Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel

1. The Golden Cockerel (Zolotoy petushok), opera in 3 acts with a prologue & epilogue
Composed by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Performed by Sofia National Opera Orchestra with Evgenia Babacheva , Lyubomir Bodourov , Lyubomir Dyakovski , Nikolai Stoilov , Yavora Stoilova , Elena Stoyanova
Conducted by Dimiter Manolov

Tracks:

Tsar Saltan: Flight of the Bumblebee
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Variazioni. Andante con moto
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Scena e canto gitano
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Fandango asturiano
Sadko: Song of India
The Snow Maiden: Dance of the Tumblers
Le Coq d'or Suite: IV. Introduction and Bridal Procession
Mlada Suite: Procession of the Nobles
Tsar Saltan Suite, Op. 57: Farewell of the Tsar
Russian Easter Overture
Sheherazade Symphonic Suite: The Young Prince And The Young Princess
Sheherazade Symphonic Suite: IV. Festival at Bagdad - The Sea - Shipwreck

Customer Reviews:

A fine sampler.......2003-04-24

I purchased this CD to sample some of the pieces of Rimsky-Korsakov that I did not already own. The CD is a compilation of recognized conductors. The performances are competent, if not really inspired. Rimsky-Korsakov offers very listenable, approachable music and very rich orchestration. But this is a sampler, where most pieces are incomplete. If you are ready to jump in with both feet, purchase Scheherazade & Russian Easter Overture by Jose Serebrier, Scherazade & Cappricio Espanol by Mackerras/LSO, and Neeme Jarvi on Chandos ($$) for the rest.

I was first put off by the sonics of this CD, particularly the dynamic range, but this varies with each of the many recorded pieces.

In its favor, this CD is inexpensive, but don't expect to receive more than what you pay.

OUTSTANDING.......2002-09-16

This is a good selection of outstanding works of one of the best Russian composers. I enjoyed it very much.

Fun CD.......2002-01-29

I really appreciated the variety on this CD, from the light, bouncy bumblebee to the more bombastic pieces. I think this makes a really good intro to Korsakov's works.

Panorama: Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

Average customer rating:

A powerful and wonderful CD
POWERFUL , and AWESOME!!!
A must

Panorama: Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky
Panorama: Frederic Chopin
Schubert: 8 Symphonies
Borodin: Symphony No.2/In The Steppes Of Central Asia/Prince Igor
Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116

ASIN: B00004W3IY
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Sheherazade, Op. 35: The Sea and Sinbad's Ship - Michel Schwalbe
Sheherazade, Op. 35: The Story Of The Kalander Prince - Michel Schwalbe
Sheherazade, Op. 35: The Young Prince and The Young Princess - Michel Schwalbe
Sheherazade, Op. 35: Festival At Baghdad - The Sea - Shipwreck - Michel Schwalbe
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso - Berliner Philharmoniker
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Variazioni. Andante con moto - Berliner Philharmoniker
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso - Berliner Philharmoniker
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Scena e canto gitano. Allgretto - Berliner Philharmoniker
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Fandango asturiano - Berliner Philharmoniker
The Flight Of The Bumblebee - Michel Schwalbe
Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op.36 - Concertgebouw Orchestra

Tracks:

The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: Suite, Op. 57: The Tsar's Departure and Farewell - Philharmonia Orchestra
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: Suite, Op. 57: The Tsarina In A Barrel At Sea - Philharmonia Orchestra
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: Suite, Op. 57: The Three Wonders - Philharmonia Orchestra
Symphony No. 2 (Symphonic Suite), Op. 9 'Antar': Largo - Allegro - Largo - Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto - Largo - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2 (Symphonic Suite), Op. 9 'Antar': Allegro - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2 (Symphonic Suite), Op. 9 'Antar': Allegro risoluto - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2 (Symphonic Suite), Op. 9 'Antar': Allegretto - Adagio - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
The Golden Cockerel: Suite: Introduction And Dodon's Sleep - Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureax
The Golden Cockerel: Suite: King Dodon On The Battlefield - Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureax
The Golden Cockerel: Suite: Queen of Shamakha's Dance - King Dodon's Dance - Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureax
The Golden Cockerel: Suite: Wedding Procession - Death Of King Dodon - Finale - Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureax

Customer Reviews:

A powerful and wonderful CD.......2005-11-08

The performances are superb. The sound quality is excellent. It is a fine choice of works by Rimsky-Korsakov (over 2 hours and 35 minutes of music). We hear one of my favorite performances of Sheherazade. And the Capriccio Espagnol. The Flight of the Bumblebee. The Tsar Saltan Suite, the Golden Cockerel Suite, the Russian Easter Festival Overture. And the Second symphony. These are all dramatic works by a master of orchestration.

