Tchaikovsky wrote this ballet in 1877 before
Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker and during the bright period
of his life before the guilt associated with his latent homosexuality
had manifested itself. Despite a disappointing first performance the
score is now seen as one of Tchaikovsky's best. It is lively, never
short of thematic material, and always uses all sections of an orchestra
imaginatively.
A number of good recordings already exist and one is
perhaps surprised that Naxos has joined their number at such a late
stage. However, it is more with their interest to add to an established
children's series that already offers Peter and the Wolf, Carnival
of the Animals, Nutcracker and 1001 Nights (Rimsky-Korsakov),
each narrated by a known name. Perhaps Hansel and Gretel will
be next.
Of course this recording is not a complete reading
of the score, but it does include the nicest highlights.
The tracking is related to the passages of narration
rather than the music and for me it would have brought more flexibility
of use by keying the musical numbers as well (making an acceptable 32
tracks in all). [This disc would have provided an ideal opportunity
to utilise that Index sub-tracking system that has now faded from CD
mastering.]
The recording is fresh-sounding in an airy acoustic
– the orchestra being on good form and responsive to Lenárd's
enthusiastic reading of the score. Angela Rippon's concise narration
is dynamically conveyed with interest as one might expect from this
lover of ballet. (Presumably she wrote the notes as no credit is given
in this respect.)
I am disappointed in the packaging of this CD. Despite
an attractive picture that also provides a case background, the cover
carries an English title and narrator's name yet gives Tchaikovsky's
forenames in Russian with anglicised surname, which you may consider
hardly helpful to children. Also, disappointingly the cover does not
give the usual credit for orchestra and conductor who really contributed
more to the realisation of this disc than a narrator. The inlay shows
that the disc was recorded at a studio in London and only gives credit
to British names. I cannot believe that Naxos have trundled the Czech
orchestra to London for this recording yet no other information is provided.
Naxos has always had a very good name in CD production,
but so have the Czech orchestras that have produced many of Naxos's
recordings. So this fairly unknown conductor in the West could have
been given more publicity: surely a photo of him in place of the two
(same) photos of Angela Rippon could have been expected.
Raymond Walker
Narr. Angela Rippon