Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) - Sleeping Beauty : Dorati / Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (2CD) - Import 2 CD

Credits:

Robin Dauer

Description:

The best "Sleeping Beauty" Mercury recording by the rising conductor Dorati and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, which has never been released on CD by Mercury, has been reissued on LP by EMI. The performance is a masterpiece that shows the full range of Dorati, who began his conducting career as a ballet conductor. The recording conveys a sense of stage dynamism that is not present in the later, calmer stereo recordings with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. This is the very best "Sleeping Beauty" recording. The famous "Panorama" is also superb. (Ryo Aihara)★Re-listening to this recording, which was groundbreaking for its time in that it contains the entire work, will remind those who heard "Sleeping Beauty" on the Dorati disc of the excitement they felt when they first heard it, while those who are used to hearing the serene performances of recent years will be astonished.For example, in the "Grand Pas de Deux of Princess Aurora and Prince Desiree," the combination of drama and elegance is expressed with great skill by Dorati. In addition, at various points in the recording, one can hear concertmaster Raphael Drouin's wonderful solos, the solo in the interlude above being the most impressive. Drouin later became concertmaster of George Sell's Cleveland Orchestra, and his orchestral recording with Dorati on the Mercury disc is well worth a listen. Other highlights include the ominous and foreboding performance of "Red Riding Hood and the Wolf" and the dramatic performance of "Princess Aurora and Lilla. These epitomize Dorati's well-honed sensitivity to theater music. On every track, the conductor and orchestra are so truly integrated that one ceases to perceive the technical limitations of the recording, even though it is more than half a century old.(From Rob Cowan - liner notes) King International