Customer Rating: 
Summary: Gergiev's complete Nutcracker is tops
Comment: Of all the recordings by Gergiev I own, I feel more than ready to consider this among his more pleasing efforts. Gergiev brings a new perspective to this well-worn Tchaiokvsy chestnut, such that it is given a more robust performance than typically given during the myriad of Christmas ballet productions. From the lightness of the overture to the weighty grandeur of the finale, Gergiev ably fleshes out the contrasting moods in the score. Adopting generally brisk speeds, he adopts continuity yet still churns out a magical performance for one to revel in the many felicities of the score. Now, these brisk seeds are not as rushed as many people might think, but they really make the ballet lilt and trip along without sounding clunky like most other recordings of the work. The dramatic mood is suitably conveyed in the transformation scene, and the many famous dances in the Suite are given crisp, robust readings. The two Pas de deux scenes and the various Waltzes convey a stately grandeur, especially during the Waltz of the Flowers. Yet there is also a delicacy in the Sugarplum Fairy's Dance, the Arabian Dance and the Dance of the Reed Pipes. Throughout Gergiev elicits a robust sound from the Kirov Orchestra, with a fine balance between the sections, except perhaps for the wobbly Russian brass. The Philips recording is superb, one of their best recent recordings, sumptuous yet clean and well-detailed. An added bonus is the fact that this Nutcracker only takes up one CD rather than two. Highly highly recommended, especially since this fresh and robust rendition seems destined to put other Nutcrackers to shame. Don't let the bad reviews discourage you - this is a crackling, energetic Nutcracker that really lends a new lease of life to this overplayed ballet.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: well...it's no where near as good as the u.s. marine band...
Comment: I've only just graduated from high school where I played in the school's symphonic winds band. But there are things that I learned that this group should have taken heed to. Although they play with amazing speed and alacrity, sometimes a fast tempo just isn't that impressive. Especially if the piece is supposed to be admired for other more aesthetical aspects. The ensemble, don't get me wrong, is filled with very talented players. However, this recording, where there's enthusiasm, there's also a lack of musicality. I'll just focus on the one part "Presents of the Drosselmeyer". This movement is my favorite (on the London Philharmonic Orchestra recording), but I was highly disappointed when I heard it on this CD. The tone was too fanfare-ish...too much trumpet. The tempo was way way way too fast. And because of the too-fast tempo, the bassoon solo at the end of the song (playing the same melody that the upper strings and woodwinds play at the beginning) is not enjoyable. The overall tone of the group could have been improved by...well...more bottom (bass, tuba, etc), less top (trumpet...). Tempo? Well, that's all up to the artistic interpretation of the conductor...which in this case was very wrong.
I'm glad that I borrowed this CD instead of actually buying it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Slow Down!
Comment: This is too fast. I wonder whether any of it was artificially speeded up to fit it on one CD. With digital technology a piece can be speeded up with no change of pitch. To me, the attack and decay of the notes sometimes sounds unnatural. Maybe I'm mistaken, but if the attack/decay is sometimes accelerated this would confirm the presence of technological tinkering. I'm sure this Orchestra can play fast, but to me the effect is comic and a bit disturbing, even if part of me can appreciate the technical feat. Really this music is better enjoyed at more humane and indulged tempos. And I really don't believe they play it this fast for real performances, it is totally undanceable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Two into One won't go....
Comment: Firstly the strengths ....the recorded sound is excellent and the music is played with energy, brilliance and musicality. But there's no way that you could dance to this...unless you're a whirling dervish...yet Tchaikovsky composed/fashioned the music with that in mind. I had heard a couple of excerpts from the disc before I went ahead and bought it and I'd hoped the faster tempi wouldn't matter ...but it does... the score is whizzed-through like a shot out of a gun. I can imagine all the whittling-down, second by second that must've gone on behind the scenes in the recording studio, to get the ballet squashed onto one disc. There's hardly a pause in the relentless progress of the music from one track to the next & from the beginning to the end of the disc....and this affects the 'integrity' of the music as a result. 'Pauses' matter.
If you're new to this music & haven't seen the music danced-to, then maybe this all won't matter so much but if you've been touched by Tchaikovsky's magical score where there was time to reflect and enjoy the unfolding pagaent of melody within a dance scenario, then my recommendation is to buy a different interpretation.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb
Comment: I was a little apprehensive about buying this CD, as you can buy a boxed set of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty for not a great deal more. However, as I already owned the Seiji Ozawa performance of Swan Lake (another excellent CD), I decided to continue to buy them separately.I could not have made a better choice. This CD is, in a word, superb. It is the whole ballet, rather than the extracts found on many other CDs. Although I am not a particular conneseur of clasical music, to me this performance is full of energy and excitement, and I could not possibly fault it. The sound quality is exceptional - perfectly reproduced with no hissing, clicks or buzzes. This is an essential purchase for anybody who enjoys Tchikovsky's ballets, if not every classical music fan.
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