I highly recommend this two-disc set.

POWERFUL , and AWESOME!!!.......2004-07-11

The power that radiates from the instruments in Scheherezade is magnificient. Please, I know this line of CD's are expensive, but they are worth it. The sound is incredible! if you turn it up real loud, while listening through the headphones, you can hear the people taking their breaths before they play, dropping various items such as mallets, and sticks! Thats just how sensitive the sound is. Out of 10 stars, i give it Infinity stars...every time I listen to it, it gets better, and better, and better............

A must.......2002-12-14

Buy this CD. Don't think about it. Just buy it. I, personally, bought this CD because of the fact that it had Sheherazade (an incredibly moving and colorful piece). This interpretation of Sheherazade by Karajan is among the best (if not THE best). However, as I began to listen to the rest of the CD I found the other pieces to be equally brilliant and astounding. The flare of Capriccio Espagnol, the dramatic Second Symphony and the simple ingenuity and cheeriness of the Tsar Sultan suite. The piece that I found most surprising was the Russian Easter Festival Overture. This is one of music's most under appreciated pieces in music, and ranks easily belong side Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet or Brahms Academic Festival and Tragic overtures. Its relatively simplistic themes are some of the most exciting and riveting every written. This CD is a must for ANY lover (or of anybody even slightly interested in classical music in general). I would note that the sound quality is excellent as well...if that's a must for some of you.

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended

Coloratura Assoluta

Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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French Coloratura Arias

ASIN: B00000DFNQ
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

'Chacun Le Sait'
'Il Faut Partir'
'Et Mon Coeur La Changer
La Fille Du Regiment: 'Salut A La France'
Sadks: 'Song Of India'
Lakme: 'Pourquoi Dans Les Grands Hois?'
Dinorah: 'Ombre Legere' (Shadow Song)
'Regnava Nel Silenzio...Quando Rapita In Estasi'
Lucia Di Lammermoor: 'Il Dolce Suono Mi Colpi...Ardon Gl'Incensi'
Rigoletto: 'Caro Nome'
Lakme: 'Ou Va La Jeunne Hindoue' (Bell Song)
Mireille: 'O Legere Hirondelle'
Romeo Et Juliette: 'Je Veux Vivre'
La Traviata: 'Ah, Fors'e Lui...Sempre Libera'

Tracks:

Le Coq D'Er: 'Hymne Au Soleil'
Les Contes D'Hoffmann: 'Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille'
Zemire Et Azor: 'La Fauvette'
Mignon: 'Jesuis Titania'
I Puritani: 'Son Vergin Vezzosa'
Linda Di Chamounix: 'O Luce Di Quest' Anima'
La Sonnambula: 'Ah, Non Credea..Ah, Non Giunge'
Porgy And Bess: 'Summertime'
'The Russian Nightingale'
'Fledermaus Fantasy'
'Les Roses D'Ispahan'
'L'invitation Au Voyage'
Chansons De Rensard: 'A Une Fountaine'
Chansons De Rensard: 'A Cupidon'
Chansons De Rensard: 'Tais-Toi, Babillarde'
Chansons De Rensard: 'Dieu Vous Gard'
'Clair De Lune' - Frank La Forge
'Fantoches' - Frank La Forge
'Plaisir D' Amour'
'Home, Sweet Home'

Amazon.com

In many respects, Lily Pons was the Galli-Curci of her generation: a winning combination of good looks, charm, an appealing and non-confrontational timbre, and easy facility in the stratosphere. Those who learned the "Mad Scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor or the "Bell Song" from Lakmé via the original 78s back in the 40s will be bowled over by the vivid detail and lack of background noise in these stunning Sony restorations. First-time listeners will marvel at her effortless passagework and high notes (she often transposed her arias up on records); but may be put off by a slight thinness in the middle register (not evident in her Odeon recordings from the late 20s), sketchy intonation at times, and expedient aspirating in downward scales. Although these selections encompass a gamut of stylistic and emotional contrasts, you'd scarcely know it from the singer's pleasant but characterless interpretations, which tickle the ear without quite racking the brain. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2007-07-09

This could have been recorded yesterday, the sound quality is excellent and without blemish. By far the best recordings of Pons I have, and I would like to have others. She reminds me of Jo, separation of notes, clear, real trills, a range to rival Sumac, flexibility to perfection, and always that today neglected once standard fare of the coloratura, the requisite leap to the top note at the end of an aria. And a pretty sound. I love this album.

