Just the right combination of spirit and finesse.

The album opens with Lieutenant Kije and makes an immediate impression, with the opening cornet solo nostalgically distanced. The ambience of the Dallas auditorium adds evocative bloom. Mata achieves excellent ensemble with his orchestra. His rhythmic pointing is light and witty, bringing a balletic quality to the scoring. In Love for three oranges the ''March'' is fast and pert, the romantic interlude between ''The Prince and the Princess'', elegiacally touching. Characterization is constantly vivd and the balance very well managed so that detail is sophisticated, yet the overall layout of the orchestra is believable.

...[The Stravinsky Suites]...make a very suitable coupling, for many collectors will not have discovered their charm. Arranged from piano duets (easy pieces that are not so easy) each miniature has its own strong personality. The opening Andante is delightful and there is at least one reminder of Petrushka elsewhere. The eight brief movements are played with just the right combination of spirit and finesse and readily emphasize the excellence of the Dallas orchestra... [A] highly enjoyable set of performances.

-- Ivan March, Gramophone [9/1985]

-----------

This is one of those “on demand” productions now available from Arkivmusic.com. The playing time isn’t overly generous, but the performances are terrific, and the sonics captured in Dallas at this time featured some of the finest that RCA offered (the one noteworthy exception was the very early digital Ravel Daphnis, which sounded like a castanet concerto). Mata had a genuine feel for this music (and French repertoire too), and if you’re a Kijé junkie (trust me, they exist) or really love your Three Oranges, then you might want to give this a shot. The adorable Stravinsky suites are equally well done; it’s just a pity that we aren’t offered more music.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com [6/2011]