Eugene Ormandy - Sabre Dance (1966) Vinyl LP • Aram Khachaturian, Galop

Catalog Number:

Musical Styles:

Sleeve Grade:

Record Grade:

Condition Details:

Still in ORIGINAL SHRINK-WRAP (opened). Vinyl plays nicely (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges (front/back); some discoloration on back near opening edge. Inner-sleeve is generic white. Spine is easy-to-read with mild-wear. Minor shelf-wear along top-edge, slightly heavier wear across bottom-edge and corners, shrink split over bottom-right corner. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. '2-eye' gray Columbia label. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. Galop From "Masquerade Suite"
2. Dance Of The Rose Maidens From "Gayne Ballet"
3. Polka From "The Age Of Gold"
4. Polonaise From "Christmas Eve Suite"
5. Dance Of The Tumblers From "The Snow Maiden"
6. Troika From "Lieutenant Kije Suite"
7. Russian Sailors' Dance From "The Red Poppy"
8. Comedian's Galop From "The Comedians"
9. Gopak From "The Fair At Sorochinsk"
10. Sabre Dance From "Gayne Ballet"
11. Trepak From "The Nutcracker"
12. Polovetsian Dances From "Prince Igor"

About The Record:

Sabre Dance, by Eugene Ormandy, is a vibrant collection of energetic orchestral works primarily featuring compositions by Aram Khachaturian alongside pieces from other Russian and Soviet-era composers, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Ormandy's signature lush and dynamic style. The album highlights Khachaturian's lively ballet excerpts, including the title track Sabre Dance from Gayane, renowned for its fast-paced, exhilarating rhythm incorporating Armenian folk elements that has long been a staple in popular classical programming for its thrilling intensity. Other standout selections include the spirited Galop from Masquerade Suite, the graceful Dance of the Rose Maidens (also from Gayane), and spirited dances like the Polka from Shostakovich's The Age of Gold and a Polonaise from Christmas Eve by Rimsky-Korsakov, showcasing Ormandy's skill in delivering colorful, accessible interpretations of 20th-century Russian repertoire. A unique aspect is its focus on high-energy, crowd-pleasing "fireworks"-style pieces that blend classical precision with popular appeal, making it part of Ormandy's efforts to bring exciting orchestral showpieces to broader audiences. Sabre Dance itself remains a fan-favorite and historically significant as one of the most recognized and frequently performed excerpts in classical music, though this 1966 album version did not produce any hit singles or chart positions for the album.