The Great Russian Composers

On this CD:

1. Festive Overture, for orchestra in A major, Op. 96
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich

2. Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Classical"), Op. 25 Allegro
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev

3. Symphony, for orchestra No. 3 (ii) in C major, Op. 32 Moderato assai
Composed by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov

4. Lyric Poem for orchestra in D flat major, Op. 12
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov

5. Symphony No. 5 Allegro burlando
Composed by Nikolay Myaskovsky

6. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1 Andante
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov

7. Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47 Allegretto
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich

8. Waltz Suite, for orchestra, Op. 110 In the Palace
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev

9. Waltz Suite, for orchestra, Op. 110 Mephisto Waltz
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev

10. Procession of the Sirdar
Composed by Mikhail Mikhaylovich Ippolitov-Ivanov

11. Violin Concerto No. 1, in A minor, Op. 77 (revised as Op. 99) Burlesque
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich

12. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for orchestra, orchestrated by Ravel Promenade
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky

13. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for orchestra, orchestrated by Ravel Gnomus
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky

14. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for orchestra, orchestrated by Ravel Ballet of the Chickens
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky

15. Symphony No. 2 in D minor Finale
Composed by Mily Balakirev

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

Great Recordings Of The Century - Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Borodin: Polovtsian Dances / Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Cadenza
A classic that survives because of Beecham's infectious good humor
Extraordinarily charismatic
Great performance, not-so-ideal recording technique.
Ablaze with Color

Great Recordings Of The Century - Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Borodin: Polovtsian Dances / Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Thomas Beecham
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
Similar Items:

Great Recordings Of The Century - Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in F, American in Paris / Previn, London SO
Grieg: Peer Gynt Op23; Symphonic Dances Op64
Bizet: Symphony in C; L'Arlésienne Suites
Great Recordings Of The Century - Schubert: Symphonies nos. 3, 5, & 6 / Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade for orchestra Op35; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale

ASIN: B00000IOBM
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Tracks:

Scheherazade, Op.35: The Sea and Sinbad's Ship
Scheherazade, Op.35: The Story of the Kalender Prince
Scheherazade, Op.35: The Young Prince and the Young Princess
Steven Staryk: The Festival of Bagdad - The Sea - The Ship goes to pieces on a Rock surmounted by a Bronze Warrior
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Introduction: Andantino
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Allegro vivo
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Allegro
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Presto
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Moderato alla breve
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Presto
Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor', Act ll): Allegro con spirito

Customer Reviews:

Cadenza.......2007-04-30

Of all the recordings of Scheherazade by Rismsky-Korsakov, the one conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham is the performance that is most generous to his musicians. Each cadenza is given such exquisite freedom, the woodwinds particularly, that the solo musician can truly explore the glorious expression of Rimsky-Korsakov. Cadenzas in the Story of the Kalander Prince, the second movement, are so beautifully syncopated, patient here, passionate there, forceful there; so beautifully dynamic, quietly reliant on a single clear note or loud enough to where the instrument is abuzz with natural harmonics. And the final movement of the piece, Shipwreck, here Sir Thomas, more than any other conductor, lets the tapestry of music unravel until there is nothing left but this one last, long golden thread of solo violin.

A classic that survives because of Beecham's infectious good humor.......2006-07-13

Beecham conducted music with a smile, a rare gift that other conductors who possess better techniques and more virtuosic orchestras must envy. This 1958 Scheherazade remains a classic because it flows so naturally and unfolds with such good humor. In the U.S. many collectors automatically reach for Reiner's ultra-polished, stupendously played Living Stereo recording on RCA, whereas in the U.K. collectors just as automatically reach for Beecham.

By comparison, the Royal Phil. isn't a virtuoso ensemble, but their feeling for the music, their supple flexibility and relaxed phrasing outstrip Reiner's cool-sounding Chicago Sym. I love both recordings--and several by Stokowski, who is more flagrantly showing off--but if it came down to a desert-island choice, I think I'd go with the more humane, less spectacular Beecham. EMI's recorded sound is quite open and natural, also, showing its age only in a bit of snarl in the loudest tutties. Woodwinds ae deightfully prominent, strings are recessed.

Extraordinarily charismatic.......2004-09-03

This review is basically the same as the one I wrote for an earlier CD
reissue of this fine recording. Now that it has been rereleased as a
Great Recording of the Century, it will get the attention it deserves.

