Ernest Ansermet - The Royal Ballet Gala Performances

SACD layer contains both the stereo mix (mastered by Bernie Grundman), mono mix (mastered by Willem Makkee)

CD layer only contains the stereo mix

In the hearts of thousands, No. 1 on the Top RCA list. While the bulk of famed conductor Ernest Ansermet's recordings were made with L'Orchestre de la Susise Romande, there were a few with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra and the very occasional foray into recordings with London orchestras, one of these being with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1959.

Audiophilia Online Magazine wrote: "This is the stuff of which dreams are made. The Royal Ballet Gala is one of the finest RCAs recorded in London's Kingsway Hall. The chunks of great ballet music are well served by orchestra, conductor and engineer. Performances are executed to a very high standard — the Royal Opera House Orchestra, both then and now, rank as one of the finest of opera orchestras.

"Conductor Ansermet keeps the pace moving, giving the listener the impression of a dance event rather than a dramatic concert hall reading. With the exception of some of the Tchaikovsky scenes, the music is light and remains so under Ansermet's gentle touch. Each ballet is given full attention by the players, something not always attained at Covent Garden during long ballet nights! The threat of eternity does have its merits. The recorded sound is simply amazing! Lustrous is one word that comes to mind, accurate is another.

"Tonally, Messrs. Williamson and Wilkinson have used their considerable talents to capture the orchestra superbly. Woodwind and strings glow and resonate, transporting this listener to a time when simpler recording was better. Brass ring out thrillingly and percussion effects are very musical. Be it a bang, swish, rattle, crack or snap, each percussionist is situated perfectly within the beautiful Kingsway soundstage. Even the difficult-to-record sound of the celeste is captured in its purely mechanical form. Its delicate sound is heard to great effect during the Nutcracker — originating stage left, the sound decays across the stage of Kingsway with sparkling beauty. Wonderful."

Producer: Michael Williamson
Engineer Kenneth Wilkinson

Tracks:

*The CD layer only contains the stereo mix, split the same way as it is on the SACD layer.

Disc 1

1.	March, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
2.	Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
3.	Arabian Dance (Coffee), Nutcracker Ballet Suite
4.	Chinese Dance (Tea), Nutcracker Ballet Suite
5.	Dance of the Mirlitons, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
6.	Waltz of the Flowers, Nutcracker Ballet Suite
7.	Tarantella, La Boutique Fantastique
8.	Andante mosso, La Boutique Fantastique
9.	Can-Can, La Boutique Fantastique
10.	Prelude - Allegro marcato and Mazurka, Coppélia: Act I
11.	Introduction - Andante and Waltz, Coppélia: Act I
12.	Czardas, Coppélia: Act I
13.	Valse de la Poupee, Coppélia: Act II
14.	Introduction and Waltz, Giselle: Act I
15.	Pas de Duex and Variation, Giselle: Act II
16.	March, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
17.	Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
18.	Arabian Dance (Coffee), Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
19.	Chinese Dance (Tea), Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
20.	Dance of the Mirlitons, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
21.	Waltz of the Flowers, Nutcracker Ballet Suite (MONO)
22.	Tarantella, La Boutique Fantastique (MONO)
23.	Andante mosso, La Boutique Fantastique (MONO)
24.	Can-Can, La Boutique Fantastique (MONO)
25.	Prelude - Allegro marcato and Mazurka, Coppélia: Act I (MONO)
26.	Introduction - Andante and Waltz, Coppélia: Act I (MONO)
27.	Czardas, Coppélia: Act I (MONO)
28.	Valse de la Poupee, Coppélia: Act II (MONO)
29.	Introduction and Waltz, Giselle: Act I (MONO)
30.	Pas de Duex and Variation, Giselle: Act II (MONO)

Disc 2

1.	Scene (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II
2.	Danse des petis cygnes (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II -
3.	Scene - Pas de Deux, Swan Lake: Act II
4.	Valse, Swan Lake: Act II
5.	Pierrot, Carnaval Op. 9
6.	Reconnaissance, Carnaval Op. 9
7.	Aveu, Carnaval Op. 9
8.	Pantalon et Colombine, Carnaval Op. 9
9.	Introduction: Prologue - The Lilac Fairy, The Sleeping Beauty
10.	Rose Adagio - Pas d' Action, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I
11.	Valse, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I
12.	Overture: Prelude in A major, Opus 28, No. 28, No. 7, Les Sylphides
13.	Mazurka in C major, Opus 67, No. 3, Les Sylphides
14.	Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major, Opus 18, Les Sylphides
15.	Scene (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
16.	Danse des petis cygnes (moderato), Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
17.	Scene - Pas de Deux, Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
18.	Valse, Swan Lake: Act II (MONO)
19.	Pierrot, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
20.	Reconnaissance, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
21.	Aveu, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
22.	Pantalon et Colombine, Carnaval Op. 9 (MONO)
23.	Introduction: Prologue - The Lilac Fairy, The Sleeping Beauty (MONO)
24.	Rose Adagio - Pas d' Action, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I (MONO)
25.	Valse, The Sleeping Beauty: Act I (MONO)
26.	Overture: Prelude in A major, Opus 28, No. 28, No. 7, Les Sylphides (MONO)
27.	Mazurka in C major, Opus 67, No. 3, Les Sylphides (MONO)
28.	Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major, Opus 18, Les Sylphides (MONO)

Customer Reviews (4.00 Stars) 3 person(s) rated this product.

They did this in 1959. posted on 09/24/2022 5 Stars Reviewer: Fred Davidson For the record, my comments are based on this exact SACD box set played as such. I have not listened to any of the vinyl, certainly not the over-priced original out there in cyberspace. So: The technological advances, the recording engineers, and the stars aligned perfectly in 1959 and produced a listener's treat. The stereophonic recording industry was -- what -- less than a decade old? Amazing. A moonshot. Thank you, Analogue Productions, for bringing this gem into the 21st century.

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