Borodin: Prince Igor; Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain

On this CD:

1. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for orchestra, orchestrated by Ravel
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Ian Balmain, Simon Haram
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

2. Night on Bald Mountain (Noch' na Lïsoy gore), symphonic poem, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

3. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Overture
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

4. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Polovtsian Dances: Dance 1
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

5. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Polovtsian Dances: Dance 2
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Ian Balmain, Simon Haram
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

6. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Polovtsian Dances: Dance 3
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Ian Balmain, Simon Haram
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

7. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Polovtsian Dances: Dance 4
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Ian Balmain, Simon Haram
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

8. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Polovtsian Dances: Dance 5
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Ian Balmain, Simon Haram
Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

Tracks:

Promenade
Gnomus
Promenade
Il Vecchio Castello
Promenade
Tuileries
Bydlo
Promenade
Ballet Of The Chicks In Their Shells
Samuel Goldenburg And Schmuyle
The Marketplace At Limoges
Catacombae, Sepulchrum Romanum
Con Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
The Hut On Fowl's Legs
The Great Gate At Kiev
Marche Miniature (From Suite No. 1 In D-Minor, Op. 43)
A Night On Bald Mountain - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Prince Igor: Polovtsian March
Marche Slave
Colas Breugnon, Op. 24: Overture
Russian And Ludmilla: Overture - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Desert Island Disc!.......2007-06-20

This sacd is positively stunning. I am young. I was raised on gizmos, gadgets and hi-tech this and that...and for the life of me I can't understand how these engineers back in the 50's and 60's produced such astoundingly detailed recordings. With two or three mics for the hall and some tube equipment and wham...there you have it...a recording of impressively powerful pieces of music with enough separation and detail within the mix to keep the listener busy for hours and hours on end. That and the emotional wallop packed by this recording is second to none. Even if you have copies aplenty of Pictures, or Night on..., such as I do myself, please do not hesitate to pick up this recording as it is worth every dime. If you are looking for an interesting counterpoint to Reiner's reading of Pictures or Night pick of Jose Serebrier's recording on Naxos.

Great way to exercise.......2007-06-13

Such great music. Exercise and listening
to this one is a great combination.
Time seems to fly by and before you know
it. Times up!

Wow!.......2007-04-02

How can something older than me sound so good? The recording is top notch. Dont be fooled into thinking it is "just stereo", the ambience of symphony hall comes thru as though it were recorded in surround. Exquisite detail and perfect tempo. Timpani has realistic impact. And all the other music with Pictures makes this a real bargain!

Strauss and Mussorgsky.......2007-03-24

They sound good, without the 'edge' often associated with CDs. CDs are a Fourier Transform of the analog source - that is to say a subset of it.

Hybrid SACD Mussorgsky: Pirctures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain.......2007-01-14

Great value. Great performances. On my krell sacd player, I found small differences between the SACD layer and the regular. The recordings are outstanding. Consider the price and that this is a 2 lp set, this is a deal.

Average customer rating:

If only we had more "tyrants" like this one.
This orchestra really is a cut above
"White"/Background Noise Problem
Fritz Reiner Conducting- Chicago Symphony
Wicked!

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Respighi: Pines of Rome, etc
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture
Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony
Borodin: Symphony No.2/In The Steppes Of Central Asia/Prince Igor
Holst: The Planets

ASIN: B000003FMY
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Il vecchio castello
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo
Picutres At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhitibition: The Marketplace at Limoges
Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombae, sepulchrum romanum
Picturest At An Exhibition: Con mortuis in lingua mortua
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut on Fowl's Legs
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate at Kiev
Marche miniature (From Suite No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 43)
A Night On Bald Mountain
Prince Igor: Polovtsian March
Marche Slave
Colas Breugnon, Op. 24: Overture
Russian And Lucmilla: Overture

Customer Reviews:

If only we had more "tyrants" like this one........2007-05-16

The only comparable orchestra to Reiner's late fifties Chicago Leviathan was another Midwestern ensemble a few hundred miles to the east in Cleveland (also commanded by an expatriate Hungarian Jewish maestro).

It's a toss up over which orchestra was better, but this disc features ensemble playing of such overwhelming strength and authority that I can hardly think of a Szell/Cleveland recording that tops it, especially since the RCA Living Stereo sound is far better than the shabby sonics of Columbia/Sony.