Beecham's recording of Scheherazade has not been out of print ever since
it was first released in 1958. It is quite simply the best recording of
Rimsky-Korsakov's finest work. The sound quality of the recording is
excellent for its time, and the engineers for the CD have done a good
job. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays fabulously well, and
Beecham brings out all of the mystery, sensuality and barbarism that
used to be associated with the Orient. The notes that come with the
recording describe it best: "extraordinarily charismatic". It is not an
exaggeration. No one does the violin solos better than concertmaster
Steven Staryk, and Jack Brymer's clarinet solos are also brillant.

As a bonus, this CD also has the best recording of Borodin's Polovtsian
Dances I have ever heard. Unlike most recordings of these dances,
excerpted from "Prince Igor", it includes the choral voices just as they
are in the opera (in English, rather than Russian, though).

Great performance, not-so-ideal recording technique........2003-08-25

Sir Thomas Beecham's recording was my first Scheherazade CD. In many ways it remains an outstanding performance of Rimsky's beloved masterpiece. There is a pleasing suppleness to the musical phrasing, an irresistible propulsion from start to finish, and much attention to detail. Having had access to the CD section of a music library, I have hear many other Scheherazades and few, in my opinion, manage to even equal Beecham's reading. Mackerras' and Kondrashin's modern versions are its main rivals. Get all three of these if you can, each is indispensable in its own way.

With regards to the recording acoustics, there has been an on-going tendency of lovers of Beecham's disc to proclaim its superiority over Mackerras, Kondrashin's or any other modern digital version by citing Beecham's attention to detail. In actuality that has a lot to do with the primitive closely-miked recording techniques employed by 1950s EMI engineers. As a result you get to oooh-and-ahh when you hear the delicious close-up bowing of the cellos and violas in the quieter passages of the first movement. However, when the rest of the orchestra (especially the brass) start joining in, you then realize (horrors!) the congested acoustics of this recording. Be not mistaken, this is a finely-reburbished 1950s recording, but it cannot touch the naturally distanced/proportioned, spacious acoustics of digital discs like Mackerras'. Do not be fooled, like some professional critics have been, that the wealth of close-up instrumental details available in Beecham's CD means that his performance is superior to modern CDs. (This is how we get all of this perpetuated rubbish that ALL vintage 50s CDs can never be surpassed. Hmph.)

In summary, this vintage Scheherazade is one not to be without but ideally it should also not be the single version in your music collection. A finely recorded modern version of Scheherazade is also a must.

Ablaze with Color.......2002-11-02

Years and years ago I came across Beecham's wonderful recording of Rimsky-Korsakov's most famous piece while listening to NPR. The channel has since gone to talk format, but I still greatly enjoy this classic disc.

Scheherazade is given both space and atmosphere by Beecham and the RPO. The first time I heard it was while driving around on an autumn evening--the leaves the color of gold and flame. I cannot help but feel the same colorscape whenever I hear this piece now.

Tracks:

Capricio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada -
Capricio espagnol, Op. 34: Variazioni -
Capricio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada
Capricio espagnol, Op. 34: Scena en canto gitano
Capricio espagnol, Op. 34: Fandango asturiano
May Night: May Night - Overture
Sadko, Op. 5: Sadko, Op. 5 - Musical Picture
The Snow Maiden (Suite): 1. Introduction
The Snow Maiden (Suite): 2. Danse des oiseaux
The Snow Maiden (Suite): 3. Cortege
The Snow Maiden (Suite): 4. Danse des bouffons
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: 1. Tsar's Farewell And Departure
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: 2. Tsarina In A Barrel At Sea
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: 3. Flight Of The Bumble-Bee
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan: 4. The Three Wonders

Tracks:

The Golden Cockerel - Suite: 1. Tsar Dodon In His Palace
The Golden Cockerel - Suite: 2. Tsar Dodon On Campaign
The Golden Cockerel - Suite: 3. Tsar Dodon As Guest Of The Queen Of Shemakha
The Golden Cockerel - Suite: 4. The Wedding And Lamentable End Of Dodon
Symphony No. 2, Op. 9 Antar: 1. Largo - Allegro giocoso - Adagio - Largo - (Tempo I) - Alegretto vivace - Adagio - Allegretto vivace - Largo (Tempo I)
Symphony No. 2, Op. 9 Antar: 2. Allegro - Molto allegro - Meno mosso, allargando - Allegro (Tempo I)
Symphony No. 2, Op. 9 Antar: 3. Allegro risoluto alla marcia
Symphony No. 2, Op. 9 Antar: 4. Allegretto vivace - Andante amoroso - Animato assai - Tempo I
Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36

