BAX: Orchestral Works, Vol. 9: The Truth About the Russian Dancers / From Dusk Till Dawn

$11.99 (CD)

Link to this CD

Bax was commissioned to write The Truth about the Russian Dancers, a J.M Barrie extravaganza from the 1920s (originally intended for the Ballet Russes), written for a production that was half-dance, halfstage play and enjoyed great popularity at the time, but the complete orchestral score was not heard again until the premiere recording on Chandos. This is coupled with the shorter piece, From Dusk Till Dawn which presents a clear Ravelian influence. Highlighting the Russian elements of Bax's style at their clearest, the two works are performed complete and prove to be "lively and fanciful pictorial music which makes for agreeable listening." (Dance and Dancers). Both scores give a flavour of a facet of British musical life in the early 1920s, and are most closely related to Bax's Tone Poems. They "savour the lyrical warmth and generous orchestral colours, which reflects Bax's self-description as 'a brazen Romantic'" (Dance and Dancers).

Both works are performed by Bryden Thomson conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Truth About the Russian Dancers (more info)
Performed by: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Composed by: Arnold Bax
Conducted by: Bryden Thomson


1.   Part I: Overture - - 4:10
2.   Part I: Entry of Karissima - - 1:15
3.   Part I: Karissima Plays Golf - - 3:02
4.   Part I: Karissima and Lady Vere - - 1:36
5.   Part I: The Walking Lesson - - 1:12
6.   Part I: Lord Vere Tells His Mother of His Love for Karissima - - 0:18
7.   Part I: Karissima Appeals for Love - - 0:28
8.   Part I: Karissima Droops Pathetically - - 1:02
9.   Part I: Karissima's Dance of Joy - - 0:42
10.   Part I: The Wedding Ceremony - - 1:37
11.   Part I: Dance: corps de ballet - - 1:18
12.   Part I: The Wedding Service - - 2:52
13.   Part I: A Wild Night - The Maestro - - 1:54
14.   Part I: The Clock Strikes Twelve - - 0:17
15.   Part I: Lord Vere Pleads for a Child - - 0:40
16.   Part I: Karissima and Lord Vere Go Off in Gay Delight - 0:36
17.   Part II: Dance of Motherhood - - 6:16
18.   Part II: The Funeral of Karissima – - 5:34
19.   Part II: Child's Dance - - 2:16
20.   Part II: Karissima's Farewell - - 5:57
21.   Part II: Finale: Allegro vivace - 3:23


From Dusk Till Dawn (more info)
Performed by: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Composed by: Arnold Bax
Conducted by: Bryden Thomson


22.   Prelude: Summer Night at the Window - - 2:07
23.   The Wind Dances in the Garden - - 1:47
24.   Molto piu lento: Midnight Strikes - - 0:38
25.   The Awakening - - 1:35
26.   The Flower's Dance - - 1:27
27.   The Dancer and the Clown - - 1:32
28.   The Wind Dances Through the Room - - 1:11
29.   Piu lento: The Clock Strikes One - - 0:16
30.   The Flowers Dance Again - - 3:11
31.   Piu lento: The Clock Strikes Two – - 0:16
32.   The Dancer Falls Weeping Into the Clown's Arms - - 0:12
33.   The Clown Thrusts Her Aside and Scolds her - - 0:09
34.   They Quarrel - - 0:37
35.   The Wind - - 1:15
36.   The Dancer Humbly Draws the Clown's Attention to the sad fate of his rival - - 0:59
37.   The Dancer Turns Back to the Clown – - 0:50
38.   Dawn - - 0:27
39.   The Clock Strikes Three - - 0:16
40.   Everything is Still, a Sad Silence Reigns - - 0:52
41.   The Wind Blows the Dancer Into the Clown's Stiff Arms - 0:39

Reviews