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Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, Favorite Selections. Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Telarc SACD-60674.
The title of this disc says that it contains "favorite selections," which is probably true but implies that it is like a suite or something. It's not. At 73 minutes, the disc contains about 85 To of the complete ballet. It actually leaves out only two of twenty-two scenes, numbers five and seven, and preserves all of Act II intact. That's pretty good measure, if you ask me.
Kunzel seems to run hot and cold, sometimes producing invigorating readings, other times not so energetic. These Nutcracker selections are mostly in the invigorating category, although there are times when the conductor seems positively leaden, he's so foursquare. Fortunately, the big scenes come off well, with plenty of pizzazz.
I wish I could say the same for the sound on this SACD, but it, too, runs slightly ...