Amazon.com

Rimsky-Korsakov is universally acknowledged as a great master of the orchestra. He even wrote a textbook on the subject consisting entirely of examples from his own music! He needed some sort of pictorial or literary stimulus to really get his imagination going, however. His "abstract pieces," like Symphonies No. 1 and 3, are comparative failures specifically because he believed that symphonic thought was incompatible with orchestral brilliance (he wasn't the only Romantic composer to succumb to that fallacy). So all of his best music is either obviously illustrative, or taken from one of his colorful "fairy tale" operas. This two-disc set gives you an excellent selection of works of both types at a great price. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

A good choice for a classical music library.......2007-01-21

An excellent selection of Rimsky-Korsakov's works, faultlessly performed and recorded.

Gran Seleccion.......2004-12-10

De Rimsky-Korsakov escuchar el Capricho espagnol, la obertura para la Pascua Rusa, el vuelo del moscardon y otras de sus obras son cosa de todo los dias, pero unir a ellos la sinfonia Nº2 Antar, la bellisima Dama de las nieves, la exquisita Sadko o la sublime Noche de Mayo es genial y todos en un Cd grandioso.
Son interpretaciones geniales con espiritu ruso, con animo universal, con fuerza con sublimidad con fervor si se quiere y de esplendida forma, la Sinfonica de Rotterdam suena genial y David Zimann se esmera en asombrarnos con obras comunes y otras no tanto, que lograran nuestra grata atencion.
Donde disminuye el puntaje y el gran logro de Zimann como siempre es en las comparaciones, el capricho español mas notable y recomendado es el de Ormandy, al igual que la Gran Pascua Rusa (de la que Järvi tambien tiene una gran version), para la Sinfonia Antar nadie mejor que Evgevni Svetlanov con la Orquesta del Estado Ruso.
De lo demas una gran coleccion en un CD de coleccion.

Excellent Recordings of Rimsky-Korsakov's Best Music.......2004-05-26

This two-CD set contains excellent recordings of Rimsky-Korsakov's best orchestral works (aside from Scheherazade, which they assume you already have) in demonstration-quality digital sound. The Cappricio Espagnole is probably the best recording I've ever heard of this work, with perfect tempos and a colorful orchestral pallette. The sound quality here is really outstanding. The May Night Overture and Sadko are done very well--exciting and colorful--and the Snow Maiden excerps are very well played. The Tsar Sultan Suite is very menacing and atmospheric--Zinman's conducting is flawless. The Golden Cockrel is very exotic and colorful, with just the right tempos(unlike Jarvi) and superb sound. The Antar is a very fine performance, if not the best one out there(try Kees Bakel and Malaysian PO). Although I understand what the customer who said it's the worse performance ever didn't like, I still respectfully disagree. Although Zinman does rush through the second and third movements, they still sound exciting and the Rotterdam Philharmonic are in top form throughout. The outer movements fare much better. The Russian Eater Overture is one of the best out there, probably second only to Spano/Atlanta(better than Zinman's Baltimore performance). Overall, this CD set is a must own for those looking for great performances of RK's best orchestral music.

A little stiff, but with some great aspects.......2001-03-28

The interpretations are a bit thick, and the conducting is a little distasteful. Its one of the worst performances of Antar I've ever heard. The third movement is moved so quickly and without any sense of majesty, and the second movement gives no sense of anticipation -- there's no buildup or satisfying apex. Overall, I think it is performed here as an ordinary symphony, ignoring the fact that Antar is actually a series of tone poems.

A few other disappointments, like a meandering "Sadko" and a few surprisingly tepid portions of "The Tsar Sultan."

I do think, however, that Capriccio Espagnol is performed very well, with great attention spent on percussion (great percussion pervails throughout both discs). The Russian Easter Overture is played with careful attention to its cultural origins and rates among the better performances I've heard. And Le Coq D'Or is overall pretty decent.

I would recommend this one to anyone who isn't offended by lukewarm performances of Rimsky, and is who is just looking for a collection of his orchestral works for less-involved purposes.

Best.......1999-02-18

It is basically the only cd pack that I am happy with that features Rimsky-Korsakov's suites on.