Average customer rating:

Another Example of Fiedler's Magic and Musicianship

Hi-Fi Fiedler [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0009U55R4
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Customer Reviews:

Another Example of Fiedler's Magic and Musicianship.......2005-10-15

The woman who lives next to the house where I grew up has a scratched copy of the LP version of HI-FI FIEDLER. I know this because she lent it to me if I promised to be very careful. I was just developing an interest in classical music and she thought I would enjoy it. She was correct. I listened to it over and over again. I put it on my father's stereo, something I could only do when my parents were not home, took out a magic wand or some similar stick from my sister's toy chest, became Arthur Fielder and conducted the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra as the music emanated from the speakers. I thought I was alone in the house because I'd never want anyone to see this spectacle, but my younger brother was lurking behind me as I finished "conducting" the march from "Le Coq d'Or." I guess I decided the orchestra needed some extra practice and picked up the needle to play the march again. My brother startled me and the end result, I scratched the record and the needle kept getting stuck at the end of the march. When I returned the recording and asked my neighbor if she knew it had a small scratch, she nicely told me it did not and from that point on, anytime I listened to recordings from her collection, I listened to them at her house and she controlled the phonograph.

Obviously I purchased this recording for nostalgic reasons, but each time I listen to it, I gain a new appreciation for Fiedler. As a Bostonian, I always acknowledged him as a revered cultural icon, but he took music seriously, and his recordings offered listeners a taste of the variety of great music available. One could argue that larger symphony orchestras under the direction of conductors such as Solti and Karajan offer fuller sounding renditions of these works, but listeners can detect Fiedler's love and his belief in the importance of these works in his interpretations. I think that it can be argued that Fiedler's conducting of Tchaikovsky's "March Slave" is one of the best versions of this work available (he loved Tchaikovsky's music), his vigorous interpretation of the overture to "William Tell" is exciting, and he's largely responsible for the popularity of both Charbrier's "Espana" and the music from "Le Coq d'Or." Perhaps this is why this recording, as well as so many other Fiedler recordings, have been reissued and seem to stand the test of time. I listen to it to bring up memories, but I also share it with young people to introduce them to classical music.

Enjoy!

Respighi: Feste romane, Pini di Roma / Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra

Average customer rating:

A sort of yes but...
Why people rave about the Cleveland Orchestra
Outstanding Sonics and Inspired Performance
Legendary Recording
Fasten your seatbelt

Respighi: Feste romane, Pini di Roma / Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 / Karl Böhm
Samuel Barber / Thomas Schippers
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Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Fantasía para un Gentilhombre

ASIN: B00004TEV0
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

Feste romane: Circenses - Circuses
Feste romane: Il giubileo - Jubilee
Feste romane: L'ottobrata - October festival
Feste romane: La Befana - Epiphany
PINI DI ROMA: I pini di Villa Borghese - At the Villa Borghese
PINI DI ROMA: Pini presso una catacomba - By a catacomb
PINI DI ROMA: I pini del Gianicolo - On the Janiculum
PINI DI ROMA: I pini della Via Appia - On the Appian Way
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': King Dodon in his palace - Le tsar Dodon chez lui
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': King Dodon on the battlefield - Le tsar Dodon en campagn
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': King Dodon with the Queen of Shemakha - Le tsar Dodon chez la reine
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': The marriage feast and lamentable end of King Dodon - La Noce et la fin pitoyable de Dodon

Amazon.com Classical Music Reviews

The Clevelanders play this program of dazzling showpieces to the hilt. In the Respighi works, their tender, quiet playing is as radiantly impressive as the color-soaked raise-the-roof sections of raw power and high decibels. The scene-painting in Respighi's Roman portraits is done to perfection, from the moonlit nocturnal picture of the Janiculum in Pines to the splashes of primary colors in the Circuses movement of Feste romaine. These performances transform tired warhorses into musically worthy experiences. The Suite from Rimsky-Korsakov's opera, Le Coq d'or, is equally brilliant. The Clevelanders demonstrate breathtaking virtuosity, and Maazel milks the sensuous score for all its worth. Maazel remade the Respighi works for Sony, repeating his achievement in first-class digital sound. But these 1976 and 1979 recordings were hi-fi demonstration material and the reissue, in Decca's 24/96 transfer process, yields nothing to recent recordings. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

