{"product_id":"ekaterina-litvintseva-iconic-ballet-music-for-piano-compact-discs","title":"Ekaterina Litvintseva: Iconic Ballet Music for Piano - COMPACT DISCS","description":"\u003cb\u003eTitle: \u003c\/b\u003eIconic Ballet Music for Piano\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eArtist: \u003c\/b\u003eEkaterina Litvintseva\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eLabel: \u003c\/b\u003ePiano Classics\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eProduct Type: \u003c\/b\u003eCOMPACT DISCS\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eUPC: \u003c\/b\u003e5029365103381\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eGenre: \u003c\/b\u003eClassical Artists\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eRelease Date: \u003c\/b\u003e2025-11-28\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eNumber of Discs: \u003c\/b\u003e1\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \n                                         \u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \n                                         \n                                         The piano dances: new recordings of ballet classics in sparkling keyboard arrangements. Born in Russia, living and working in Germany, Ekaterina Litvintseva has made a string of critically acclaimed recordings for Piano Classics, featuring the music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff and more. On her latest album, she turns to a trio of ballet scores which have always captivated audiences for the particular genius of their marriage between story and music. She opens with Prokofiev's own arrangement of 10 pieces from Romeo and Juliet, followed by Guido Agosti's arrangement of the Suite from Stravinsky's Firebird, and Mikhail Pletnev's virtuoso transcription of dances from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. As in any popular recital, there are three encores: a waltz from Delibes' Coppelia (arranged by Erno Dohnanyi), Les Sauvages by Rameau, and finally another foot-tapping dance from the French Baroque, extracted from an opera by Lully.In these transcriptions, the pianist becomes more than just a substitute for the orchestra; she takes the role of a storyteller and a conduit for the expression of the ballet. The reduction of forces brings a more intense focus on the melodic lines, the harmonic progressions and the rhythmic subtleties of the music. Prokofiev chose to recompose and distil the essence of pivotal moments in Romeo and Juliet rather than making straightforward arrangements. In their own ways, Agosti and Pletnev also demonstrate that the essence of ballet can be captured and reimagined in the hands of a skilled pianist. While their versions of Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky have become crowd-pleasing pianistic tours de force in their own right, they also retain the elegance and the fundamental pulse of the original dances. 'The 30-something Ekaterina Litvintseva has been amassing a distinguished discography, and this... is a fine addition, exhibiting the combination of sensitivity and self-assurance that have marked her playing up until now... you owe it to yourself to make the acquaintance of Dora Pejacevic.' (Fanfare, reviewing PCL10226)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTracks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1.1 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Folk Dance \u003cbr\u003e1.2 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Scene (The Street Awakens) \u003cbr\u003e1.3 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Minuet (Arrival of the Guests) \u003cbr\u003e1.4 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Juliet as a Young Girl \u003cbr\u003e1.5 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Masquers \u003cbr\u003e1.6 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Montagues and Capulets \u003cbr\u003e1.7 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Friar Laurence \u003cbr\u003e1.8 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Mercutio \u003cbr\u003e1.9 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Dance of the Girls with Lilies \u003cbr\u003e1.10 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75~Romeo and Juliet before Parting \u003cbr\u003e1.11 Coppélia~Valse Lente \u003cbr\u003e1.12 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~March: Tempo di marcia viva \u003cbr\u003e1.13 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy: Andante ma non troppo \u003cbr\u003e1.14 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~Tarantella \u003cbr\u003e1.15 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~Intermezzo: Andante \u003cbr\u003e1.16 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~Trepak (Russian dance): Molto vivace \u003cbr\u003e1.17 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~Tea (Chinese dance): Allegro moderato \u003cbr\u003e1.18 Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a~Andante maestoso \u003cbr\u003e1.19 Sauvages \u003cbr\u003e1.20 Firebird Suite~Danse infernale \u003cbr\u003e1.21 Firebird Suite~Berceuse \u003cbr\u003e1.22 Firebird Suite~Finale \u003cbr\u003e1.23 Gavotte and Rondeau (from \"The Flames of Paris\")\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Ekaterina Litvintseva","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42150153224263,"sku":"45383571","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2976\/0132\/files\/4446483-3422628.jpg?v=1762256465","url":"https:\/\/tower.com\/products\/ekaterina-litvintseva-iconic-ballet-music-for-piano-compact-discs","provider":"Tower Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}