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Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet | 
 enlarge | Artists: Valery Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra And Choir, Tchaikovsky
Label: Philips
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $12.99
You Save: $3.99 (23%)
New (23) Used (8) from $10.08
Rating:  80 reviews
Sales Rank: 1541
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 462114
UPC: 028946211427
EAN: 0028946211427
ASIN: B00000A1GL
Release Date: October 20, 1998
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 9 to 13 days
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| Tracks:
| • | Overture | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 1. The Christmas Tree | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 2. March | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 3. Galop and Dance of the Parents | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 4. Dance Scene - The Presents of Drosselmeyer | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 5. Scene - Grandfather Dance | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 6. Clara and the Nutcracker | | • | Act 1. Tableau 1. No. 7. The Nutcracker battles against the Army of the Mouse King - He wins and is | | • | Act 1. Tableau 2. No. 8. In the Christmas Tree | | • | Act 1. Tableau 2. No. 9. Scene and Waltz of the Snowflakes | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 10. The Magic Castle on the Mountain of Sweets | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 11. Clara and Prince Charming | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): a. Chocolate (Spanish Dance) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): b. Coffee (Arabian Dance) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): c. Tea (Chinese Dance) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): d. Trepak (Russian Dance) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): e. Dance of the Reed Pipes | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 12. Character Dances (Divertissement): f. Polichinelle (The Clown) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 13. Waltz of the Flowers | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: a. Intrada | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: b. Variation I (Tarantella) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: c. Variation II. (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy) | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 14. Pas de deux: d. Coda | | • | Act 2. Tableau 3. No. 15. Closing Waltz - Grand Finale |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Although Gergiev is highly experienced in the theater, and he is leading an opera-ballet orchestra, this is definitely a concert Nutcracker. Tempos are brisk, textures streamlined, and dancers might have a good deal of difficulty keeping up with the music. For us home listeners, though, this is a superb way to hear Tchaikovsky's complete score and to remind ourselves of how much good music isn't included in the familiar suite. Gergiev justifies his reputation as an interpreter and as an orchestra leader, getting amazingly precise playing from the ensemble. Best of all, Philips has somehow crammed more than 81 minutes of superb sound onto this disc, making it a remarkable bargain. Very highly recommended! --Leslie Gerber
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| Customer Reviews: Read 75 more reviews...
 Crisp, clean, lively, tastefully aggressive December 27, 2008
I have never heard a Nutcracker that was done more tastefully than this one. The faster tempos that some here complain about (I suspect simply because it's just not what they're 'accustomed' to) lend it an energy and drive that I have never heard before. As for being too fast for dancers, who cares? I wasn't planning on hiring a dance troupe to perform in my living room anyway.
It sounds terrific. Excellent recorded sound, just forward enough to give it a very clear presence, but there's plenty of bloom for the loud passages to resonate nicely. The playing is impeccably clean, uniquely so in my experience with Russian orchestras. The quality of sound from the winds is surprisingly refined and characteristic as well. In short, this would be an excellent recording even if it was a standard two-disc set, but the one-disc factor puts it at the top of my list. Highly recommended.
 typical Gergiev recording December 26, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Gergiev, regardless of his abilities in conducting live performances of Ballet, Opera, or Orchestral concerts, is a willing tool of The System.
Philips want "Nutcracker" on a single CD - Gergiev will give it to them, and here, as with the other of Tchaikovsky's ballets he recorded to fit on a single CD, he plays it fast.
What does he care - he knows most buyers have not been to a Kirov Ballet performance, but many do watch Sport, and that is usually FAST, as is most Dance Pop Music and Disco.
In the modern world most people relate skill to speed, thus if this is how you want to hear it, you've got it ...
At least he doesn't completely ruin the dynamic range, as he does in some of his other Tchaikovsy recordings, but with so little nuance in the rhythmic expression here the loud/soft delineations are not sufficient to save this performance.
If you want to hear the actual Music of this ballet try to find another Russian recording, or at least one of Andre Previn's two of this work, or buy a DVD of a live performance as there the music will have to be played well enough for the dancers to be able to perform the work.
Tchaikovsky attended ballet performances before he composed any ballet music. He composed ballet music that was able to be danced to, and when performed as such the music tells the story.
"Nutcracker" is not the "Sabre Dance" - give it a chance with another recording, you might be surprised.
Gergiev is famous because he knows The System and he plays The Game -
remember, he worked his way up during the Soviet Union period.
He is a product of it. He was not there before it like the older conductors, and he is not a revolutionary who tried to resist it like a few of the younger conductors have.
Do you want to be taken to places you have not yet been by genuine performances of music ? ,
or do you want to be manipulated or condescended to ?
No hesitation here... get it December 18, 2008
I agree with all the other reviewers. This is a masterful recording. almost perfect, a great achievement.
The orchestra is somptuous, one of the rare ones that gives me shivers
throughout. All of Tchaikovsky's palette is fantastically rendered. The tempi are perfect, bordering on the fast. Witness this fast Trepak... wow...
The only thing missing here is the dancers of course. But as a listening-only experience it is very rewarding. So, just get it.
The Perfect Nutcracker Music December 17, 2008
This is the music used by the Indiana Ballet Company, with its direct ties to the Kirov through its artistic director, dancers and school. They slow it down just a hair to make it more danceable.
Who better to provide music for the Nutcracker than the very orchestra for the very theatre in which it was first presented? Indiana Ballet Company uses the earliest surviving choreography and until I found this album, I didn't realize that they also use music from the Kirov's orchestra as well!
Used as such, this is bright, with all the nuances, and exactly perfect with the nearly original choreography. It's evident that Gergiev has the kind of understanding of the music that only someone intimately familiar with the original ballet could have.
Because I've seen this excellent company perform this ballet 6 times to this album, this will forever be the perfect Nutcracker recording to me.
If in doubt, you can see the IBC performing to this music on Youtube.
Beautiful December 17, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was so impressed by the ballet that I immediately decided to buy the cd and I don't regret it at all. The music is beautiful and never bores!
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