A sort of yes but..........2007-07-25

I enjoyed reading some of the previous reviews. "Respighi was not a particularly nationalist composer" The Pines of ROME, The Fountains of ROME, ROMAN Festivals???! You really can't get very much more obvious.
Respighi is a very interesting composer. Largely shunned by the cultural establishment in Europe during the post WWII period as a fascist collaborator and militarist, his work has remained stubbornly popular. He was in a tough spot. The good bit about Mussolini was that he revived pride in Italy's noble past and it's really hard not to listen to the final piece of "Pines of Rome" with the ghosts of the Roman Legion marching over the horizon along the Appian Way, not to warm to that. The fact that the Imperial Period was also a period of extreme cruelty, gross social inequality and brutal militarism, well, let's leave that for a bit. For me the most interesting of the three pieces, and certainly the most musically experimental, is the Feste Romane (Roman Festivals). These are the pieces composed most expressly at the wishes of the then Italian government and the comparison with Shostakovich writing under Stalinism is very obvious. I think there's enough in them to suggest that, deeply patriotic as Respighi clearly was, he did not accept that nationalism meant a descent into barbarism and these, for me at any rate, contain starkly realistic musical depictions of some fairly barbaric "festivals". Also, perhaps more strangely, there is a strong Christian/ Medieval element, notably in the meditative and processional second movement, "Jubilee". Not a good title I feel. At the end of the day it's a close call. You will, however, enjoy both these pieces and the top-notch performances, superbly remastered, by Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra, who clearly have no ideological scruples.
My only really serious complaint is that the recording does not include the glistening "Fountains of Rome" instead of the rather underwhelming "Golden Cockerel" Suite by Rimsky-Korsakov. Ach weh das leben ist nie perfekt.

Why people rave about the Cleveland Orchestra.......2003-09-13

Heavens, what a sonic spectacular this is -- arguably the finest version of the gaudy "Feste Romane" ever recorded, and the mid-1970's sound needs no defense. Maazel just whips up a huge explosion of color, energy and detail, and the great Cleveland Orchestra shows why many discriminating listeners think this is one of the best ensembles in the world.

The "Pines" is also superb, even if it perhaps faces stiffer competition with so many other excellent versions available. But Maazel's pacing, coupled with the Cleveland musicians out in full force, makes this a contender for many "top" lists. I confess that the Rimsky-Korsakov suite, imaginative as it is, somehow hasn't hooked me as immediately as the Respighi works. But in any case, it is delivered with the same high-level playing, and Maazel deserves credit for reproducing the score's full spectrum.

While I like versions of "Pines" and "Feste" by Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra (EMI) and a budget version on Naxos with Batiz and the Royal Philharmonic, the overwhelming impact of this recording is hard to resist.

Outstanding Sonics and Inspired Performance.......2003-02-10

Looking for an outstanding performance of the The Pines of Rome, look no further. The Cleveland Orchestra and its outstanding brass section breathe life into this Orchestral showpiece. In addition, the transfer to CD preserves the incredible sonics of the original Decca analog recording.

Legendary Recording.......2002-09-25

Wanting a great recording of Pines of Rome, I surveyed the offerings and many suggested this is the best.

Have not heard the rest, but this is superb! It offers four movements orchestrating Roman settings where pines flourish. One in the midday sun, the next in twilight, the third of a nocturne nature introduces a nightingale as a nice touch. The finale, a Roman army triumphantly marching with a ominous conclusion.

The conductor and orchestra exemplify the balances providing great texture and clarity. The recording as others have noted from Decca is outstanding.

Enjoy the Rimsky-Korsakov offering with its exotic Oriental coloring in The Golden Cockerel. It has some wonderful offerings.

Fasten your seatbelt.......2001-01-23

Why can't Lorin Maazel always perform like this? These are showpieces that will knock your socks off. They're also sonically amazing. The reviewer below who says Bernstein is better has missed the point, I think: Yeah Lennie is more intense (though not really...he's just shriller and faster) in the outer sections of Festivals, but the inner sections, which are more contemplative and lyrical, are brittle and unfelt with Lenny, gorgeous with Maazel. (Hear the sumptuous Cleveland strings in the that close out part two, just before the mandolin movement enters!) If you want just loud thrills, the classical equivalnet of a hard rock band banging while you crank up the amplifier, go with Lenny. If you want shades and colors *and* a finale that will threaten your plaster, this is the one. (Maazel also uses a real glockenspiel for the churchbell, whereas Lenny flubs by with a combination triangle and piano note struck in unison.)

