Customer Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant Recording and Amazing Music!!!
Comment: Prokofiev is very well known for his Romeo and Juliet ballet, however, IMO his Cinderella ballet featured on this 2-CD set is EVEN BETTER!!!
As some other reviewers noted, this is relatively dark music --- not outright dissonant for the most part, but consists of mainly minor-key music and atonal sections with the occasional major-key section thrown in when the story calls for it. Prokofiev wrote this ballet right after finishing Romeo and Juliet, and IMO he improved a great deal from his first ballet. The themes and leitmotifs are catchier, the dark music is more refined, and the overall cohesiveness of the story-put-to-music is maintained better---it is very easy to imagine the story in your mind as you listen to the music.
I absolutely love it --- on the first listen, there so many great surprises (especially the infamous Clock melody --- that melody has been stuck in my head for weeks and has prevented me from falling asleep quickly on several occasions!) The ballet is chock full of catchy, mysterious, wonderful themes and counter-melodies, and brilliant playful sections and dark waltzes --- to top it all off, this orchestral recording in particular captures the essence of the story's mood perfectly.
Glazunov's Seasons is also a magnificent "filler" addition to this 2-CD set --- I've heard a # of reviewers mention CDs that they would like to be stranded with on a desert island. This one certainly has jumped very quickly to the top of my list --- I can't stop listening to it.
I highly encourage you to pick this up and discover the magic of Prokofiev's lesser-known ballet. Fans of Stravinsky's Firebird ballet are particularly encouraged.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Dark Music
Comment: If you liked Danny Elfman soundtracks for "Batman" and "Edward Scissorhands, you'll love this. This music is really dark, particularly the "Great Waltz", which could easily fit in an Addam's family dance sequence. Even darker than "Danse macabre" from Saint-Saens.Those of you that prefer lighter, "fun" classical music, better search for Mozart. Just like Pink Floyd's dark, long pieces, this music is for those who have reached a higher level of consciousness. If you haven't, first buy Betty Edward's book "Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain". Kidding!. Now, seriously, This is no music for a party. This is for those who prefer to be alone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent recording
Comment: Excellent recording. Along with the Previn/LSO version on EMI, this is one of two great recordings of "Cinderella." However, the "filler" here is more gratifying than the one provided on Previn disks (Prokofiev's Classical Symphony). Nonetheless, both recordings are excellent. No need to go to other more expensive yet less satisfying versions.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Music!
Comment: The music Prokofiev wrote for this ballet is great! It's so interesting and great to listen too. And also, there are the Seasons by Glazunov. I think they are better than Vivaldi's Seasons. This cd is a great value and great to listen too.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Comment: This is an unbelievably wonderful recording of Prokofiev's ballet `Cinderella.' It is far better than Andre Previn's recording with the London Symphony. The Cleveland Orchestra plays with unparalleled precision and flexibility providing Ashkenazy with the ideal vehicle for presenting his excellent interpretation. The recording quality is fabulous. In addition, Glazunov's `The Seasons' provides an interesting filler for the end of the second CD.
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