Average customer rating:

Totally infectious
Surprisingingly enjoyable stuff

Shostakovich: Waltzes

Manufacturer: Delos Records
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

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Shostakovich: The Jazz Album
Shostakovich: The Film Album
Shostakovich: Ballet Suites Nos. 1-4
Shostakovich: Cheryomushki, The Bolt, The Gadfly (The Dance Album)
Jazz Suites 1 & 2

ASIN: B00001IVR2
Release Date: 1999-08-31

Tracks:

Shostakovich Waltzes

Customer Reviews:

Totally infectious.......2003-01-07

Shostakovich is mostly known for his serious works, his symphonies and string quartets, however he wrote a large number of film, incidental, and ballet music. This CD compiles many of his waltzes and some other pieces from these. While this is mainly what could be considered "light" music, many of the pieces have wonderful melodies and coloful orchestrations.

Some of my favorite waltzes include the one from Return of Maxim, the one from Golden Hills, and the one from The First Echelon (aka Waltz #2 from the 2nd Jazz Suite). Beyond the waltzes there are some other pieces, including the famous Polka from The Age of Gold and Folk Festival (Spanish Dance) from The Gadfly.

The only caveat is that some of the pieces don't reference their original source (rather they are listed as being from various ballet suites, when they in fact come from The Limpid Stream and other sources), but this is a very minor complaint. The performance and sound is wonderful, and unless you are one who can't stand this sort of compilation, it gets my highest recommendation.

Surprisingingly enjoyable stuff.......1999-10-04

After years of my hearing and not thinking very much of Shastakovich's symphonies, this Delos delight came as a total surprise. Containing just under an hour of mostly waltzes mixed with some polkas, a galop, and even setting of "Tahiti Trot" (inspired by "Tea for Two" of all things), this concert gives us a rare chance to hear a good deal of music this composer wrote for films seldom if ever seen outside of Russia as well as some more familiar stuff from his ballets. Not one really great piece, nor not really boring one. Just a boxful of what Thomas Beecham used to call "Bonbons" from a very unexpected source. Lots of fun from Delos.

Mussorgsky-Stokowski: Pictures at an Exhibiton [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Exceptional sound and knowing interpretation
Pictures, as a Revelation

Mussorgsky-Stokowski: Pictures at an Exhibiton [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Naxos
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

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Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves; Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis [Hybrid SACD]
Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]
Stravinsky: The Firebird; Petrushka [Hybrid SACD]
Appalachian Spring (Multichannel/Stereo)
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3; Poulenc: Organ Concerto; Barber: Toccata Festiva

ASIN: B000AMMSG2
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional sound and knowing interpretation.......2006-03-01

Jose Serebrier assisted Stokowski in their days with the American Symphony Orchestra, the memory and motivation for the coductor to record his mentor's version of "Pictures At An Exhibition" in up to date 21st century sound, coupled with a number of other Stoki specialties.

Aside from the more Russian sounding "Pictures", what I enjoyed most here were "Night on Bald Mountain", the "Khovanshchina" conglomeration and the symphonic synthesis on "Boris Godunov". This adds up to about 40 minutes of exciting Russian music delivered with gusto in great sound.

The Bournemouth Symphony hardly play like understated Englishmen in this recording, which will tear a hole in your speaker or knock some dishes off the shelves if you aren't careful with your volume or subwoofer controls when you first play this thing.

This 5.0 SACD is the real thing right from the first few notes of "Night On Bald Mountain" that begin the program. On my 5.1 surround sound system it about knocked down the walls of my house. It brings new definition to the term "demonstration recording"!

Not long ago I wrote a review of Stoki's last remaining CD of his version of "Pictures At An Exhibition" in his own orchestration and scoring. Stoki dropped two of the French paintings and made everything else sound Russian by emphasizing low strings and deemphasizing brilliant brass. Serebrier carried the memory of his mentor's work forward in this recroding, which is destined to wind up on some "best sounding CD of the year" lists.

Pictures, as a Revelation.......2005-11-12

This recording of "Pictures at an Exhibition" came on the radio today as I was waking up. I had not heard the Stokowski orchestration before (is it true that the principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra was his ghost orchestrator?) and it was a revelation. The tried-and-true Ravel instrumentation will never be replaced, but this is a "Pictures" from a distinctly different corner of the hall, and a welcome departure. Serebrier and Bournemouth perform with exemplary precision and freshness, digging in where Stokowski's excesses can withstand some enthusiastic wrangling. If you love this Mussorgsky and want to hear it with new ears, here's your chance.