The Pines recording is also dazzling, with a very rich, almost spiritual middle two sections. The last movement here is a little trite maybe, but few conductors pull this off really well to my ears. (It actually works better *slower,* which gives it a greater majesty and a "finale" quality, but most conductors try to up the temperature by going in fast, and Maazel is no exception. Neither is Lenny, by the way.) This is a superb disc, and I'm thrilled Decca had the good sense to bring it to life on CD.

Dorati conducts Rimsky-Korsakov & Borodin / London Symphony

Average customer rating:

the exception
SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT
Dorati and LSO at the Bolshoi

Dorati conducts Rimsky-Korsakov & Borodin / London Symphony

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Kaleidoscope
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Delibes: Coppélia (complete ballet) / Sylvia (Ballet in Three Acts)
Chabrier: España, rhapsody; Bourrée fantasque
Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks; Song of the Nightingale

ASIN: B0000057LJ
Release Date: 1992-03-10

Tracks:

Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: 1. Alborada
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: 2. Variazioni
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: 3. Alborada
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: 4. Scena e canto gitano
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: 5. Fandango asturiano
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': 1. King Dodon In His Palace
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': 2. King Dodon On The Battlefield
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': 3. King Dodon With Queen Shemakha
Suite from 'Le Coq d'or': 4. Marriage Feast And Lamentable End Of King Dodon
Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36
Polovtsian Dances From 'Prince Igor'

Amazon.com

This recording was one of the glories of the Mercury Living Presence catalogue (which isn't saying much, because it was a catalogue that consisted of little but glories). Antal Dorati and the London Symphony Orchestra really dig into this colorful and tuneful music, giving performances of uninhibited brilliance and joy. No matter the piece, Rimsky-Korsakov just doesn't work unless everyone sounds like they're having a great time playing him. In fact, despite the music's descriptive purpose, it's really about an orchestral wizard playing with all of those really cool instruments, like a kid in a candy shop. Well, this record probably caused more than a few musical cavities. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

the exception.......2007-04-07

No one is more a fan of the Mercury Living Presence series than I, but this performance of the Cockeral is disappointing. The conducting is great as is the technical quality. The problem is in the sloppiness of the orchestra. This just isn't the quality LSO of which we have become accustomed. The strings are the worst with the brass only marginally better. It's too bad the old recording of the Philadelphia Orchestra under Ormandy isn't available on CD. No complaints of any other Mercury's though.

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT.......2002-11-21

Mercury seem to have been way ahead of the field as recording technicians to judge by this disc and a Rite of Spring (also from Dorati but with the Minneapolis) that I have owned for most of my life. When these recordings were made, the President of the USA was Mr Eisenhower, but their technical quality would be creditable for the third millennium. Rimsky-Korsakoff needs to sound brilliant and vivid -- orchestral tone was as integral to his musical thinking as counterpoint was to that of Bach or Brahms -- but for its age this disc is nothing short of phenomenal, and worth every cent of the price. The London Symphony in its heyday was probably the world's greatest orchestra, and even its lesser performances had an arrogant 'this-is-all-too-easy' assurance that made it something like ideal for Rimsky. The Walthamstow Town Hall was a famous recording venue, and Dorati is a conductor I wish I knew more about. What little I previously had by him (the Rite of Spring and some Haydn symphonies) is superlative. I got this record for the Coq d'Or suite, which is my #1 favourite bit of Rimsky but which has not been easy to find in Europe lately. It has everything I would have wanted from a record cut in 2002, and the other Rimsky pieces are to the same standard. So are the Borodin Polovtsian Dances, which are a worthy successor to my LP version -- by Beecham, no less -- but this is basically a disc for Rimsky-fanatics. If you are no kind of fanatic, here is a chance to be one without harming anybody. If you are the wrong sort of fanatic, here is a better outlet for your impulses.

Dorati and LSO at the Bolshoi.......2000-06-24

These recordings from 1955-61 smell of the theatre which is a great compliment. It might as well be the Bolshoi.The performances are razor-sharp, dramatic, exciting, and gloriously recorded. The LSO under Dorati was a remarkable ensemble, and all these years later, you can still "hear" Dorati in its concerts and recordings.

