PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Swan Lake*
(Abridged version)
Alfredo Campoli, solo violin
Willem de Mont, solo cello
London Symphony Orchestra
Anatole Fistoulari
The Nutcracker – Suites Nos. 1 & 2
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Anatole Fistoulari
*FIRST CD RELEASE ON DECCA
Recording Producer: John Culshaw
Balance Engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson
Recording Locations: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, 21, 2, 29, 30 January & 28 March 1952 (Swan Lake); La Maison de la Mutualité, Paris, France, 21–23 June 1951 (The Nutcracker)
Remastering Engineer: Paschal Byrne (Audio Archiving Company)
Original Decca LP Releases: LXT 2681–82 (Swan Lake); Decca LXT 2611 (The Nutcracker)
‘Fistoulari, who conceives the work on a broader scale [than a Prague-based recording], gives the music a more imposing sweep; it is the grand pattern than counts for him, and in achieving this pattern he gives us the feel of an actual ballet performance rather than a ballet recording … [the LSO] have been recorded with rare skill – sound that is resonant, clear and luminous.’ High Fidelity (Swan Lake)
‘His way with the ubiquitous Suite No. 1 is put in the shade only by Beecham’s – generally relaxed, danceable tempos as if he can see the choreography transpiring before him and he brings the same balletic feel to the other Nutcracker pieces, leaving out some repeats so he can squeeze in more music.’ Fanfare (Suites from The Nutcracker)