Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Alexander Borodin - Sheherazade; Symphony No. 2 (Kirill Kondrashin)

Information

Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Alexander Borodin

• (01-04) Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, Op. 35
• (05-08) Borodin - Symphony No. 2 in B minor

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Kirill Kondrashin, conductor

Date: 1979 (1-4), 1980 (5-8)
Label: Decca (original on Philips)

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Review

Even with 15 other versions of Rimsky's masterpiece of orchestral virtuosity to choose from—some in the top flight—this was recognized from the first as one of the most rewarding, thanks largely to Krebbers's exceptionally sweet, gently appealing and bewitching personification of the story-spinning Scheherazade and to Kondrashin's skill in pacing and shaping movements as a whole, relating the diverse tempos and building up tension and dynamics by careful control so as to create climaxes of thrilling intensity and power. the 'shipwreck' finale, in particular, was overwhelming; and this was achieved without resorting to the ultra-fast tempos adopted by some conductors to whip up excitement. The Concertgebouw's crisp, sonorous and sensitive playing (full marks both to the splendid strings and to the wind soloists) was caught with the utmost fidelity; but the Compact Disc's total exclusion even of minimal extraneous background now marks a still further improvement, as can be judged by the dead silence against which Scheherazade's pleadings are heard. The final coda is ravishingly beautiful. A distinguished performance, and a recording that could well make this a demonstration disc for the new system.

-- Lionel Salter, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/p/phi64735a.php
http://www.amazon.com/Rimsky-Korsakov-Scheherazade-Borodin-Symphony-No/dp/B00005IB5H
http://www.amazon.com/Rimsky-Korsakov-Scheherazade-N-Rimsky-Korsakov/dp/B000EBD84K

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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (18 March [O.S. 6 March] 1844 – 21 June [O.S. 8 June] 1908) was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five. He was considered a master of orchestration. His best-known orchestral compositions are staples of the classical music repertoire, along with suites and excerpts from some of his 15 operas. Rimsky-Korsakov shaped a generation of younger composers and musicians during his decades as an educator, and is considered "the main architect" of what the classical music public considers the Russian style of composition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Rimsky-Korsakov

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Alexander Borodin (12 November 1833 – 27 February 1887) was a Russian Romantic composer of Georgian origin, as well as a doctor and a chemist.  He was one of the prominent 19th-century group of composers known as The Mighty Handful, or The Five. Borodin is best known for his symphonies, his two string quartets, the tone poem 'In the Steppes of Central Asia' and his opera 'Prince Igor'. A notable advocate of women's rights, Borodin was a promoter of education in Russia and founded the School of Medicine for Women in Saint Petersburg. As a chemist, he is best known for his work in organic synthesis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Borodin

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Kirill Kondrashin (6 March [O.S. 21 February] 1914 – 7 March 1981) was a Russian conductor. He was the artistic director of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra from 1960 to 1975 and premiered Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4 and No. 13 during this period. He also gave several performances in Europe and America with other famous Russian musicians. Kondrashin left the Soviet Union in December 1978 while touring in the Netherlands and sought political asylum there. He took the post of Permanent Guest Conductor of Amsterdam's Concertgebouw Orchestra in the same year and remained in that position until his death.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirill_Kondrashin

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