Glinka's "Russlan and Ludmilla: Overture" alone is worth the unbelievably low admission price. The orchestra is simply on fire and it was captured in fabulous fifties sound that hasn't aged.

If a little tape hiss puts you into a hissy fit then by all means avoid this disc. (And also avoid those musty old paintings in the Prado and the Metropolitan.) Otherwise just buy it and crank up the volume to something approaching the hundred-plus decibels Reiner heard as the CSO burned onto tape one of the finest recordings in the history of classical music.

This orchestra really is a cut above.......2007-03-06

From the moment the brass open the Promenade, it's instantly apparent just how flawless and precisely this orchestra plays. This is the most perfect intonation I have heard on any recording, ever. I have to agree with other reviewers in saying that even being 50 years old, this recording sounds better than a lot of recent CDs I own. Everything is unbelievably crisp and clear. Congratulations to Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for an amazing job.

I should mention though, the previous reviewer is right, there IS tape hiss throughout the CD. It isn't loud and I for one don't find it irritating, but it is more noticable than on other recordings I have. The liner notes also explain it- "to preserve the quality of the source material during transfer, we rejected any process by which tape hiss or other minor imperfections in the source material could be minimized at the expense of the original musical program's sonic integrity". I am glad at this choice.

All in all, an absolutely fantastic version of one of the great masterpieces of the 19th century. At the absurdly low price of $7.95, I don't see any reason to pass this one up.

"White"/Background Noise Problem.......2007-01-15

I was very excited when I found this recording of "Pictures at an Exhibition," however I have been slightly disappointed. Musically the performance is amazing, and is without a doubt the best that I have ever heard. Unfortunately, there is a lot of background/"white" noise in the recording that becomes very noticeable especially in the softer moments of the piece. It's almost like hearing nails on a chalkboard.

This "white" noise goes away by turning the volume down, however the music suffers from this as well. I have not had this problem with other CDs/recordings.

Fritz Reiner Conducting- Chicago Symphony .......2007-01-05

Fritz Reiner brings out the best in Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition with full clear presentations of each section of the piece. The clarity of the recording is just great.

Wicked!.......2006-09-27

im doing the ' pictures at an exhibition ' in music and its a fabulous peice of music ! so peaceful but exciting at the same time !!! 100 *'z lol x

Average customer rating:

Major Orchestras, Major Conductor, Major Power!
Thunder and Lightning
Wonderful
Big, Beautiful Music!
Solti at his best!!

Thunder & Lightning

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Thunderous Classics
Heavy Classix
Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder
Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Simply the Best Classical Anthems

ASIN: B00000DLUS
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Tracks:

William Tell Overture: Galop - Georg Solti
Ga Parisienne: Cancans 1 & 2 - Georg Solti
La Gioconda: Dance of the Hours - Georg Solti
Russlan And Ludmilla: Overture - Georg Solti
Die Walkide of the Valkyries - Georg Solti
Carmen: Prelude, Act I (March of the Toreadors) - Georg Solti
1812 Overture: Finale - Georg Solti
Les Preludes: Finale - Georg Solti
Symphony No. 6 in F: 'Pastoral' - Storm - Georg Solti
Aida: Triumphal Chorus & Grand March - Georg Solti
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III - Georg Solti
Prince Igor: Polovtsian dances - Georg Solti
Requiem: Dies irae - Georg Solti
Requiem: Tuba mirum - Georg Solti
Symphonie Fantastique: March to the Scaffold - Georg Solti
Romeo and Juliet Overture Fantasia: Montagues and Capulets, Love Theme and Finale - Georg Solti
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut on Hens' Legs - Georg Solti
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate of Kiev - Georg Solti

Tracks:

Also sprach Zarathustra: Sunrise - Solti
The Planets: Mars - Solti
Romeo And Juliet Ballet Suit: Dance of the Knights - Solti
Symphony No. 4 In F Minor: IV. Allegro con fuco - Solti
A Night On The Bare Mountain - Solti
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D - Solti
Damnation Of Faust: Hungarian March - Solti
Tannhauser: Fest March (Entrance of the Guests) - Solti
Enigma Variations: Troyte (Variation No. 7) - Solti
Enigma Variations: E.D.U. (Variation No. 14) - Solti
Il Trovatore: Anvil Chorus - Solti
Bolero: Conclusion - Solti
Symphony No. 9: Ode To Joy - Solti
The Twilight Of The Gods: The Immolation Of The Gods - Solti

Customer Reviews:

Major Orchestras, Major Conductor, Major Power!.......2004-06-16

I own multiple recordings of most of the works on Georg Solti's Thunder & Lightning, but I always hold this collection as my reference. Not only with his beloved Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but several other world class ensembles, the Maestro shows his monumental interperative talents to make old warhorses sound as if we've never heard them before. He could inspire an orchestra to "open the heavens or open a flower" with his baton. His presence is missed, but his work is forever.

