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Music from the Bournonville Repertory: A Treasure!

ATP | Santa Monica, CA United States | 10/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Given the low price on this double album, you may be tempted to dismiss it as just another jumble of ballet excerpts. Don't! This is music from the Royal Danish Ballet repertory, including some Bournonville standards. With the exception of La Sylphide, the Bournonville music is very difficult to find. With this album you'll add to your collection two short ballets and key variations from three others.
The complete ballets are La Sonnambula (sometimes called Night Shadow, as it is here, to avoid confusion with the opera) and Czerny's Etudes. The variations are from Flower Festival in Genzano, Napoli, and the Drigo interpolations used in Le Corsaire.
Napoli is perhaps the most intriguing. This is not just of antiquarian interest: the School of American Ballet included the Napoli variations in its Spring Gala this year. The recording includes ten variations (about 15 minutes of music), most of them lively and fast-paced. But the music has 19th-century richness and authority, as well. I've never found another recording of the Napoli music.
What I like best about La Sonnambula is the haunting sleepwalker's variation; many years ago I saw New York City Ballet's Suzanne Farrell dance it in a workshop, moving as though hypnotized. The excerpt from Flower Festival in Genzano is simply charming. Czerny's Etudes were new to me; there are 26 in all. According to Balanchine's "Complete Stories of the Great Ballets," the ballet shows the growth of the dancer from the beginner to the advanced. Accordingly the early variations are moderato and andante, while the later music is vivace and allegretto.
This isn't music you're likely to find elsewhere, so don't miss the opportunity!"

Now I know a little more . . .

ATP | Santa Monica, CA United States | 05/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my enthusiasm for this CD set, I initially made the mistake of equating the Royal Danish repertory with Bournonville. This is like equating the New York City Ballet repertory with Balanchine. August Bournonville created the signature dances for the Royal Danish Ballet, but not the entire repertory.
The Bournonville pieces on this album are Napoli and the pas de deux from Flower Festival in Genzano.
You can find the Flower Festival pas de deux on some other recordings, notably those conducted by Bonynge, but I've never found a better source for Napoli."

I was blown away by the unusual repertoire!!

ATP | 05/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Considering the price and label, I expected to find selections from Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty and all the other ballet "favorites." I was amazed, however, by the unusual and beautiful music presented on this super budget 2 cd set. Not only is the music hard to find, it is performed so whole heartedly and strongly. Snatch this up right away before it falls victim to the deletions ax. Considering Amazon's modest price (three dollars and thirteen and a half cents per cd) you should not hesitate in buying this gem!!!!"