Total time is 75:50."