Vedernikov: Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker (2 SACD, DFF)

Vedernikov: Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker (2 SACD, DFF)

Orchestra: Bolshoi Theater Orchestra
Conductor: Alexander Vedernikov
Composer: Piotr Il’itch Tchaikovsky
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2 Hybrid SACD – DSD
Format: DFF (image+cue) (5.1+2.0)
Label: Pentatone
Size: 14.4 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 01
01. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Overture
02. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. No. 1. Decoration of the Christmas tree
03. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. March
04. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Children’s galop and entry of the parents
05. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Arrival of Drosselmayer
06. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. The Nutcracker and Grandfather dance
07. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Departure of the guests. Night
08. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. The battle and transformation scene
09. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. No. 2. The forest of fir trees in winter
10. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 1. Waltz of the snowflakes

Disc: 02
01. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. No. 3. The enchanged palace of the kingdom of sweets
02. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Arrival of Clara and the Nutcracker
03. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Divertissement. a. Chocolate – Spanish Dance
04. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. b. Coffee – Arabian Dance
05. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. c. Tea – Chinese Dance
06. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. d. Trepak – Russian Dance
07. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. e. Dance of the Toy Flutes
08. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. f. Mother Gigogne and the clowns
09. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Waltz of the flowers
10. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Pas de deux – The Prince and the Sugar-Plum Fairy
11. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Variation 1. Tarantella
12. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Variation 2. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
13. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Coda
14. Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Act 2. Final waltz and apotheosis

The music is widely recognized as something magical, a perennial favorite. What justifys a new recording though? Simply this: The magic of this music is more easily comprehended in live performance than a recording. This is a fine performance, but you when this recording is played on the right equipment ie, a multichannel SACD system, you get MUCH more of the magic you would hear in a live performance – its like you are there in the audience about 10 rows from the stage in a center seat, and folks, that is truly something wonderful. This recording captures all the ambiance of the hall and recreates this from five speakers in your listening room. The reflections from the back of the hall and sides of the hall are reproduced from the rear and front speakers so that reflections correctly appear to come at you from the sides and rear of the hall. No, its not absolutely perfect, but its the closest thing to it I ever heard in reproduced sound!