Title : Léon Minkus: Don Quijote
Author : Minkus, Leon
Release Date : 19951212
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $29.98
Amazon.com Price : $26.99
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Buyer Reviews : Finding recordings of old ballets from the 19th century is usually a feat within its self. Just about every ballet company today performs them, but the orchestra hardly ever records thier music. The old composers of the ballet before Tchaikovsky are, in my opinion, the most underrated creators of music ever. Alot of this has to do with the fact that they did not write music for showing off the orchestra or even the conductor, but for showing off the ballet dancer. The Ballet Master would set down strict instructions of time, tempo, and even scoring so that the music would fit like a glove to the dances and dramatic scenes. These composers are often dismissed for thier very 'un-symphonic' approach to composing. It is rare, that an orchestra sits down to record peices that were written soley for the ballet dancer. Delibes's or Tchaikovsky's music has more symphonic qualities, and the two are more famous. This results in thier music getting recorded more often (to often if you ask me).
Among these composers, the most famous is Leon Minkus. He was, before Tchaikovsky came along, the resident composer of ballet music for the Russian Czar's Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg. With the great choreographer Marius Petipa (who would later create 'La Bayadere', 'The Sleeping Beauty', 'Nutcracker', 'Swan Lake' among others) they created a ballet very loosley based on the Cerevantes novel 'Don Quixote'. The ballet premiered in Moscow, Russia in 1869 for the Bolshoi Ballet. It was taken to St Petersburg in 1872 for a more lavish and formal staging and has been performed there ever since. The work was much revised and reworked throughout Petipa's lifetime and well afterward. Among these was the staging by the great dancer Alexander Gorsky in 1900. 'Don Quixote' (or 'Don Quijote' as its spelled on the packaging) has been tinkered with a great deal throughout the 20th century. It is these versions that have been passed down to us.
The music, true to 19th century tradition, was added to and revised by several composers, mostly at the behest of the ballerinas that danced its leads, and the fact that revisions of the work went on well after Minkus's death. Most of the additional music is recorded here (at least the important additions), and Spassov does a first rate job in his conducting. The music is played exactly as it would sound if you were in the theatre and had dancers right in front of you.
I was so excited when I saw this item a few years back for sale and quickly snatched it up. There is another recording done by the Victoria Orchestra of the Austrailian Ballet, with the Minkus score revised and refurbished by John Lanchbery, a version used for Nureyevs sumptuous staging (its only available on the orchestra Victoria site for purchase). Spassov's conducting is one of the best performances of ballet music ever put on disc. It should be owned by all dancers and balletomanes alike. Five Stars!
