Uma figura alta e imponente, de tal forma que muitas vezes dispensava o pódio, Efrem Kurtz foi um distinto condutor Russo que estudou com Glazunov e Tcherepnin e foi pupilo de Arthur Nikisch. Kurtz tinha um vasto repertório sinfónico e operático tendo dirigido as premieres de obras de Copland, Barber, Walton, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Shostakovich e Khachaturian.

• Hi-Q Records Supercuts
• Vinil Audiófilo 180 Gramas
• Corte a partir das Master Tapes Originais Analógicas da EMI
• Masterizado nos Estúdios Abbey Road
• Arte e grafismo da capa original

"Corte nos Estúdios Abbey Road a partir das Master Tapes Originais Analógicas num lathe Neumann VMS82 alimentado com um sinal prévio através de um deck Studer A80 especialmente modificado com uma cabeça de avanço especial, permitindo realizar um corte num processo completamente analógico. Prensagem realizada com as máquinas originais da EMI pela The Vinyl Factory em Hayes, Inglaterra."

A tall imposing figure, so tall, in fact, that he often dispensed with a podium, Efrem Kurtz was a distinguished Russian conductor, who had studied with Glazunov and Tcherepnin and was a pupil of Arthur Nikisch. Kurtz had a broad symphonic and operatic repertory and conducted the premieres of works by Copland, Barber, Walton, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Khachaturian. But he was most highly regarded for his interpretations of Russian music.

Kurtz was a familiar name to the record collector of the 1950s and embarked upon a series of Tchaikovsky ballet recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra for EMI in 1958. HIQ has already released Swan Lake and the release The Sleeping Beauty is in preparation. Of this Nutcracker highlights Gramaphone wrote: "This is probably as good a selection as could reasonably be expected."

In the original review in The Gramophone of November 1958, R.F. remarked: "The orchestral quality is superb, and the dynamic contrasts tremendous. If you can hear the opening pizzicato notes of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, the end of the Valse des Fleurs will have your neighbours banging on the wall in desperation."

Gravado em Março 1958 no Kingsway Hall, Londres. Produtor de Gravação: Peter Andry. Engenheiro: Neville Boyling.

Músicos:

Philharmonia Orchestra
Efrem Kurtz, condutor

Lista de Faixas:

Lado A
    TCHAIKOVSKY: "CASSE-NOISETTE" ("NUTCRACKER"), OP.71
    1. Ouverture
    2. No.2: Marche; No.3: petit Galop des enfants et entrée des parents; No.8: Scène; No.9: Valse des flacons de neige
    3. No.12: Divertissement: (a) Le chocolat; (b) Le café

Lado B
    TCHAIKOVSKY: "CASSE-NOISETTE" ("NUTCRACKER"), OP.71 (contd)
    1. No.12: Divertissement (c) Le thé (d) Trépak (e) Danse des mirlitons
    2. No.13: Valse de fleurs
    3. No.14(a) Pas de deux (La fée Dragée avec le prince Orgeat)
    4. No.14: (b) Pour le danseur (c) Pour la danseuse (d) Coda; No.15: Valse finale