Landon Ronald and Royal Albert Hall Orchestra - Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71 (Tchaikovsky) (1913/6)

The Royal Albert Hall Orchestra under Sir Landon Ronald plays Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite.' The movements are as follows: 00:00 Miniature Overture (13 May 1916) 02:52 March (6 May 1916) 05:27 Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (13 May 1916) 07:13 Russian Dance (Trepak) (6 May 1916) 08:16 Arabian Dance (6 May 1916) 12:03 Chinese Dance (13 May 1916) 13:14 Dance of the Reed Flutes (13 May 1916) 15:50 Waltz of the Flowers (Jan 1913) The recordings were all made in No. 1 Recording Room at Hayes. The items don't appear in order on the original discs: they were obviously laid out on the sides with the sole aim of taking best advantage of the time available. For the purposes of this upload, I've corrected this. When the Suite came to be recorded, there was already an existing New Symphony Orchestra recording of the 'Waltz of the Flowers.' For reasons that are unclear, it is apparent that a decision was made not to redo that side. It's rather a shame, because the recorded quality of the Waltz doesn't match the rest of the Suite. Interestingly, Ronald plays the celeste in the 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.' ____________ Landon Russell Ronald (1873-1938) was born in Kensington, London. From Wikipedia: In his early career he gained work as an accompanist and répétiteur, but struggled to make his way as a conductor. In the absence of operatic or symphonic work he made his living as a conductor and composer in West End shows in the late 19th and early 20th century. With the foundation of the London Symphony Orchestra in 1904 his career began to flourish, and by 1908 he was well-enough established to be chosen to succeed Thomas Beecham as conductor of the New Symphony Orchestra in London. Ronald was an early enthusiast for recording, and was associated with the Gramophone Company...from 1900 for the rest of his life. From 1910 until shortly before his death, Ronald was principal of the Guildhall School of Music in London. He modernised the curriculum and raised its standards to compete with the leading musical training establishments the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music.