BALLETS RUSSE (22 CDS)

A transformative force in music, dance and the visual arts, the Ballets russes was founded in Paris in 1909 by the visionary impresario Serge Diaghilev. Innovative and flamboyant, he had a genius for bringing together the most brilliant composers, dancers, choreographers and designers, for nurturing creativity, and for galvanising audiences. Emblematic of the influence of the Ballets russes was the 1913 premiere of Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps: it caused a notorious scandal, but it also changed musical history. This 22 CD set traces the company's path through the 20 years of it's existence - a tumultuous, but artistically fertile period - and comprises the vast majority of Ballets russes scores that have been recorded. Encompassing epoch-making works and rarities awaiting rediscovery, it offers a number of CD premieres and landmark interpretations by major musicians of the 78, LP and digital eras.

• Adam: Giselle - Philharmonia Orchestra, Robert Irving
• Auric: Les Facheux - ballet in one act - Igor Markevitch, Monte Carlo Symphony Orchestra
• Balakirev: Symphonic Poem 'Tamara' - Lovro von Matačić
• Beecham: The Gods go A’Begging - Thomas Beecham, Royal Philharmonic
• Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances - Chicago Symphony, Seiji Ozawa
• Debussy: Jeux - Poème dansé - Andre Cluytens, Paris Conservatory Orchestra
• Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune - Simon Rattle, London Symphony Orchestra
• Dukas: Fanfare to La Peri - Jean Martinon, French Radio and Television Orchestra
• Dukas: La Péri - Jean Martinon, French Radio and Television Orchestra
• Falla: El sombrero de tres picos - Victoria de los Angeles, Rafael Frubeck de Burgos, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Fauré: Pavane, Op. 50 - Armin Jordan, Lausanne Orchestra
• Liadov: Baba-Yaga, Op. 56 - Dmitry Kitaenko, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
• Liadov: Kikimora, Op. 63 - Dmitry Kitaenko, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
• Milhaud: Le Train Bleu, Op. 84 - Igor Markevitch, Monte Carlo Symphony Orchestra
• Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain - Maris Jansons, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
• Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov: Coronation Scene
• Poulenc: Les Biches - Georges Platel, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Prokofiev: Chout - Suite, Op.21a - Claudio Abbado, London Symphony
• Prokofiev: Le Pas d'acier (The Steel Dance): Suite Op. 41b - Igor Markevitch, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Prokofiev: The Prodigal Son, Op. 46 - Marin Alsop, Sao Paulo Symphony
• Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé - Andre Cluytens, Paris Conservatory Orchestra
• Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque, PP120 - Ali Galieria, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
• Satie: Jack in the Box - John Lanchbery, Covent Garden Royal Opera Orchestra
• Satie: Mercure - Poses plastiques en trois tableaux - Pierre Dalveaux, Paris Opera Orchestra
• Satie: Parade - Michel Plasson, Toulouse Symphony Orchestra
• Sauguet: Le Chatte - Igor Markevitch, 
• Schmitt, F: La Tragédie de Salomé, Op. 50 - Jean Martinon, French Radio and Television Orchestra
• Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9
• Strauss, R: Josephs-Legende: Symphonic Fragment, Op.63a - Rudolf Kempe, Staatskapelle Dresden
• Strauss, R: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28 - Loren Maazel, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Stravinsky: Apollon musagète - Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
• Stravinsky: Fireworks, Op. 4 - Eliahu Inbal, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Stravinsky: Le Chant du Rossignol - Pierre Boulez, Orchestra National de France
• Stravinsky: Les Noces - Basia Rechizka (Soprano), Arlette Sudel (Alto), Eric Tappy (Tenor), Philippe Huttenlocher (Bariton), Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire (Piano), Edward Auer, Susanne Usson (Piano), Ensemble of Musical Instruments, Lausanne University Choir (Michel Corvo: Chorus Conductor), Charles Dutoit
• Stravinsky: Petrushka - Simon Rattle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
• Stravinsky: Pulcinella - Yvonne Kenny (Mezzo Soprano), Robert Tia (Tenor), Robert Lloyd (Bass), Neville Marriner (Conductor) Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
• Stravinsky: Renard - Jules Bastan (bass), Eric Tappy (tenor), Philippe Huttenlocher, (bariton), Charles Dutoit
• Stravinsky: The Firebird - Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
• Stravinsky: The Nightingale - Natalie Dessey (Soprano: Nightingale),Marie McLaughlin (Soprano: Cook), Violator Ulmana (Alto: Shinigami), Visevolod Grivnov (Tenor: Fisherman),Alberto Shagitulin (Baritone: Emperor of China) Loran Nauri (Baritone: Subordinate) Maxim Mikhailov (Bass: Monk), Paris Opera Orchestra & Chorus, James Conlon
• Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - Igor Markevitch, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 - Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 - Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
• Tcherepnin, N: Le Pavillon d'Armide - Moscow Symphony Orchestra
• Tcherepnin, N: Narcisse et Echo, Op. 40 - Hague Orchestra, Gennady Rostedvenzky
• Tommasini, V: Le donne di buon umore Suite - Igor Marketvitch, Philharmonia Orchestra
• Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 - Andre Clutens, Paris Conservatory Orchestra