Release date: 04-05-1998 (originally recorded in 1957)

1998 Living Stereo limited LP edition  pressed on 180gram Virgin VINYL, =In her excellent liner notes, Rosalyn Krokover describes Prokofiev's Cinderella as "tuneful and inventive". If we compare these adjectives with those ascribed to the greatest of Prokofiev's scores, Krokover's description definitely damns with faint praise.

Tracks:
    1.       Introduction
    2.       Pas de Chat
    3.       Quarrel
    4.       Fairy Godmother and Fairy Winter
    5.       Mazurka
    6.       Cinderella Goes To The Ball
    7.       Cinderella's Waltz: Midnight
    8.       Cinderella Dreams of the Ball
    9.       Dancing Lessons and Gavotte
    10.       Fairy Spring and Fairy Summer
    11.       Bourree
    12.       Cinderella At The Castle
    13.       Galop

As such, Cinderella is not top drawer Prokofiev, containing little of the melodiousness of Romeo and Juliet, the urbanity of the Classical Symphony or the charm of Peter and the Wolf. Rather, while enjoyable and full of the trademarks of Prokofiev's unique orchestration, I would expect Cinderella to be more of a complete entertainment when the music is accompanying dancers.

That said, the recording is still worth owning due to the excellent performance of the Royal Opera Orchestra (clarinet and bassoon are superb) and some fine conducting by Hugo Rignold. True, there is some happenstance sour intonation in the highest register of the violins and the odd gaff in the woodwinds. However, the ladies and gentlemen seem to be enjoying themselves, and this quality is communicated through the speakers.

The recording is fine; the orchestra is stage forward and the soundfield wide but not deep. To wit, brass and percussion are also forward in the aural picture which gives the impression that their noses are pressed against a glass partition, in front of which, the rest of the orchestra resides! However, the instrumental timbre is faithful with the notable exception of some glare in the upper strings. Bass is deep but not as accurate as in other reissues in this series, no doubt due to the congestion.

Not a complete artistic success then, but a musical achievement worthy of the price of admission.