KHACHATURIAN: MUSIC FROM “GAYANEH” AND “SPARTACUS.” Yuri...

KHACHATURIAN: MUSIC FROM “GAYANEH” AND “SPARTACUS.” Yuri Temirkanov conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. EMI compact disc CDC 7-47348-2. Though the composer’s quarter-century-old London recording of excerpts from these ballets still retains freshness and sonic clarity, it is no match for this more recent, brilliantly recorded CD. Temirkanov favors brisk tempos, but never at the expense of the underlying dance pulse, and the RPO plays with all the lushness and virtuosity one could wish. The only disappointment is the exclusion of the sensual, strings-only Adagio from “Gayaneh”--a splendid CD show-off piece.