Herman Severin Løvenskiold: Sylfiden Reviews

Review by Gary for Herman Severin Løvenskiold: Sylfiden
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It can be said that La Sylphide (Sylfiden as the Danes call it, was premiered by the Royal Danish Ballet in 1836), composed by Herman Severin Lovenskiold and choreographed by Bournonville, is the earliest piece of ballet music from the Romantic period that has been recorded. However, an ealier version of the same ballet by a different composer (Schneitzhoeffer)–no recordings–and choreographer has been revived by the Paris Ballet (Who knows how faithful it is to the original!). La Sylphide is a story about a female spirit, called the Sylphide, who falls in love with a young man; he too falls in love with her. But the little courtship is to be cut short by a witch. The fairy tale ends with the death of the Sylphide. The star ballerina of the first version of La Sylphide was Marie Taglioni, who was forever associated with the beginning of the Romantic ballet. Now we come to the version recorded on this CD. First, a little history. After the Danish choreographer, August Bournonville, saw Marie Taglioni dance in the role of the Sylphide at the Paris Opera, he wanted to stage his own production of the ballet. But first, he had to purchase the rights for using the score (by Schneitzhoeffer), but to his disappointment, it was too expensive. Consequently, he decided to have entirely new music written. And the man to accomplish this was Lovenskiold. So successful was this second version that the complete Bournonville choreography along with Lovenskiold’s score are still used today by the Royal Danish Ballet. This is a superb “complete” performance by the Danish Radio Sinfoniette. The sound is clear and rich! Damgaard who has been the chief conductor at the Royal Danish Theatre since 1990 conducts beautifully. Under his baton, the orchestra makes the music sound alive and poignant. For those who are interested in ballets or just a great fairy tale, I highly recommend they get this CD. The only alternative recording is the one on Chandos, performed by the Royal Danish Orchestra (conducted by Garforth). It is also excellently performed (Read my review for that recording!). That CD contains an extra number (a pas de deux, which is not ever played as part of the complete ballet), which is a delight to hear! The CPO version, however, contains James’ Act 1 solo, which is not in the Chandos recording. If you’re a completist, get both!

Review by Luis Federico Sala for Herman Severin Løvenskiold: Sylfiden
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It is a beatiful recording of the first romantic ballet, who has a precursor on Taglioni’s Sylphide (which can be appreciate on video recording by Ghislene Thesmar interpretation with the corps of Opera Paris Ballet, music by Scheneihoffer,available at amazon.com). The perfomance of Lovenskiold partiture by the Danish Radio Simfonieta conducted by Daamgaardt is perfect, without affectation and it reach the maximum climax on second act. I bought this record because I listen on the radio the overture and the introduction of the first act, which inmediately decided me to find out and bought this version. There is only a criticism to the booknote which is included on the CD. Taglioni ‘s Sylphide has been succesfull performed in our century, on the seventies by a reconstruction taken on by Pierre Lacotte and interpreted by Ghislaine Thesmar. Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires offer this version on 1974 on stage and it was suscefull received at Argentine and many great Argentine Ballerinas interpreted the beautiful role of the light Sylphide.