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 / Vocalise / Aleko: Intermezzo & Women's Dance (EMI Great Recordings of the Century)

Average customer rating:

A lone voice...
Well, a slip into greatness
One of the great performances of all time
M A G N I F I C E N T !!!
A rightful classic reading of one of the great symphonies

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 / Vocalise / Aleko: Intermezzo & Women's Dance (EMI Great Recordings of the Century)
Sergei Rachmaninov , André Previn , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy
Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto / Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter
Grieg: Peer Gynt Op23; Symphonic Dances Op64
Chopin: Waltzes Nos. 1-14
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]

ASIN: B00000K4FI
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: I. Largo - Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: II. Scherzo (Allegro molto)
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: III. Adagio
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: IV. Finale (Allegro vivace)
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
Aleko: Intermezzo
Aleko: Women's Dance

Customer Reviews:

A lone voice..........2006-09-15

I seem to be the only dissenting voice here, but I have to give my opinion on this rendition of Rachmaninov's 2nd. The main reason that I don't think this is a great version is the tempo, it is too slow. For my taste, the Ashkenazy with the Concertgebouw Orchestra on London is better suited to this symphony. Ashkenazy's pace seems to bring this work to life, whereas Previn and other conductors seem to think a slower pace is better. If you like slower tempos you will love this Previn rendition. But if you prefer a quicker (but not rushed or hurried) tempo, go with the Ashkenazy.

Well, a slip into greatness.......2005-09-24

Andre Previn is the master of the fair-to-middling performance, and a prime example of not getting better with age. But here he pulls off a great performance in demonstration-quality sound. I was floored after so many disppointments. His early Seventies period with the LSO may just be Previn's best, worth exploring for other unexpected gems. In any event, the British critics who perennially sing the praises of this Rachmaninov Second are surely right.

One of the great performances of all time.......2004-12-23

This is one of my favourite recordings. It captures the emotion of a live performance and is a tribute to the tour Previn and the orchestra made of Russia two years before. The string playing is superb, and the clarinet solo in the 3rd movement (Jack Brymer) a revelation. Amazing!

M A G N I F I C E N T !!!.......2004-08-02

ANDRE PREVIN's wondrous recording of Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony for EMI is, justifiably, one of the treasures from the EMI catalog. This edition also includes a famous version of the Vocalise (though not ultimately as good as the Stokowski-EMI), plus Aleko -- the latter is more than just a filler track. On the technical side, this transfer is as close as possible to the old LP in terms of sonics and integrity. A nice job from the buddies at EMI. Among the 'competitors' to the Previn you'll find significant accounts by Edo de Waart (Philips), the excellent Anissimov (Naxos), Lopez-Cobos (Telarc), Ashkenazy (Decca), Jansons (EMI), the illuminating Temirkanov (RCA) and the exquisite Svetlanov (Moscow Studio). In my opinion, none of them can clearly surpass (or let alone equal) the Previn-EMI. The Previn-RPO on Telarc is no competition to the earlier LSO session : If the RPO is a 'very good' recording, then the LSO is a 'great' recording -- there's also a huge difference in term of interpretation that clearly makes the EMI disc a winner on all counts.

A rightful classic reading of one of the great symphonies.......2004-06-09

Other than Vladimir Ashkenazy's performance of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (I believe), this classic reading with Andre Previn leading the London Symphony Orchestra---the first fully uncut performance of the piece---is the only performance of this wonderful work that I've heard, and frankly I'd be just fine having only this recording in my library to represent the work. Previn's tempos in all four movements may be deliberate, but still the reading as a whole never fails to convince. What matters most with this piece is that Rachmaninov's great melodies and soaring emotion are not shortchanged by either conductor or orchestra, and on that level the LSO and Previn do not disappoint. They are masterful in all four movements, but it is the third movement Adagio that a listener will most likely remember most. It may be slow (Ashkenazy was slightly brisker here, while Mikhail Pletnev, in his more recent DG recording, even more brisk and unsentimental) but it still packs an emotional wallop.

Tracks:

Recitative And Aria Of Prince Sinodal (The Demon Rubinstein)
Recitative And Aria Of Prince Vladimir
Recitative And Aria Of Levko
Bayan's Second Song
Berendei's Cavatina
Song Of The Indian Guest
I Love You Olga
Whither, Whither, Lenski's Aria
The Prince's Cavatina
Scene By St. Basil Blazhenny Temple
Pimen's Monologue
Recitative And Romance Of Vladimir
Oh, Cease Thy Singing Maiden Fair

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, etc.

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Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, etc.

