Last-minute culture-vulture gifts

December 23, 2007

The Cincinnati Enquirer

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY AND POPS RECORDINGS

For a last-minute gift with class, you only have to look as far as the two latest releases from the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops orchestras.One of the most enchanting CDs out this season is an album of selections from "The Nutcracker," recorded in Music Hall by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops for Telarc. Best-loved tunes include "Waltz of the Snowflakes" (featuring the Cincinnati Children's Choir) and of course, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," played by Julie Spangler on celesta.
Also recently released - and one of the most electrifying and deeply emotional albums to come from Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony - is a Tchaikovsky disc pairing the "Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture" with Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique."
Both albums are on Telarc (CD: $15.99; Super audio CD: $19.99). Some stores are running low; so consider calling ahead. (The orchestra's box office is closed until Dec. 26.)
You can also download CSO and Pops CDs and individual tracks from iTunes onto your own disc.

By Janelle Gelfand