Thunder and Lightning.......2004-02-22

If you wish to relax using this CD set after work, you are buying the wrong album. But, if you MUST drive between one and six in the morning, this set, by repeating all just once, can keep you awake on the road, however boring it is. Trust me, TRUST SOLTI!

Wonderful.......2002-05-23

Solti shows here why he is one of the best interpreters of classical music. while conducting Wagner is his best work, here he shows that he can interpret well just about any composer. also, in this 2-disc set, there is a nice wide range of music, so for those who are just getting into classical music, this is a good place to start.

Big, Beautiful Music!.......1999-05-17

This collection is great fun. I can't imagine a better way to drive home from work on a Fri afternoon than listening to Solti's "Thunder and Lightning" LOUD on an excellent car stereo. Order and ENJOY!!:)

Solti at his best!!.......1999-05-13

A wonderful collection of Solti's intensity and drive in this music. He is at his best here and how nice to hear a variety of orchestras. Good "sampler" for future purchases.

Average customer rating:

Borodin: Prince Igor, Symphony #2
The Dances Are Not Kubelik's With The Choir!!
This Album is a Steal!!!
Borodin is worth the price
More good than bad

Borodin: Prince Igor; Symphony No2

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture
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Borodin: Polovtsian Dances/Symphony Nos.2 & 3
Borodin: Symphony No.2/In The Steppes Of Central Asia/Prince Igor

ASIN: B000000UVR
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In B Minor: I. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2 In B Minor: II. Scherzo (Prestissimo)
Symphony No. 2 In B Minor: III. Andante
Symphony No. 2 In B Minor: IV. Finale (Allegro)
Night On Bald Mountain
Khovanshchina: Dance Of The Persian Slaves
In The Steppes Of Central Asia
Prince Igor: Overture
Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances

Customer Reviews:

Borodin: Prince Igor, Symphony #2.......2006-11-10

Condition received-excellent
Music-beautiful
Seller-easy to deal with
Received-Timely

The Dances Are Not Kubelik's With The Choir!!.......2005-02-28

The original LP of Kubelik's Vienna Phil. Borodin Symphony 2, also contained a masterful and exciting performance of the Polovtsian Dances with Kubelik again, conducting The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Oddly, this treasured performance of the Borodin Dances has NEVER found its' way onto a CD. When I first encountered this CD in the shop, I was led to believe I was going to get my old LP replaced with some good bonuses to boot. Though I'm delighted to have Kubelik's Vienna Borodin 2 on CD, I was really bunmmed that I got a choirless Polovtsian Dances with Steinberg and Pittsburgh instead. Owners of the original LP can and will be easily fooled here, for the back of the jewel case indicates Kubelik for The Polovtsian Dances. Only when the enclosed leaflet is read, is the error on the back of the case corrected.

This Album is a Steal!!!.......2004-08-17

Good recordings and performances of a somewhat disjointed collection (Bald Mountain is out of place and not the best perfomance of that piece). Prince Igor is without the Choir, but then, some of us just like the music and an unintelligible choir doesn't always add to the appreciatoin.

Borodin is worth the price.......2002-12-28

I purchased this album for the recording of Borodin's "Symphony # 2" - a piece that is rarely played on classical music stations, but which I had heard on a show that plays only very unusual Classical numbers.

I was not disappointed. This small short work by Borodin (about 27 minutes) is really what makes this CD worth purchasing. Borodin's Russian heritage has never been more evident than on this symphony, which may have been his way of "thumbing his nose" at the coming Russian Revolution.

However, the very unusual version of Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" almost ruined my appreciation of the other Borodin pieces that come after. I have no idea how or why this particular piece was included - it would have been far better to include more of Borodin's short works, or a selection from his 1st symphony, rather than this rather disconcerting version of "Bald Mountain". Quite different from what is normally heard on recordings of "Bald Mountain".

