The Royal Ballet Gala Performances - Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden - Earnest Ansermet - Stereo Sound Reference Record SSHRS 007-010 (2016)
2x SACD rips via PS3 to 2x iso (7.8GB) | 2ch & Mono Hybrid | Originally Decca/Living Stereo LDS 6065 (1959) | DR11 | Scans | Classical, Ballet

A 'Classic Sound UK Ltd.,' master via Pyramix & Studer A80 2 track (see art). SACD layer contains both the 2ch mix (mastered by Bernie Grundman), & mono mix (mastered by Willem Makkee).

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 & the very occasional foray into recordings with London orchestras, 1 of these being with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1959.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZiBavQ7Miw&feature=emb_logo

Audiophilia Online Magazine wrote: "This is the stuff of which dreams are made. The Royal Ballet Gala is 1 of the finest RCAs recorded in London's Kingsway Hall. The chunks of great ballet music are well served by orchestra, conductor & engineer. Performances are executed to a very high standard - the Royal Opera House Orchestra, both then & now, rank as 1 of the finest of opera orchestras.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=l3SjWNyJ_7s&feature=emb_logo

"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 & 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 1 word that comes to mind, accurate is another.
Tonally, Messrs. Williamson & Wilkinson have used their considerable talents to capture the orchestra superbly. Woodwind & strings glow & resonate, transporting this listener to a time when simpler recording was better. Brass ring out thrillingly & 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."

   Available on: 
Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Ballet-Performances-Ernest-Ansermet/dp/B01LW235WZ

Elusive Disc: https://elusivedisc.com/ernest-ansermet-the-royal-ballet-gala-performances-hybrid-stereo-2sacd-booklet-box-set/

Flac & DSD downloads available here: https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/125633/Ernest_Ansermet-The_Royal_Ballet_Gala_Performances-FLAC_176kHz24bit_Download


    Tracks:

      The Nutcracker, Op.71
01-March-2:34
02-Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy-1:45
03-Arabian Dance-3:36
04-Chinese Dance-1:09
05-Dance Of The Toy Flutes-2:17
06-Waltz Of The Flowers-6:33

      La Boutique Fantasque
07-Tarantella-2:08
08-Andante Mosso-2:40
09-Can-Can-2:02

      Coppélia
10-Introduction (Allegro Marcato) And Mazurka - Act 1-4:22
11-Introduction (Andante ) And Waltz - Act 1-2:58
12-Czardas - Act 1-3:41
13-Valse De La Poupee - Act 2-2:02

      Giselle
14-Introduction And Waltz - Act 1-5:01
15-Pas De Deux And Variation - Act 2-4:43

      Swan Lake, Op. 20
16-Scene-2:54
17-Dance Of The Little Swans (Pas De Quatre) - Act 2-1:22
18-Scene - Pas De Deux-6:33
19-Waltz-7:48

      Carnaval, Op.9
20-Pierror-1:10
21-Reconnaissance-1:35
22-Aveu-1:07
23-Pantalon Et Columbine-1:05

      The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66
24-Introduction - The Lilac Fairy-4:42
25-Rose Adagio - Pase D'Action - Act 1-6:15
26-Waltz - Act 1-4:29

      Les Sylphides
27-Overture: Prelude In A Major, Opus 28, No. 7-1:49
28-Mazurka In C Major, Opus 67, No. 3-1:56
29-Grande Valse Brillante In E Flat Major, Opus 18-5:35

    Time: 01:36:52

    Musicians:

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House: Covent Garden
Ernest Ansermet: conductor

    Recorded:

Kingsway Hall, London 13-16 January 1959
Engineer: Ken Wilkinson
Producer: Mike Williamson
Mastering engineers: Jonathan Stokes & Neil Hutchinson


http://www.filefactory.com/folder/e6c650fbbb2655f9
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Checksums for 2x iso:
MD5:
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f9dd367f6369368d5e9896b92ee615bc *002-003.iso

SFV:
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