Columbia SAX 2285 Tchaikovsky Ballets a la Sawallisch

Columbia SAX 2285
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake & Nutcracker Ballet Suites
Philharmonia Orchestra
Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor

Pressing:  ED1

Stampers: YAX 85-1, YAX 86-3

Performance:  9/10

Sound: 8/10

Price range: $25-117, mean $48 on popsike

Comments:  Don't let the price fool you.  This might not be one of the pricer SAX recordings, and it should not be hard to land, but it still makes for a very enjoyable listening experience.  If you like the Tchaikovsky ballets, even better!  The performances are sprightly with fast tempos.  The recording has a warm, tube-y sound which brings to mind my personal favorite analog recording of the Nutcracker --  Efrem Kurtz's recording with the Philharmonia on EMI ASD.  As with the New World Symphony, EMI recorded and released the Nutcracker ballet or suite with multiple conductors in the early years of stereo ... Sawallisch, Kurtz, and Igor Markevitch makes the third (also on SAX).  Again, be prepared to be seated a little ways back from the orchestra.  If you want to find an affordable SAX 1st pressing recording to give yourself a taste of what these recordings were like, this might be one to consider.