Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Yuri Temirkanov, Yuri Termirkanov :: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (complete on 2 CDs)--Temirkanov/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

A personal interpretation, but not a must

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Temirkanov's live performance of the Nutcracker Suite on Chandos was so exciting that I rushed to get his complete ballet performance. RCA must have lost faith since this set is out of print, and there's no doubt, with its often slow tempi and moody understatement, that this Nutcracker wouldn't be popular, particularly not with kids.

But the recording is warm and natural, and Temirkanov has lots of ideas--this performance is the opposite of the zippy, superficial Gergiev, which rushes by. If you are looking for a highly indiviudla Nutrcracker, played as "serious" ballet a la Mravinsky (Temirkanov's predecessor in St. Petersburg), I think you will enjoy this performance, which holds many musial rewards."