Eugene Ormandy - Dances for Orchestra (1963) Vinyl LP • Danse Macabre, Grieg

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Condition Details:

Vinyl plays with occasional crackles (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges; light-scuffing (front/back); discoloration with darker spots and some surface bubbling on back. Inner-sleeve is generic white. Spine is partly readable with wear (printed off-center). Minor shelf-wear along top-edge, slightly heavier across bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. '2-eye' gray Columbia label. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. Habanera
2. Anitra's Dance
3. Russian Sailor's Dance
4. Danse Bohème
5. Danse Macabre
6. Polovtsian Dances
7. Alborada Del Gracioso

About The Record:

Dances for Orchestra, by Eugene Ormandy, is a vibrant compilation of colorful orchestral showpieces performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, featuring lively selections such as Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, Saint-Saëns's Danse Macabre and Habanera, Grieg's Anitra's Dance from Peer Gynt, Glière's Russian Sailor's Dance, Bizet's Danse Bohème from Carmen, and Ravel's Alborada del gracioso from Miroirs. This album showcases Ormandy's renowned lush, polished orchestral sound and the Philadelphia Orchestra's celebrated "Philadelphia Sound," making it an accessible and engaging introduction to these popular Romantic and early 20th-century dance excerpts. A unique aspect is its focus exclusively on energetic, characterful dances drawn from operas, ballets, and suites, highlighting rhythmic vitality and exotic flavors that were staples of mid-century orchestral programming. Historically, it reflects the Philadelphia Orchestra's long-standing reputation under Ormandy for delivering audiophile-quality recordings of crowd-pleasing repertoire during the stereo era. Fan-favorites among these enduringly beloved pieces include the evocative Danse Macabre with its spooky Halloween associations and the exuberant Polovtsian Dances, both of which remain concert and recording highlights.