MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2024
60,000 reviews
... and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             


CD REVIEW

Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger


alternatively AmazonUK  

Sir Arthur SULLIVAN (1842-1900)
Pineapple Poll
Ballet Suite (arr. Sir Charles Mackerras, 1951) [29:53]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901) The Lady and the Fool Ballet Suite (arr. Mackerras, 1954) [29:58]
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras
rec. Henry Wood Hall, Southwark, March 1977
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 3932312 [60:01]



Sullivan died in 1900, and his music therefore became free of copyright restrictions in 1950. This meant that the young Charles Mackerras could suggest to the choreographer John Cranko that it be used for a ballet whose scenario should be based on one of W.S. Gilbert’s “Bab Ballads”. Its success was justified, and the score has remained a great favourite ever since. Mackerras himself has recorded at least three complete versions - with the Sadlers Wells, Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia orchestras - which have come and gone regularly in the catalogue. In addition other recordings are available of various suites, including arrangements for wind and brass bands, and, even less likely, for pianola (by Rex Lawson). The present recording was part of series sponsored by Messrs W.D. & H.O. Wills and comprises about two-thirds of the ballet, omitting four of the twelve sections: Poll and Jasper’s solos in Scenes 1 and 2 respectively, Poll’s solo in Scene 3, and the Entry of Belaye with Blanche as his bride. Whilst for the enthusiast these cuts are likely to be unforgivable, the music which is left may be too much for the general listener, so that this version falls firmly between two stools. This is a great pity as the performance and recording are both very satisfactory, with Mackerras showing no signs of routine or boredom with his lively and inventive arrangements.

The Lady and the Fool followed in 1954, with the same choreographer and arranger but this time with music selected from Verdi’s early operas which at that time were rarely heard outside Italy. However, much as I love both those operas and admire the ingenuity of the arrangements, I find the result far less memorable or interesting. This is largely due to the change of character necessarily imposed on the music extracted. Whereas with Sullivan Mackerras is all the time cunningly to be bringing out the implications of what is there already, with Verdi he seems to be turning it into a wholly different kind of work. I accept, however, that others may not share this view, and certainly the results are always worth hearing, especially when performed with such panache and sensitivity. Again, as with Pineapple Poll, there are extensive cuts, and, again, Mackerras has recorded the whole score - with the Philharmonia, last available on Testament. It is a pity that nothing has been done to fill in the gaps in either ballet or to provide better value by adding other pieces. Nonetheless, given the quality of the performances and recording, and the full and helpful notes, this remains a worthwhile purchase – but don’t be surprised if having listened to it you want to go out and buy a complete version of the ballets.

John Sheppard



 


Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing

 

 

Return to Review Index

Untitled Document


Reviews from previous months
Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details
We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.