Pierre Monteux made his first LSO recording in 1957 – a generous selection of pieces drawn from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Originally released on RCA, the recording repatriated to Decca in 1973. Over 50 minutes of selections from the ballet (as much as would comfortably and generously fit on two LP sides in the 1950s) in chronological order, are on offer. It is vivid and colourful and received an enthusiastic critical welcome. The year before also for RCA (with a subsequent repatriation to Decca), he recorded three Stravinsky ballet scores: ‘The Rite of Spring’ (whose infamous premiere he conducted), ‘Petrushka’ (with Julius Katchen as pianist) and the 1919 version of the suite from Stravinsky’s ‘Firebird’ of which he gives an utterly magical performance.
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66
Ballet in three acts and a prologue – highlights
London Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Monteux
IGOR STRAVINSKY
L’Oiseau de feu – Suite (1919 version)
The Firebird
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Pierre Monteux
Recording Producers: James Walker (Sleeping Beauty); John Culshaw (The Firebird)
Recording Engineers: Ken Cress (Sleeping Beauty); Roy Wallace (The Firebird)
Recording Locations: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, 3–6 June 1956 (Sleeping Beauty); Salle Wagram, Paris, France, 29–30 October 1956 (The Firebird)
‘fresh, unbridled energy and unashamed virtuosity’ … ‘As might be expected Pierre Monteux refuses to over-sentimentalise and secures some very beautiful playing, and the recording is broad and spacious, but still gives plenty of detail, and has a degree of reverberation that I find very agreeable indeed.’ (Sleeping Beauty) Gramophone
‘Monteux gives a magical performance … the shaping of the Finale is of amazing beauty’ (The Firebird) Gramophone