Tchaikovsky's Ballets

[the maestro]

What is the best Tchaikovsky's complete ballets recording?
There are Previn's EMI box set, Ozawa in DG, Bonynge in DECCA. but what is the best?

 

[Kromme]

Out of the three you mention Bonygne gets the edge.I can not really criticise Ozawa's performances of Nutcracker and Swan Lake because whenever i listen to them i lost interest halfway but in that set there is a recording of Sleeping Beauty conducted by Mikail Pletnev and that is my favourite version of Sleeping Beauty.Previn is dutiful but that is all and i think there is lot to this music than Previn's approach.Gergiev's recordings of the ballets are not issued in a box set but all three are very good recordings so if you want all three by one conductor i would say Gergiev.(I posted earlier that i disliked Gergiev's fast and ferocious Nutcracker but it did grew on me.)Mariss Jansons recorded The Nutcracker for EMI which is the one i like most among Nutcracker recordings.Leonard Slatkin also has a box set for RCA and his Swan Lake is one of the best with excellent mixture of drama and grace but his Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty are rather ordinary.

There are also acclaimed sets by Dorati and Abranavel but i can not mention the as i did not hear them.

Cheers
A.Atabey

 

[methodistgirl]

I would have to say the Nutcracker Suite.
judy tooley

 

[Contratrombone64]

I don't go with any of those listed, my preference is for Antal Dorati's wonderful recordings. But there are just so many.