Search - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Harry Rabinowitz, Zubin Mehta :: Rimsky-Korsakov: Greatest Hits

A useful introduction

Red Stick Reviewer | 08/07/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD will be valuable for beginners who need an introduction to the works of Rimsky-Korsakov. The performances are by Bernstein, Ormandy, and Mehta, among others, some of which are digital and others remastered from analog.



Of the three best known orchestral works of Rimsky-Korsakov, it includes two in full: Capriccio espagnol and Russian Easter Overture. One can sympathize with the compilers for having to decide what to include from the third, i.e. Scheherazade, since all four movements of this work are masterpieces. The compilers went with the last two movements.



Most of the remaining selections are the best-known pieces from Rimsky's opera suites: Farewell of the Tsar and Flight of the Bumblebee (Tsar Saltan), Dance of the Tumblers (Snow Maiden), Bridle Procession (Le coq d'or), and Procession of the Nobles (Mlada). The collection will serve its purpose if it encourages listeners to explore further and obtain the full versions of these suites and Scheherazade.



The gem of the collection is the aria "The Song of India" from the opera Sadko, sung here by a Russian tenor. Most listeners will never purchase the full opera, so it is worth the price of the CD just to have this aria available separately. Even listeners (like myself) who are not big opera fans will be enchanted by the haunting beauty of this piece.



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