Search - Tchaikovsky, Royal Opera House Orchestra :: Swan Lake

Simply The Best!!

Franklin L. Allbright | Killeen, Texas, U.S.A. | 02/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard many different performances of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, Swan Lake, many of them excellent. However, this is bar none the best of the best. Not only is the playing excellent from all of the strings, brass and woodwinds, but Ermler's tempos are right on the mark. Many recordings I hear and I think, "Why is he conducting it that fast???" Dancers would NOT really be comfortable dancing it at that tempo.

Other tempos seem rather slow. I own the recording, but somehow the 2nd disc in the set managed to somehow get very deep and prominent scuffs on them that cannot be repaired. Since this recording has been discontinued, I have been scouring the internet for 2 years trying to find it again.

I finally lucked out and did indeed find it. It's costing me $105, but to me, it's worth the price for this GEM of a masterpiece recording.

I bought several other recordings of the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden with Ermler conducting, including Sleeping Beauty and Giselle.

Those recordings are equally brilliant. I will be making MANY backup copies of this rare OOP recording this time.

BTW- Anyone looking for this recording- IT IS OUT OF PRINT!!! I made the mistake of ordering this recording last year, but it was NOT the COMPLETE Ballet, but "The Essential Highlights". The same recording, but NOT complete.



Frank Allbright

Killeen, Texas





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