The Decca/Ashkenazy and EMI/Previn recordings of Prokofiev’s complete Cinderella both appeared simultaneously in the early days of digital. Previn’s LSO performance was considered warmer and more “Romantic”, Ashkenazy’s the more sharp-edged and brilliant. The latter conception suits the music’s acerbic wit and frequently peppery harmonic idiom better than the former, and Ashkenazy has at his disposal the incomparable virtuosity of the Cleveland Orchestra, offering resoundingly superior playing to anyone in this music before or since. Indeed, they tackle this often difficult and awkward (for the strings) piece as precisely as the striking of the monster clock at the prince’s ball. However, despite cutting textures and bright sonics, the violins still bring plenty of heft and a dusky ardor to the famous Midnight Waltz, and the music representing Cinderella’s suffering, so it’s not by any means a “cold” performance at all. At a twofer price, and issued in tandem with an excellent, glittering Glazunov Seasons (one of the best available), this set makes an irresistible bargain.
