Ernest Ansermet - Royal Ballet Gala Performances CD 2 DISC CAPC6065SA
In the hearts of thousands, No. 1 on the Top RCA list. While the bulk of famed conductor Ernest Ansermet's recordings were made with L'Orchestre de la Susise Romande, there were a few with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra and the very occasional foray into recordings with London orchestras, one of these being with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1959.
Audiophilia Online Magazine wrote: "This is the stuff of which dreams are made. The Royal Ballet Gala is one of the finest RCAs recorded in London's Kingsway Hall. The chunks of great ballet music are well served by orchestra, conductor and engineer. Performances are executed to a very high standard — the Royal Opera House Orchestra, both then and now, rank as one of the finest of opera orchestras.
"Conductor Ansermet keeps the pace moving, giving the listener the impression of a dance event rather than a dramatic concert hall reading. With the exception of some of the Tchaikovsky scenes, the music is light and remains so under Ansermet's gentle touch. Each ballet is given full attention by the players, something not always attained at Covent Garden during long ballet nights! The threat of eternity does have its merits. The recorded sound is simply amazing! Lustrous is one word that comes to mind, accurate is another."
tracklist
DISC 1
1 March, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
2 Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
3 Arabian Dance (Coffee), Nutcracker Ballet Suite
4 Chinese Dance (Tea), Nutcracker Ballet Suite
5 Dance of the Mirlitons, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
6 Waltz of the Flowers, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
7 Tarantella, La Boutique Fantastique
8 Andante mosso, La Boutique Fantastique
9 Can-Can, La Boutique Fantastique
10 Prelude - Allegro marcato and Mazurka, Coppélia: Act I
11 Introduction - Andante and Waltz, Coppélia: Act I
12 Czardas, Coppélia: Act I
13 Valse de la Poupee, Coppélia: Act II
14 Introduction and Waltz, Giselle: Act I
15 Pas de Duex and Variation, Giselle: Act II
16 March, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
17 Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
18 Arabian Dance (Coffee), Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
19 Chinese Dance (Tea), Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
20 Dance of the Mirlitons, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
21 Waltz of the Flowers, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
22 Tarantella, La Boutique Fantastique (MONO)
23 Andante mosso, La Boutique Fantastique (MONO)
24 Can-Can, La Boutique Fantastique (MONO)
25 Prelude - Allegro marcato and Mazurka, Coppélia: Act I (MONO)
26 Introduction - Andante and Waltz, Coppélia: Act I (MONO)
27 Czardas, Coppélia: Act I (MONO)
28 Valse de la Poupee, Coppélia: Act II (MONO)
29 Introduction and Waltz, Giselle: Act I (MONO)
30 Pas de Duex and Variation, Giselle: Act II (MONO)
DISC 2
1 Scene (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II
2 Danse des petis cygnes (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II -
3 Scene - Pas de Deux, Swan Lake: Act II
4 Valse, Swan Lake: Act II
5 Pierrot, Carnaval Op. 9
6 Reconnaissance, Carnaval Op. 9
7 Aveu, Carnaval Op. 9
8 Pantalon et Colombine, Carnaval Op. 9
9 Introduction: Prologue - The Lilac Fairy, The Sleeping Beauty
10 Rose Adagio - Pas d' Action, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I
11 Valse, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I
12 Overture: Prelude in A major, Opus 28, No. 28, No. 7, Les Sylphides
13 Mazurka in C major, Opus 67, No. 3, Les Sylphides
14 Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major, Opus 18, Les Sylphides
15 Scene (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
16 Danse des petis cygnes (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
17 Scene - Pas de Deux, Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
18 Valse, Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
19 Pierrot, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
20 Reconnaissance, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
21 Aveu, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
22 Pantalon et Colombine, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
23 Introduction: Prologue - The Lilac Fairy, The Sleeping Beauty (MONO)
24 Rose Adagio - Pas d' Action, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I (MONO)
25 Valse, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I (MONO)
26 Overture: Prelude in A major, Opus 28, No. 28, No. 7, Les Sylphides (MONO)
27 Mazurka in C major, Opus 67, No. 3, Les Sylphides (MONO)
28 Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major, Opus 18, Les Sylphides (MONO)
