Released on May 2, 1978 from RCA’s Red Seal Records classical label, David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf is an album where Bowie would narrate the story of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. Produced by Jay David Saks and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra that is conducted by Eugene Ormandy. The album is really an anomaly of sorts for Bowie as it’s not part of Bowie’s official canon of studio records as it was made as a Christmas present for his son Duncan as well as a record that would introduce children to the world of classical music.
The album’s first half is devoted entirely to the story of Peter and the Wolf as Bowie’s narration is so rich in not just his description but adding personality to the array of different characters by providing a different voice for each role. It opens providing the listeners of what instruments to hear for each character as it has these amazing orchestration and arrangements into everything that is being played. The album’s second half is devoted to Benjamin Britten’s work which serves as a young person’s introduction to the world of the orchestra known as Opus 34. It is among one of these pieces of music that gives young listeners a chance of what orchestral music is and why it is so important as it is performed by the Boston Pop Orchestra that is conducted by Arthur Fielder. A 1992 reissue features Britten’s piece but without the narration by Hugh Downs as the expanded album includes Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker orchestral suite as bonus tracks.
As a classical album, David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf is an excellent album as it is a fine introduction for young listeners to discover the world of classical music. As a Bowie album, it’s really something that is more of a different kind of release since it’s not really a Bowie album though his narration is incredible. In the end, David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf is a pretty good album from David Bowie and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Studio Releases: David Bowie (1967 album) - David Bowie (1969 album) - The Man Who Sold the World - Hunky Dory - The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - Aladdin Sane - Pin Ups - Diamond Dogs - Young Americans - Station to Station - Low - "Heroes" - Lodger - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) - Let’s Dance - Tonight - Never Let Me Down - Tin Machine - Tin Machine II - Black Tie White Noise - Outside - Earthling - ‘Hours…’ - Heathen - Reality - The Next Day - *
Live Releases: David Live - Stage - Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby - Bowie at the Beeb - (Live at Fashion Rocks (w/ Arcade Fire)) - (Live Santa Monica ‘72) - (Glass Spider Live) - (VH1 Storytellers) - (A Reality Tour)
Soundtracks: Christiane F. - Labyrinth - The Buddha of Suburbia
Miscellaneous: Baal - Sound + Vision - (Early On ((1964-1966)) - (All Saints) - Toy - (Nothing Has Changed)
© thevoid99 2016
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