Vladimir Jurowski has proven himself a reliable conductor of Russian music, and this coupling makes good sense inasmuch as the Stravinsky is based on music by Tchaikovsky. He secures disciplined playing from the Russian National Orchestra in both works, achieving textures of real delicacy in the scherzo of the Third Suite and characterizing the long concluding variations with some degree of success. Even so, there’s not a shred of the opulent romanticism and warmth that Tchaikovsky wrote into the piece. The performance is efficient, little more. Similarly, The Fairy’s Kiss Divertimento is no better than average, especially in the Danses Suisses, which would have benefited from more rhythmic snap and sharper articulation all around.
The sonics, while adequate in terms of placing the ensemble in a realistic acoustic whether in stereo or surround formats, are notably dry and distant. For example, the concluding polonaise in the Tchaikovsky suite lacks a sparkle and sheer “oomph” as a result of recessed brass, weak bass, and timid cymbals, and so detracts further from the program’s allure. In short, the performances do not challenge the reference recordings listed above, and I would only recommend them, with reservations, if you absolutely must have these works in surround sound.