Walthamstow Town Hall, London, made a superb venue for this standard of music-making, and Wilma Cozart has rehabbed her own recording sessions to remarkable effect.

If you compare these with first edition vinyl, you'll find that the LPs give you more of the characteristic Dorati "gut" in string attacks, but that's not enough to dissuade you getting this disk if your vinyl is in ratty condition.

Tracks:

May Night - Overture
The Snow Maiden: Beautiful Spring
The Snow Maiden: Dance Of The Birds
The Snow Maiden: The Procession Of Tsar Berendey
The Snow Maiden: Dance Of The Tumblers
Christmas Eve: Christmas Night - Ballet Of The Stars - Witches' Sabbath And Ride On The Devil's Back - Polonaise - Vakula And The Slippers

Tracks:

Mlada: Introduction
Mlada: Redowa: A Bohemian Dance
Mlada: Lithuanian Dance
Mlada: Indian Dance
Mlada: Procession Of The Nobles
The Invisible City of Kitezh: Prelude: A Hymn To Nature
The Invisible City of Kitezh: Wedding Procession
The Invisible City of Kitezh: Tartar Invasion And Battle Of Kerzhenets
The Invisible City of Kitezh: Death Of Fevroniya And Apotheosis Of The Invisible City

Tracks:

The Golden Cockerel: Introduction And Dodon's Sleep
The Golden Cockerel: King Dodon On The Battlefield
The Golden Cockerel: Queen Of Shemakha's Dance; King Dodon's Dance
The Golden Cockerel: Wedding Feast; Death Of King Dodon; Finale
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: Tsar's Departure And Farewell
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: Tsarina Adrift At Sea In A Barrel
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: The Three Wonders
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: The Flight Of The Bumble Bee

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Rimsky-Korsakov's operatic suites used to be standard repertoire, but like so much attractive and colorful music, it seems that recording has absolved orchestras of the need to play them live! It's a rare day that you will find such lovely works as the Christmas Eve or Snow Maiden suite in the concert hall, so by all means invest in this comprehensive collection and enjoy them at home. This was the first project in Neeme Järvi's epic collaboration with the Scottish National Orchestra, and as is so often the case in such instances, everyone really plays their collective hearts out. Even Chandos outdoes itself in providing sound of speaker-shattering impact. A great set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Little known but wonderful.......2007-06-03

When was the last time you sat down and listened to Sheherazade? Have you ever heard it at good volume on good equipment? I thought not. So that's one thing to do. And now even better news: Rimsky-Korsakov wrote much great music in operas which have remained unknown to Western audiences. Here is a little of it in orchestral suites - good performances and sound and at a reasonable price. May it be the beginning of a delightful new journey into Russian opera!

Rare Rimsky-Korsakov well done........2006-07-19

Actually I was already familiar with some of the selections--most notably "Procession of the Nobles" from "Mlada" and "Dance of the Tumblers" from "The Snow Maiden". Thus I had a standard of quality from which I could compare the unfamiliar music.

Every piece sparkles. Rimsky-Korsakov's music is, generally, a study in elegance. Every note of these suites proves it. Frequently, when you hear music that is seldom performed, you discover WHY it isn't done. That does not apply here. I think it is a shame that I have not heard most of this music before.

Neeme Jarvi and the Scottish National Orchestra do a wonderful job performing all these suites. I whole-heartedly recommend this recording.

A great collection for Rimsky fans. (And if you're not a fan, you will be.).......2005-08-19

I have fond feelings for this collection. It was my introduction to the Chandos label and to conductor Neemi Jarvi, and I was bowled over. Since that time, recording just about every piece of music written by Western composers has apparently reduced some of Jarvi's enthusiasm, because his later recordings are often not as just-right as his Rimsky performances herein. But these performances are everything they should be. Jarvi and his Scottish orchestra stress the sparkling colors and the near-classical leanness of Rimsky's orchestrations. No Wagnerian bloat, no Brahmsian bottom-heaviness here. Rimsky seems to return to Berlioz as his orchestral paradigm, I always think.

I was immediately attracted to the Christmas Eve Suite, which I hadn't heard before; it builds to a wonderful climax in the tempo of a polonaise. Move over, Piotr I. Tchaikovsky--this music is a great change from chestnuts out of the Nutcracker (a pretty lame pun, but I'll let it stand).

