"...the disc confirms the suspicion that Efrem Kurtz is probably the finest conductor of ballet music in the world, certainly the supreme exponent of Tchaikovsky's ballets... A winner of a record." - Gramophone, September 1960 Efrem Kurtz, an imposing figure on the podium, who, with a graceful baton-less technique drew exceptionally lyrical playing out of the orchestras he conducted and was in great demand for his native Russian repertoire. He recorded highlights from all three Tchaikovsky ballets for EMI in the late 1950s and they are all available again on LP from HIQ: Swan Lake is on HIQLP049 and The Nutcracker is on HIQLP051. In the review of the stereo LP in The Gramophone of November 1960, W.S.M. confirmed his initial thoughts - "It is an extremely enjoyable cross-cut of Sleeping Beauty, performed magnificently under a conductor who understands Tchaikovsky's ballet music completely. Yehudi Menuhin contributes only one solo, but that [is] a most distinguished one. The stereo is perhaps rather warmer and vivid than the very acceptable mono..."