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | 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: B000003SO7
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade-Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade-The Old Castle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade-Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo-Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Chickens In Their Shells
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Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombe-Cum Mortius in Lingua Mortua
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut On Fowl's Legs
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev
A Night On The Bare Mountain - Budapest PO/Janos Sandor
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The Life and Works of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

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A fascinating look at a tortured genius

The Life and Works of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Antoni Wit , Gerhard Markson , Kenneth Jean , Michael Halasz , Ondrej Lenard , Philippe Entremont , Stefan Sanderling , CSSR State Philharmonic Orchestra , National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland , National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio and Television , National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine , Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra , Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra , Wiener Kammerorchester , Bernd Glemser , Oxana Yablonskaya , Takako Nishizaki , and Vladimir Grishko
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Life & Works

ASIN: B0000669V2
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

Tchaikovsky In Early Childhood
Music: Glinka: Overature To A Life For The Tsar
Enforced Separation From His Mother
Music: Tchaikovsky: Dumka, Op. 59
Death Of His Mother
Music: Reverie Du Soir
Early Manhood: The Spendthrift Civil Servant
Music: Minuet From Mozartina
Dismissive Opinions Of Other Composers
Music: The Storm
Journey To A Breakdown
Music: First Symphony
Abortive Engagement
The Advent Of Balakirev
Music: Romeo And Juliet
Travels And A Wounded Friendship
Music: First Piano Concerto

Tracks:

Reforming The Ballet
Music: The Rose Adagio From The Sleeping Beauty
Bizet's Carmen Has A Major Effect On Tchaikovsky's Music
Music: Francesca Da Rimini
A Compositional Paradox
Music: Rococo Variations
The Struggle Of Despair And Hope: He Decides To Marry
Music: The Tempest
The Advent Of Nadezhda Von Meck
Music: The Sleeping Beauty Waltz
The Disastrous Road To Matrimony
Music: Romeo And Juliet
Marriage, Trauma, And A Fairy Tale Annuity
Letter To Mme Von Meck
Music: Romeo And Juliet

Tracks:

Recorvery And Creativity
Music: Fourth Symphony
The Creation Of His Favorite Opera
Music: Lensky's Aria From Eugene Onegin
The Return To Compositional Health
Music: Violin Concerto In D
He Experiences Distressing Relapses
Music: Capriccio Italien
Psychological Disturbances And A Long Fallow Period
Music: Piano Trio In A Minor
Sufferings For Mme Von Meck; He Decides To Settle Down
Music: Manfred Symphony
Conducting Tours And Domestic Bliss
Music: Fifth Symphony
More Conducting Tours, And A Working Holiday In Italy
Music: Souvenir De Florence

Tracks:

The Rift With Mme Von Meck
Music: Sixth Symphony (Second Movement)
His Obsession With 'Bob' Davydov; Adventures In America
Music: Fifth Symphony
Further American Adventures
A Trip To Niagara
Music: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker)
A Darker Episode
Music: Voyevode
Portrait Of A Conductor
A Hero's Return
Music: Sixth Symphony
The Mystery Surrounding His Death
Music: First Piano Concerto

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating look at a tortured genius.......2002-08-21

Naxos continues to do a wonderful job with its "Life and Works" series. Quite some time ago, we had a Life/Works of Mozart, one of Chopin and then two more, Liszt and Beethoven. he latter are even better packaged than are the earlier sets, with a thick booklet that offers us essays on the historical background, the position of the composer in his time, a look at the major works, a listening plan, recommended readings, personalities, a calendar of the artist's life, a glossary, and a discography. This booklet is worth the price of the set alone.

Now we have two more entries in this amazing series, again written and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann: "Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky" (8.558036-39) with a playing time of 4 hrs. 5 min. and "Johann Sebastian Bach" (8.558051-54) with a playing time of 4 hrs. 34 minutes. (Please see my comments on the Bach set on its webpage.)

Was there ever a sadder composer than Tchaikovsky? Siepmann practically introduces us to the child in his cradle and covers his 53 or so years of torment over his music, his sexuality, his impossibly hopeless marriage his strange relationship with Mme von Meck, and above all his music.

To make the recording more vivid, the producers have assigned professional actors the roles of the composer himself (Malcolm Sinclair), the women in his life (Karen Archer and Teresa Gallagher) and the men (Stephen Thorne and David Timson). There are many music examples (drawn, of course, from Naxos recordings), some of them considerably longer than necessary. For example, the "Sugar Plum Fairy" is heard at length to represent all of the "Nutcracker" score when several shorter samplings would have served the purpose better. But this has been true for the entire series, and perhaps the producers will rethink this aspect.

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