However, Christmas Eve is not the only pleasure these discs provide. Jarvi offers first-rate performances of the lovely May Night, Rimsky's finest overture, as well as suites from the Golden Cockerel, the Snow Maiden, and Mlada, which contain some of Rimsky's most memorable music: the Dance of the Tumblers, the Procession of the Nobles, the Wedding Feast and Death of King Dodon. Great stuff.

And then there's Chandos' recording: incredibly clean and wide-ranging, with just the right sense of hall sound. I'm still impressed every time I listen.

As complete and good a collection as you're likely to find........2003-08-02

Over a 35-year period, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov wrote fifteen operas, all but a handful of them still in the active Russian repertoire. A few of them have even gained something of a foothold recently in the U.S., with Valery Gergiev and his Kirov Opera company performing them on tour. For those seeking orchestral works of Rimsky-Korsakov beyond Sheherazade, the Great Russian Easter Festival Overture, and, perhaps, Capriccio Espagnol and the 2nd ("Antar") Symphony, a logical place to start is with the orchestral suites he fashioned from several of his better-known operas (covering nearly half of his operatic output).

For those so interested, my first - and highest - recommendation goes to this Chandos boxed set, with Neemi Järvi conducting the Scottish National Orchestra (as it was known in 1984, when this recording was made; it is now the Royal Scottish National Orchestra). With the possible exception of some incidental music from Sadko and The Tsar's Bride, this set contains virtually all of the most popular orchestral music from Rimsky-Korsakov's better-known operas.

Over the years, Järvi has developed somewhat of a reputation for "recording everything in sight," not always with the most effective of results. But here, in what the editorial reviewer identifies as his first recording session with the SNO, he has done a splendid job all around, bringing out the often gorgeous coloristic effects of the music, with an orchestra that fully does justice to the performance requirements, and with stunning sound captured by the Chandos engineers.

Particularly noteworthy are the suite from Mlada (with its dramatic "Procession of the Nobles" march), the atmspheric and magical music from The Invisible City of Kitezh, and the better-known suite from The Golden Cockerel. In all of these suites - and in the balance of the boxed set as well - Järvi and the SNO capture the orchestrational genius of Rimsky-Korsakov with perfection: brilliant brass, shimmering strings, nicely-detailed woodwind playing, as is seldom heard from all too many Russian orchestras.

This was clearly an auspicious debut album for Järvi and the SNO, an orchestra that he would direct in many recordings over the following decade or so. And, though not inexpensive, it is the single finest (and most complete) album of Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestral suites from his operas that I have had the pleasure of hearing.

Recommended without reservation.

Bob Zeidler

Excellent compilation.......2000-09-07

I concur that this is an excellent set, performed exquisitely by Jarvi and the Scottish National Orchestra. The comprehensive liner notes refer to the Procession of the Nobles from the Mlada Suite as "splendid." Indeed it is, a tour de force of orchestration that has few peers. The panache with which it is performed here is a touchstone for the quality of the entire set.

Tracks:

Cello Concerto No. 2 In D Major, H. 7b Op. 101
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129
Phantasiestke (3 Fantasy Pieces) For Clarinet (Or Cello Or Violin) & Piano, Op
Variations On A Rococo Theme, For Cello & Orchestra (Or Cello & Piano) In A Majo
Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 1 In F Major, Op. 5/1
Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 5/2
Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 3 In A Major, Op. 69
Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 4 In C Major, Op. 102/1
Sonata For Cello & Piano No. 5 In D Major, Op. 102/2
Sonata For Arpeggione & Piano In A Minor, D.821
Pieces For Children Big And Small For Piano, 4 Hands Op. 85
Feldeinsamkeit ("Ich Ruhe Still Im Hohen Gren Gras"), Song For Voice & Piano,
Romance For Cello & Piano, Op. 69
Shylock, Incidental Music And Suite For Tenor & Orch., Op. 57
Mavra, Opera Buffa In One Act
Nocturne For Violin (Or Flute) & Piano
Melody In F, Various Arrangements, Op. 3/1
Introduction & Polonaise Brilliante For Cello & Piano In C Major, Op. 3
Song Without Words For Cello & Piano In D Major, Op. 109
Le Coq D'or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy Petushok), Concert Suite For Orchestra
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan, Op. 57
Carnival Of The Animals, Zoological Fantasy For 2 Pianos & Ensemble
Berceuse, For Violin & Piano (Or Orchestra) In D Major, Op. 16
Tonadillas Al Estilo Antiguo, Songs (10) For Voice & Piano, H. 136
Goyescas (Serenata Goyesca; Dusk), For Piano, H. 63
La Gitana For Violin & Piano (After An 18th Century Arabo-Spanish Gypsy Song)
Papillon, For Cello & Piano, Op. 77
L' Enfant Prodigue, Sce Lyrique For Voices & Orchestra, L. 57
Pie En Forme De Habanera, For Solo Instrument & Keyboard (Arr.)
Kaddisch, Song For Voice & Piano (Modie Hraue No. 1)
O Mensch, Bewein' Dein' Sde Gross, Chorale Prelude For Organ (Orgel-Bhlein N
Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen, Chorale Prelude For Organ, Bwv 727 (Bc K109)
Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I), Chorale Prelude For Organ (Orgel-Bhlein
Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland (I), Chorale Prelude For Organ (Orgel-Bhlein No. 1
Sonata For Cello & Continuo In C Major, G. 6 (Six Sonatas No. 2)

