Search - Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Borodin :: Pictures at an Exhibition/Capriccio Espagnol

Russian Masterpieces masterfully restored

Dr. Christopher Coleman | HONG KONG | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Classical record companies have latched on to a brilliant business proposition-the re-release of old recordings. It's certainly good business; the company gets to maximize its profits without having to pay for another recording session, and mostly likely any royalties are minimal or even non-existant. The only costs are re-mastering the recordings and the production/marketing expenses. Here again, because the companies are dealing with established names, costs can be kept to a minimum. Critics decry the practice because it promotes the familiar, presumably at the expense of newer artists and literature. But at its best, re-release provides capital for investment in less sure projects and gives easy access to superior performances that would otherwise be lost. I'm pleased to report that is the case with this CD, a re-issue of Russian music performed by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra made between 1958 and 1963. The performances are all suberb. They hail from the Golden Age of the Cleveland Orchestra, who plays with a wonderful, almost glowingly rich sound. The intonation is perfect, and Szell's sense of line and phrasing is impeccable. In addition to Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and his Dawn on the Moskya River, we're also treated to Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, the Polovtsian Dances by Alexander Borodin (in the entirely instrumental version, without the female chorus sometimes added to the tune that later became known as Stranger in Paradise), and Anatol Lyadov's enchanting orchestral snapshot, The Enchanted Lake. The engineers have done a marvelous job with the re-mastering. Although the original recordings are 40 years old or more, they sound as crisp and clean as if they were recorded with the best modern technology. Balances are excellent and the whole thing is every bit as lush as it should be, and best of all, at almost 73 minutes, the disc is packed with great music, in great performances, suberbly presented.. Bravo to all concerned."

Marvelous work throughout

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 10/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not a great admirer of George Szell and do not enjoy the other CD coupling of his magnificent "Pictures At An Exhibition" that was accompanied by Prokofiev's Lt. Kije Suite and the Hary Janos Suite.



This one delivers the same outstandingly fine portraits and includes other Russian music more akin to the Mussorgsky. The sound on this version is better than the other Sony CD, too. Of the pair, I'd say this is easily the better buy.



One thing I very much enjoy on this outstanding disk is the multiple tracks dedicated to all the longer works including Rimsky-Korsakov's "Capriccio Espanol", which receives an acutely warm and characterful reading from Szell and the Clevelanders. There are probably more tracks for "Dawn on the Moskva River" than it deserves but choices are great and never too many.



This is an outstanding and wonderful sounding disk of Russian music not often associated with Szell. It makes for an exceptional collection at a very low price. Do not hesitate in acquiring it if you have the least interest in the music or performers."

Get this one, and Reiner too.

Kevin Orth | 05/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a glorious disc, and instead of trying to compare it to Reiner's legendary Pictures at an Exhibition I would simply say buy this one and the RCA Living Stereo version of "Pictures" with the CSO, which also includes "Russian Showpieces" by Glinka, Kabalevsky and others.



These two Midwestern orchestras, a few hundred miles apart and commanded by expatriate Hungarian Jewish musical tyrant/geniuses, were phenomenal, exceptional ensembles that still define refinement of tone, ensemble playing, clarity and overall musical excellence.



Today they are still astonishingly good orchestras but they were never better than they were under the men who built them into the best--Reiner and Szell. When reviewers write that they were cold blooded I think of Lincoln's remark when he was told that Grant--his only able General--was a drunk. "I wish that my other Generals would drink whatever he is drinking."



When I listen to the bland, correct, contemporary recordings of the standard repertoire in flawless digital sound I wish that some of today's maestros had the same "cold blood" that ran in Szell and Reiner--blood that made for hair raising performances that have not faded a bit (or been topped) in fifty years."