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Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Peter and the Wolf - A Musical Tale for Children
Op.67 (1936) [28:02]
(Introduction [2:12]; Early one morning ... [1:01]; On
a branch of a big tree [1:31]; Just then, a duck
came waddling round [2:15]; Suddenly, something caught Peter's
attention [1:55]; Grandfather came out [2:26]; No
sooner had Peter gone [3:07]; And now, this is how things
stood [4:11]; Meanwhile, Peter made a lasso [1:53]) Just then . . . [2:28]; And now . . . imagine the
triumphant procession! [4:58]) Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra- Variations
and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell Op. 34 (1946) [19:48]
(Spoken introduction [0:59]; Theme (Allegro maestoso e largamente) [0:26]; Woodwind [0:22]; Brass [0:22]; Strings [0:24]; Percussion [0:25]; Full
Orchestra [0:20]; Flutes and piccolo [0:32]; Oboes (Lento) [1:12]; Clarinets
(Moderate) [0:45]; Bassoons (Allegro alia marcia) [0:59]; Violins
(Brillante: alia polacca) [0:53]; Violas (Meno mosso) [1:09]; Cellos [1:24]; Double
basses [1:00]; Harp (Maestoso) [0:49]; Horns (L'istesso tempo) [0:54]; Trumpets
(Vivace) [0:33]; Trombones and bass tuba (allegro pomposo) [1:09]; Percussion
(Moderato) [1:51]; Fugue (allegro molto) [3:15])
Richard
Baker (speaker)
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Raymond Leppard Alan
RAWSTHORNE (1905-1971) Practical Cats - An Entertainment for speaker
and orchestra (1954) [23:45]
(Overture (Presto) [2:21]; The Naming of Cats
(Allegretto) [2:55]; The Old Gumbie Cat (Allegro) [5:19]; Gus:
the Theatre Cat (Allegro moderate) [4:17]; Bustopher
Jones: the Cat about Town (Andante pomposo) [3:23]; Old
Deuteronomy (Andante teneramente) [4:11]; The Song
of the Jellicles (Molto vivace) [1:17])
Robert Donat
(speaker)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alan Rawsthorne
rec. Kingsway Hall, London, 24, 28-29 Sept 1954 (orchestra),
and No. 3 Studio, Abbey Road (Rawsthorne) and at All Hallows,
Gospel Oak, 27-28 August 1971 (Prokofiev; Britten).ADD CLASSICS
FOR PLEASURE 3822302 [71:52]
This
new release from EMI Classics for Pleasure is comprises three
works written for children. The first, Alan Rawsthorne’s Practical
Cats, was composed in 1954 at the suggestion of the Edinburgh
Festival as an “entertainment” for children, while both Prokofiev’s
much loved Peter and the Wolf and Britten’s Young
Person’s Guide to the Orchestra were composed specifically
to educate children about the instruments in the orchestra.
This
compilation of old EMI tapes opens with the 1957 recording
of Rawsthorne’s Practical Cats, which has long been
a great favourite of mine, given its stunning combination
of excellent orchestral playing and a peerless narration
from Robert Donat. With its scintillating and witty playing
the Philharmonia, conducted by the composer, captures the
alternating playfulness and mystery of these utterly delightful
movements very well indeed. Donat’s distinctive and restrained
manner, deliberate yet softly-spoken enunciation, clarity
of diction and gorgeously old-fashioned narrative style exudes
charm, dignity and nostalgic refinement. He is beautifully
characterful and relays T. S. Eliot’s brilliant poems with
a touchingly tender affection. It is a deeply moving version – the
nobility Donat gives to Bustopher Jones or the poignancy
to Old Deuteronomy is absolutely guaranteed to bring
tears to the eyes of anyone who holds an affection for old
England. Unsurpassable … not that I am aware of any other
versions available at the moment.
The
1971 recordings of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and
Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra are
narrated by Richard Baker. Although the Britten is very good,
with excellent orchestral playing and Baker on good form
- pleasingly instructive and interesting without being condescending
- I was slightly less impressed by the Prokofiev, a version
I have not listened to since about the age of 8! The New
Philharmonia needs a bit more life and spark, as I felt the
performances a little lacking in excitement. The whole wolf,
episode, for example, can be really sinister and frightening – but
not so here. Baker, similarly, is far too “safe” in his narration – with
no particularly special voices or characterisations.
There
are numerous other versions of both of these works. On Cala
we find both works along with the Sorcerer’s Apprentice,
with Ben Kingsley as narrator, and the London Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras (a 1995 recording). Although
Kingsley’s voice is at the same time more gentle and far
more expressive than Baker’s, he seems to put rather strange
emphases on the words … or emphasis on strange words, perhaps!
Although his Grandfather is wonderfully growly - as he should
be! - the bird sounds almost exactly like Wallace from Wallace
and Gromit – rather off-putting! The strange weightings
and stresses on words continue into the Young Person’s
Guide to the Orchestra, and Baker’s version is by far
preferable to Kingsley's – not least on account of the due
reverence and respect with which Baker endues the words (speaking
of Purcell) “great English composer”! The best Peter and
the Wolf I can find is that with good old Michael Flanders
on HMV Classics - Efrem Kurtz conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra
in 1959. Flanders is perfect – getting the combination of
both interest and clarity along with fantastic characterisations,
combining the best aspects of both Baker and Kingsley without
any of their faults. The animals are superb - duck especially,
with its little extra quack! – brilliantly done, yet without
sounding actually silly. The Grandfather doesn’t sound gruff
enough - my one bone of contention. In my mind’s ear, he
should be a deep, low, gruff and grumpy grandfather. That
said, he is still very characterful, ancient and worried-sounding.
This disc also contains a perfectly decent performance of
the Britten with Groves conducting the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra but without a narrator. Another good but unfortunately
narrator-less version can be found on EMI Classics with Rattle
and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1996.
Although
I am slightly hesitant about the Prokofiev on this disc,
the Britten is excellent and the Rawsthorne outstanding.
If you have children, buy this for them! If you don’t, buy
it for yourself. It is worth it for the Rawsthorne alone!
Em Marshall
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