If you make it thru the Mussorgsky pieces however, there's more Borodin for you to enjoy. "In the Steppes of Central Asia" is masterfully done. The selections from the "Prince Igor" opera include the complete Polovetsian dances selection as well as the memorable version of the overture to "Prince Igor". Made me wish they had done the whole work.

I would have given this a perfect five stars if the weird and strange "Bald Mountain" had been omitted and something else of Borodin's compositions had been inserted instead. Still worth buying just for the "Symphony # 2" however.

More good than bad.......2002-06-06

The Borodin pieces on this compilation are worth a listen. I bought this for the Polovtsian Dances, and without a choir they are not quite good enough, though they are still handled well. Borodin's symphony #2 was definitely a pleasant surprise, with hummable melodies in each movement. In the Steppes of Central Asia is an excellent piece and this is an excellent recording of its bouyant, effervescent simplicity. My favorite was the ending of the Prince Igor Overture. Frenzied strings rush to bubble over the top in the second-to-last measure, there is a perfectly timed millisecond of silence and POW the orchestra nails the last note right on the head. It's the best recording of the overture that I've ever heard.

The disappointment comes with all the Mussorgsky. Rimsky-Korsakov was a wonderful composer, but not a wonderful reviser of other people's works. The trumpet vibratos are the only interesting addition to A Night on Bald Mountain; the rest is just grotesque. And the light character of Mussorgsky's original version of the Dance of the Persian Slaves is totally lost in favor of badly-placed noise. There are tons of other recordings of these two Mussorgsky pieces in his original scorings; I recommend those.

Customer Reviews:

THE PERFORMANCE!.......2007-01-24

I was thrilled to finally be able to replace my old (nearly worn out) copy of this recording.These are the most intense renderings of the pieces that I have ever heard.

1812 Overture, Bald Mountain, Easter Overture, Polovtsian.......2006-10-13

The LP was an early acquisition for me. I am replacing my most played LP with this CD.

I was impressed by the treatment of each piece. The 1812 Overture was, by far, the best of the lot. I have heard other orchestras and other conductors do this, but, this one is a standout.

The one incongruous piece was the Polovtsian Dances. The other three were classical classic, and this one was a combination of swing and classical. Still, enjoyable.

The Russian Easter Overture was excellent. If you think about what it was trying to communicate, you get it.

Night on Bald Mountain on this record has only been bested by the Disney Fantasia treatment of it. This one was impressive, but the Disney version was inspiring, and brought tears to my eyes. On the Disney version, Stokowski did this by changing the last movement to Ave Maria. On this version, Hollreiser keeps to the Moussorgsky score for then ending.

Ah, the OLD Disney movies. That was stuff to appeal to values.

This recording is well worth any money they ask for it

Tchaikovsky's "Pathétique" Symphony and Works by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Kabalevsky, Borodin

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky's "Pathétique" Symphony and Works by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Kabalevsky, Borodin

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B00000E69Q
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Average customer rating:

Russian Music

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004LCAX
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Il vecchio castello - Simon Haram (Saxophone)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibiton: Bydlo - George Smith (Tuba)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Unhatched Chicks
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle - Ian Balmain (Trumpet)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Limoges
Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombes
Pictures At An Exhibition: Con mortuis in lingua mortua
Pictures At An Exhibiton: The Hut On Hen's Legs
Pictures At An Exhibiton: The Heroes' Gate At Kiev
Picutres At An Exhibition: A Night On The Bare Mountain
Prince Igor: Overture
Polovtsian Dances From Prince Igor: Dance I - Daivd Nolan
Polovtsian Dances From Prince Igor: Dance II - David Nolan
Plovtsian Dances From Prince Igor: Dance III - David Nolan
Polovtsian Dances From Prince Igor: Dance IV - David Nolan
Polovtsian Dances From Prince Igor: Dance V - David Nolan

Tracks:

Scheherazade, Symphonic Suite Op. 35: The Sea And Sinbad's Ship - MUSSORGSKY/BORODIN/RIMSKY-KORS
Scheherazade, Symphonic Suite Op. 35: The Kalander Prince - MUSSORGSKY/BORODIN/RIMSKY-KORS
Scheherazade, Symphonic Suite Op. 35: The Prince And Princess - MUSSORGSKY/BORODIN/RIMSKY-KORS
Scheherzazde, Symphonic Suite Op. 35: The Festival At Bagdad - The Sea - The Ship Dashed Against A Rock With The Bronze Horseman - MUSSORGSKY/BORODIN/RIMSKY-KORS
The Tempest, Symphonic Fantasy Op. 18 - MUSSORGSKY/BORODIN/RIMSKY-KORS

Average customer rating:

The original Russian sound - glorious Svetlanov recordings!
A Collection Like No Other
Russian sound for russian music.
Authentic Russian Interpretations
This is an obscure but worthwhile CD

Orchestral Pictures From Russia

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Symphonic Poems From Russia
Russian Moods
Rachmaninov-Symphony No. 2/The Rock

ASIN: B000001HDC
Release Date: 1997-06-17

Tracks:

Dawn on the Moskva-River (from 'Khaovanshchina')
A Night on Bald Mountain
Hopak (from 'Sorochintsy Fair')
In the Steppes of Central Asia
Polovtsian Dances with Chorus (from 'Prince Igor') - USSR Radio Large Chor/Klavdi Ptitsa
Sadko, Op.5
Bright Holiday (Russian Easter Festival Ov, op.36)
Islamey

Tracks:

Ov from 'Dream on the Volga'
Spring, Op.34
Romantic Intermezzo in D, Op.69
About Olden Times, Op.21b
From the Apocalypse, Op.66
Baba Yaga, Op.56
The Enchanted Lake, Op.62
Kikimora, Op.63
Nymphs

Customer Reviews:

The original Russian sound - glorious Svetlanov recordings!.......2007-07-20

This CD set was part of a series released by BMG in the mid 90s after their licensing agreement with Russian record label MELODIYA. All CDs in the series have now been deleted (shame on BMG!). This particular title was one of the first in the series.

It is amazing that one reviewer claimed that both orchestra & conductor are 'obscure'!! Hello??? The USSR (State) Symphony Orchestra, now the Russian State Symphony Orchestra is one of the finest orchestras in Russia and the late maestro Svetlanov one of the leading and most prolific conductors of the ex-USSR. He recorded an endless list of works by a wide range of composers for various labels all over the globe.

This CD focuses on known Russian works (Night on the Bare Mountain, In the Steppes of Central Asia, Russian Easter Festival Overture etc) and some very rare Russian gems (on CD2). The recordings are typical of the golden era of MELODIYA and the Russian sound of the orchestra is unmistakable. There might be better engineered recordings of these works, but Svetlanov's magic cannot be easily surpassed. Of all the 'Steppes' I have heard, this wins hands down!

Grab a copy of this set if you come across it - an excellent 'sampler' of the art of Yevgeny Svetlanov!

A Collection Like No Other.......2007-07-10

This is a boon: a scoop of Russian gems, well-known and not-so-well-known, in some of Evgeny's Svetlanov's greatest performances (recorded between 1963 and 1990), in superbly remastered sound. If you are familiar with Svetlanov's Hyperion Balakirev set, you already know that, at his best, he was the equal of Mvravinsky, Reiner, Beecham and a few select others.

All but a few tracks of this two-disc set are of definitive quality...The NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN is HAIR-RAISING, and the DAWN ON THE MOSCOW RIVER makes the great 1936 Boston / Koussevitsky look TAME by comparison.

The BRIGHT HOLIDAY (aka RUSSIAN EASTER OVERTURE) is as exciting as but completely different from the classic '68 Stokowski / Chicago.

The various Liadov tracks are among the great recordings of any Russian music. (KIKIMORA is a sort of Russian "Sorcerer's Apprentice" but even more pungent, and THE ENCHANTED LAKE really is just that.)

The Balakirev ISLAMEY (orchestrated by his protegee Lypunov) is scintillating and energizing; you can almost SMELL the mountain air of the Caucus region. (A note to the paranoid: this work does not promote or portray "radical Islam" ; the "Islamey" is a Kabardinian folk dance...Think of whirling dervishes.) True, at 1:47-1:49 there is a moment when the woodwinds go off the rails. Still, no other version has the spine-tingling ELAN of this one. And since Svetlanov apparently made no commerical recording of ISLAMEY, this precious live performance (from Christmas Eve, 1986) rounds out his recorded Balakirev.

