The Royal Ballet- Ansermet

$

250

LDS 6065 - "The Royal Ballet Gala Performances" Ernest Ansermet conducts music fromSwan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Sylphides, Giselle, Coppélia, Boutique Fantastique and Carnaval. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Producer: Michael Williamson. Engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson. Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London.

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. In fact, their celebrated status could live on indefinitely by virtue of their great RCAs!

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. Tonally, Messrs. Williamson and Wilkinson have used their considerable talents to capture the orchestra superbly. Woodwind and strings glow and resonate, transporting this listener to a time when simpler recording was better. Brass ring out thrillingly and percussion effects are very musical. Be it a bang, swish, rattle, crack or snap, each percussionist is situated perfectly within the beautiful Kingsway soundstage. Even the difficult-to-record sound of the celeste is captured in its purely mechanical form. Its delicate sound is heard to great effect during the Nutcracker - originating stage left, the sound decays across the stage of Kingsway with sparkling beauty. Wonderful.

This is a superb recreation by Classic Records of one of the great RCAs. The original notes and sumptuous booklet are models of excellence and beauty. Go on, treat yourself.

The condition is used but beautiful. Slight wear on the cover but all parts well maintained.