TCHAIKOVSKY
Capriccio italien, Op. 45
Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32
London Symphony Orchestra
Anthony Collins
Romeo and Juliet: Fantasy Overture
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Eduard van Beinum
Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Eduard van Beinum
FIRST INTERNATIONAL RELEASE ON CD
Recording Producers: James Walker (Capriccio italien, Francesca da Rimini); Victor Olof (Romeo and Juliet); Jaap van Ginneken (Nutcracker Suite)
Balance
Engineers: James Brown, Kenneth Wilkinson (Capriccio italien, Francesca da Rimini); Henk Jensen, Wilhelm Huizinga (Nutcracker Suite)
Recording Locations: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, January 1950 (Romeo and Juliet), January 1956 (Capriccio italien, Francesca da Rimini); Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April-May 1958 (Nutcracker Suite)
‘Decca’s new Capriccio Italien opens with wonderfully resonant trumpet-calls (surely far more impressive than the Italian Royal Cuirassiers ever could have made them sound in their barracks for Tchaikovsky’s
benefit!); and indeed it continues throughout with recording of a very high standard … Francesca da Rimini [is notable for the] warm quality of recording … seldom can a gong have sounded more menacing than at the beginning here … this Francesca quite certainly must have [an] unhesitating recommendation’ Gramophone
‘Everything Eduard van Beinum recorded was distinctive … the electricity and finesse of the performances is never in doubt … The Nutcracker is beautifully played and […] the ear is taken by the neat, scaled down effect of the Overture, the gentle delicacy of the Sugar-Plum Fairy and the elegance of the lovely Waltz of the Flowers, with ripe horns and resonant cello playing.’ Gramophone