Perhaps the most affecting track is the last to be recorded, Glazunov's VESNA [SPRING], which cuts as emotionally deep as anything by Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninov- but, paradoxically, with a lighter touch.

Admittedly, as one prior reviewer pointed out, the PRINCE IGOR scene is not among the more powerful tracks, here; Nemi Jarvi's rival effort on DG outshines this one in terms of splendor, ensemble and chosen tempos.

Why this set received so little promotion (and even "littler" critical notice) is beyond me. But don't let this set get beyond YOU if you run across a copy. Because, more and more, when these things go they GO.

Russian sound for russian music........2002-12-03

Soviet orchestras were the only orchestras ever to properly do justice to many russian pieces in my opinion. After hearing many of the pieces on this disc, I can't help but find American or West European versions of the same works a bit bland in comparison. Extremely emotional and moving renditions.

Authentic Russian Interpretations.......2002-09-20

Don't be misled by the claim in another review that this conductor and orchestra are obscure. Svetlanov was a leading Russian conductor (he died recently), and the USSR Symphony (now the Russian State Orchestra) was one of Russia's leading orchestras. These performances are part of a series of re-releases of material originally recorded by Melodiya during the Soviet era. Do not consider buying this compilation for the more familiar music; consider it for the rarities and for the the authentic Russian-sounding performances in good remastered analog stereo. If you are unsure about the music on these particular discs, investigate Svetlanov's other BMG releases, such as his Tchaikovsky symphonies (including one of the best Manfred Symphonies ever recorded).

This is an obscure but worthwhile CD.......2002-06-06

I have a penchant for shopping in local used music stores, and this is one of the CDs I found. This CD does not cater to the Tchaikovsky, bombastic Russian fan which I am, but instead explores lesser-known works with excellent merit in their own right. Though I bought the CD for Bright Holiday (that is, the Russian Easter Overture), I kept it for the pieces by Liadov, Glazunov and other virtual unknowns.
The Russian Easter Overture was sub-par by my standards, but for an obscure orchestra (USSR Symphony? Who are they?) and an obscure conductor (Svetlanov? Who's he?), I was quite impressed by the maturity and expressiveness of the lesser-known pieces on the second disc. About Olden Times by Liadov became my instant favorite, and the nostalgic and passionate harp and strings at the start endeared me to it instantly.
Do not buy this CD for the "known" pieces. The Polovtsian Dances are also sub-par. However, this CD is worth a listen, and perhaps a purchase, for the touching mystique and fiery obscurity of the lesser-knowns.

Basic 100, Vol 68 - Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Average customer rating:

Red-Blooded, and no holds barred!

Basic 100, Vol 68 - Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003FZC
Release Date: 1995-08-15

Tracks:

Pictures at an Exhibition--: Promenade
Pictures at an Exhibition--: The Gnome
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Promenade
Pictures at an Exhibition--: The Old Castle
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Promenade
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Tuileries
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Bydlo
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Promenade
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Ballet Of The Chicks In Their Shells
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Samuel Goldenberg And Schmuyle
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Limoges--The Market
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Catacombs (Sepulchrum romanum)
Pictures at an Exhibition--: Con mortuis in lingua mortua
Pictures at an Exhibition--: The Hut On Fowls' Legs (Baba Yaga)
Pictures at an Exhibition--: The Great Gate Of Kiev
Night on Bald Mountain
Khovanshchina: Prelude
Prince Igor - Polovtsian Dances

Customer Reviews:

Red-Blooded, and no holds barred!.......2001-01-12

I really wanted some kind of introduction to Mussorgsky's best on one CD, and this release here has more than met my needs. You just can't lose with a rock solid conductor like Ormandy on the podium. There's no self-conscious, post-modern restraint in these interpretations, and the selections are very generous too. Night on Bald Mountain is every bit as hell-fired and rousing as it should be, while Pictures glows with humor, variety, and panache. There is no doubt in my mind that Mussorgsky was a wild man, and Ormandy captures the breakneck danger of his music perfectly. There are some nice fillers too. I had heard the Prelude to Khovanshchina and the dances from Borodin's Prince Igor somewhere before, but I never knew what it was I was hearing. I'm glad I have them now, and you'll be too.

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