Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71

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I love the slow burn of Pletnev's Christmas-tree transformation, the nimbleness of the battle between the Nutcracker's forces and the mice, and the strangeness of his Snowflake Waltz...the RNO... — BBC Music Magazine, March 2012, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 26th Sep 2011
Catalogue No: ODE1180-2D
Label: Ondine
Length: 93 minutes

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71

Work length1:33:04

$29.00

$37.70

$50.75

Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev
Recorded: March 2011
Recording Venue: Mosfilm Recording Studios, Studio 1, Moscow, Russia

Overture

Track length3:14

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Act I Tableau 1: Decoration of the Christmas tree

Track length4:01

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Act I Tableau 1: March

Track length2:31

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Act I Tableau 1: Children's galop and entry of the parents

Track length2:30

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Act I Tableau 1: Scene dansante

Track length6:16

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Act I Tableau 1: Scene and Grandfather's Dance

Track length7:56

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Act I Tableau 1: Departure of the guests - Night

Track length7:37

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Act I Tableau 1: The battle and transformation scene

Track length3:26

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Act I Tableau 2: The forest of fir trees in winter

Track length4:13

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Act I Tableau 2: Waltz of the Snowflakes

Track length7:11

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Act II Tableau 3: The enchanted palace of the kingdom of sweets

Track length4:14

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Act II Tableau 3: Arrival of Clara and the Nutcracker

Track length4:26

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Act II Tableau 3: Divertissement: a. Chocolate - Spanish Dance

Track length1:15

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Act II Tableau 3: Divertissement: b. Coffee - Arabian Dance

Track length3:41

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Act II Tableau 3: Divertissement: c. Tea - Chinese Dance

Track length1:08

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Act II Tableau 3: Divertissement: d. Trepak - Russian Dance

Track length1:07

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Act II Tableau 3: Divertissement: e. Dance of the Toy Flutes

Track length2:34

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Act II Tableau 3: Divertissement: f. Mother Gigogne and the clowns

Track length2:49

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Act II Tableau 3: Waltz of the flowers

Track length7:25

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Act II Tableau 3: Pas de deux: The Prince and the Sugar-Plum Fairy

Track length5:32

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Act II Tableau 3: Variation 1: Tarantella

Track length0:42

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Act II Tableau 3: Variation 2: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy

Track length2:21

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Act II Tableau 3: Coda

Track length1:17

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Act II Tableau 3: Final waltz

Track length3:49

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Act II Tableau 3: Apotheosis

Track length1:49

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About
Reviews
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About

Building on the great success of their previous Swan Lake recording, This CD features star conductor Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra with the complete ballet music from The Nutcracker by Peter Tchaikovsky.

The Nutcracker is an absolute masterpiece of Russian orchestral music, and perhaps the crowning achievement of Tchaikovsky’s artistic output. It benefits from enormous popularity worldwide and among a wide range of audiences.

Mikhail Pletnev is recognized as a reference performer of Tchaikovsky’s music, and in particular of The Nutcracker; his unrivalled piano transcriptions of Nutcracker Suite were selected for the 1998 Anthology “Great Pianists of the 20th Century” (Philips Classics).

Since founded by Pletnev in 1990, the RNO has quickly reached a position at the top of Russian orchestras, as well as among the top ten of international orchestras (as listed by Gramophone). The orchestra’s very first CD release in 1991 featured Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony, hailed by Gramophone as this symphony’s best recording in history; further great recordings on Deutsche Grammophon and PentaTone have garnered a Grammy Award and numerous other accolades.

Reviews

March 2012

I love the slow burn of Pletnev's Christmas-tree transformation, the nimbleness of the battle between the Nutcracker's forces and the mice, and the strangeness of his Snowflake Waltz...the RNO woodwind have plenty of character throughout, and are brightly lit by Ondine's vivid recording; prepare for an earthquake in the big, symphonic Act 1 climaxes, the sphere in which Pletnev truly excels.

February 2012

There's no hint of serving up old or reheated fare from the Russian National Orchestra under founder and artistic director Pletnev, despite the fact that this must be grindingly familiar ground. Together they more than meet the challenge of lifting the entire score into a coherent whole...The delightfully detailed playing from the orchestra brings these enchanting characters to life, in a well paced, elegant narrative.

January 2012

On this evidence, Mikhail Pletnev remains one of the most intelligent and stylish Tchaikovsky conductors around...The Nutcracker enshrines another formidably assured display that repeatedly has one grasping at the wondrous skill with which Tchaikovsky handles his forces. Once again, the playing of the RNO is past praise in its unruffled, articulate composure.

20th October 2011

The Russian National Orchestra under Mikhail Pletnev highlights the delicacy of Tchaikovsky’s orchestration. Even the more solemn moments have a wit and irreverence about them, as if the players are smiling to themselves as they play.

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71

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