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Fournier.......2004-02-16

On this 4CD EMI Import, the great cellist Pierre Fournier performs a variety of orchestral and chamber recordings, recorded primarily in mono from the 1940s and early 50s. There are three orchestral works -- Haydn's 2nd Concerto (Kubelik/Philharmonia, 1951), Schumann's Concerto (Sargent/Philharmonia, 1956 in stereo), and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations (Bigot/Lamoureux, 1941). Disc two, and half of disc three, contain Beethoven Cello Sonatas with the great Artur Schnabel, while the fourth disc features a variety of pieces, from Bach and Boccherini to Debussy and Ravel, with pianist Gerald Moore. I'm withholding a fifth star because the collection contains mostly historical recordings, though it certainly captures one of history's greatest cellists in his prime. With that being said, "Les Introuvables de Pierre Fournier" is a must buy for cello entusiasts.

Average customer rating:

Outstanding Choice
Rewarding Rimsky-Korsakov

Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Favorites

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00005NEZY
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Tsar's Departure & Farewell - Paul Kletzki
Tsarina In A Barrel At Sea - Paul Kletzki
The Flight Of The Bumblebees - Andre Cluytens
The Three Wonders - Paul Kletzki
Russian Easter Overature - Lovro Von Matacic
King Dodon In His Palace - Efrem Kurtz
King Dodon On The Battlefield - Efrem Kurtz
King Dodon As The Guest Of Queen Shemakha - Efrem Kurtz
The Marriage Feast And Lamentable End Of Dodon - Efrem Kurtz
Capriccio Espagnol - Andre Cluytens

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Choice.......2007-02-24

I heartily concur with reviewer Richman's assessment of this re-release on the Seraphim label. Unlike him, I am a long-time collector who is just trying to fill a few "holes" in my music library without breaking the bank. Bingo! This recording was a perfect choice for me. Nice sound, good performances, all you could ask for.

Rewarding Rimsky-Korsakov.......2003-07-28

This is one of my favorite CDs in the latest installment of EMI's Seraphim budget-line series. "Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Favorites" collects just what it says, some of the composer's best-known and most-loved shorter works for orchestra, including the Tsar Sultan and Golden Cockerel Suites, Russian Easter Overture and Capriccio Espagnol. Though the best part about this disc for a vintage stereo fan like myself is classic performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra by some of the lesser-known, but nonetheless great, conductors of the 20th Century -- Paul Kletzki, Andre Cluytens, Lovro von Matacic and Efrem Kurtz. All of this material has been available on CD previously, and in fact the only piece I don't have on two different products is the Matacic Russian Easter Overture performance. But those of you who started collecting classical late (like me) and haven't had a chance to purchase titles in the "Artist Profile" series, will truly benefit from the current availability of these magnificent recordings. And those of you who could care less about what I just said and were just looking for a second Rimsky-Korsakov disc because you are ready to move-on from your heavily played copy of Scheherazade, you've happened upon a real gem.

Average customer rating:

A great bargain for Markevitch fans

Eternal Russia

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001GJI
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Customer Reviews:

A great bargain for Markevitch fans.......2005-09-18

This twofer is filled out with a couple of performances by Lorin Maazel, but the bulk is conducted by Igor Markevitch with his usual incisiveness and intensity. Markevitch was a better conductor before his disastrous hearing loss in the early Sixties. Even so, his great talent and individuality shine through, and the orchestral playing here is generaly better than he got from lesser orchestras, the kind he found himself conducing as he dropped form the first rank. Like Scherhcen and Horenstein, Markevitch is a cult conductor who is very much worth hearing.

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