Toccata
Tchaikovsky by Arrangement - The Nutcracker & the Mouse King / Mauceri, RSNO
$20.99
Details
- Composer
- John Mauceri, Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
- Artist
- Alan Cumming
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Toccata
- Released
- Oct 06, 2023
- Catalog #
- TOCC0704
- UPC
- 5060113447043
About
Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, which has its origins in a novella by E. T. A. Hoffmann, contains some of the best-loved music ever written. But its composer wasn’t very happy with it, perhaps because the plot he was given to work with allowed him to present only a series of dances, losing the moral basis of Hoffman’s surprisingly modern tale, with its messages of inclusivity and what is now called ‘women’s agency’ – here it is the little girl who saves the prince. Hoffmann’s aspirational story continues well after the ballet ends, with the little girl, now grown up, marrying the prince, who is now king.
John Mauceri has brought the ballet back to its inspiration, calling on music from elsewhere in Tchaikovsky’s orchestral output to fashion this ‘re-telling’, marrying Hoffmann’s text and Tchaikovsky’s music for the first time.
REVIEW:
While this album is entitled “Tchaikovsky by Arrangement” (part of Toccata’s series that includes arrangements of Mozart, Wagner, Prokofiev, and Brahms among others), the main clue is in its subtitle: “A Retelling by John Mauceri.” Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is a very condensed reworking of the original tale. In Mauceri’s retelling, the conductor has written a fairy-tale narrative based on the broader “Story of the Nutcracker,” published by Alexandre Dumas in 1845, which in turn was a retelling of the original story, Nussknacker und Mausekönig (The Nutcracker and the Mouse King) by E. T. A. Hoffmann, published in 1816. What’s more, Mauceri has created a pastiche of Tchaikovsky’s works to accompany Alan Cumming’s almost nonstop narration with music from not just The Nutcracker but also The Tempest, Hamlet, The Snow Maiden, and Orchestral Suite No. 1 (its fourth-movement miniature “Marche Militaire” serves as Mauceri’s overture). The final product really is quite an achievement.
— Fanfare
Tracklist 32 tracks
-
1 Overture 02:11
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Overture
- Duration
- 02:11
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
2 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: Once a Long Time Ago 02:57
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: Once a Long Time Ago
- Duration
- 02:57
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
3 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Mousetrap! 01:59
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Mousetrap!
- Duration
- 01:59
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
4 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: Princess Pirlipat 01:59
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: Princess Pirlipat
- Duration
- 01:59
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
5 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Curse 03:54
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Curse
- Duration
- 03:54
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
6 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: Searching for a Cure 04:18
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: Searching for a Cure
- Duration
- 04:18
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
7 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Krakatuk Nut 02:19
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Krakatuk Nut
- Duration
- 02:19
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
8 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Curse Is Lifted 00:27
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Curse Is Lifted
- Duration
- 00:27
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
9 Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Mouse Queen's Death 01:11
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part I, Nuremberg, 1416: The Mouse Queen's Death
- Duration
- 01:11
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
10 Transition: The Drosselmeyers 02:36
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Transition: The Drosselmeyers
- Duration
- 02:36
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
11 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Christmas Eve 02:11
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Christmas Eve
- Duration
- 02:11
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
12 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Godfather Drosselmeyer 01:20
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Godfather Drosselmeyer
- Duration
- 01:20
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
13 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Miniature Marzipan Castle 01:18
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Miniature Marzipan Castle
- Duration
- 01:18
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
14 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Nutcracker 03:04
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Nutcracker
- Duration
- 03:04
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
15 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Stranger Things 02:30
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Stranger Things
- Duration
- 02:30
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
16 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Great Battle 01:16
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Great Battle
- Duration
- 01:16
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
17 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: After the Dream 02:04
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: After the Dream
- Duration
- 02:04
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
18 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Drosselmeyer's Story 02:50
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Drosselmeyer's Story
- Duration
- 02:50
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
19 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Marie's Devotion 01:30
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Marie's Devotion
- Duration
- 01:30
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
20 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Mouse King Returns 02:25
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Mouse King Returns
- Duration
- 02:25
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
21 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Fritz's Sabre 03:24
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Fritz's Sabre
- Duration
- 03:24
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
22 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Great Voyage Begins 02:30
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Great Voyage Begins
- Duration
- 02:30
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
23 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Candy Meadow 01:54
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Candy Meadow
- Duration
- 01:54
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
24 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Mechanical Ballet Troupe 01:47
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Mechanical Ballet Troupe
- Duration
- 01:47
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
25 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Sailing on Rose Petals 05:08
- Track
- 25
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Sailing on Rose Petals
- Duration
- 05:08
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
26 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Capital City 02:24
- Track
- 26
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Capital City
- Duration
- 02:24
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
27 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Marzipan Castle 03:07
- Track
- 27
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: The Marzipan Castle
- Duration
- 03:07
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
28 Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Empty Twaddle! 01:26
- Track
- 28
- Title
- Part II, Nuremberg, 1816: Empty Twaddle!
- Duration
- 01:26
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
29 Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: As Time Goes By 01:43
- Track
- 29
- Title
- Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: As Time Goes By
- Duration
- 01:43
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
30 Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: Nathaniel Drosselmeyer 01:37
- Track
- 30
- Title
- Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: Nathaniel Drosselmeyer
- Duration
- 01:37
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
31 Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: The King's Proposal 03:05
- Track
- 31
- Title
- Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: The King's Proposal
- Duration
- 03:05
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri
-
32 Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: Epilogue 02:46
- Track
- 32
- Title
- Part III, Nuremberg, 1834 - Today: Epilogue
- Duration
- 02:46
- Composer
- John Mauceri
- Performer
- Alan Cumming
- Ensemble
- Royal Scottish National Orchestra
- Conductor
- John Mauceri