Rimsky-Korsakov recommendations?

[rw1883]

I would like to hear members input on which Rimsky-Korsakov orchestral works are worth collecting,  besides the obvious.  I understand his symphonies, especially #2, are worth investigating.  There's a set on Brilliant (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Oct02/Rimsky_Brilliant.htm) and Bis (http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=11191) that have gotten decent reviews, but I look forward to other suggestions...

[PerfectWagnerite]

The only things you need are Scherazade, Russian Easter Fantasy Overture, and the Capricio Espanol. Everything else I have heard by him range from the forgettable (opera music, I can't take an entire opera unfortunately) to outright terrible (symphonies for example)

[SonicMan46]

RW1883 - your links interest me, and I'll take a serious look @ the listings.

Another recommendation that I own is a great bargin 2-CD set shown below - includes the usual R-K suggestions, plus others; but, I'd love to hear comments from others who might have the 'larger' sets of your links! 

[BorisG]

"The obvious" with Reiner is all you need.

[techniquest]

As well as the obvious, I would suggest getting the suite from Le Coq d'Or.
I have the 4-disc Brilliant Classics set which I picked up some time ago for about £6; it has the 3 symphonies, Sheherazade, Sadko (musical picture), Song of India, Overture on Russian Themes, The Tsars Bride Overture, Fantasia on Serbian Themes, Fairy Tale (Skazka), The Tale of Tsar Saltan Suite, Le Coq d'Or, Flight of the Bumble Bee and Christmas Eve Suite. Some of it is interesting, but none of it is essential unless you are a real Rimsky-Korsakov completist.

[david johnson]

"The obvious" with Reiner is all you need.

very true.  i would add 'russian easter overture' (barenboim/chicago) and 'tsar slatan' (ansermet/osr)
the ones you listed are probably very good, too.
many people dig beecham's 'scheherazade'.

dj

[carlos]

You should have also his magnificent piano trio, his SQ
and his string sextet. And don't forget the movements
he wrote for string quartet on the collective works.

[Grazioso]

Definitely listen to the symphonies, particularly Antar, which should appeal to anyone who enjoys Scheherazade. I have that Brilliant set but so far find Butt's Antar exasperatingly slow and leaden. There's a Naxos recording of it with more get-up-and-go.

[Harry]

The orchestral works are very worthwhile, for RK was one of the great orchestrator's around.
The inexpensive set on BIS with the Malaysian SO/Kees Bakels. That will give you the major works in pristine performances and sound.
The Chambermusic is also very worthwhile....

[Daverz]

Is the Brilliant set all Yondoni Butt?  They've issued some other ASV recordings, so that makes sense.

Some of my favorites:

Scheherazade: Stokowski/LSO/Cala
Capriccio Espagnol: Kondrashin/RCA
Opera orchestral suites: Järvi
Russian Easter: Rodzinski

For Antar, Beecham makes the most of the work, but that's in mono.  I wish Sony/BMG would reissue the Morton Gould recording.

Here's a nice budget issue with some classic recordings:



Rimsky was primarily an opera composer.  I suppose he was neglected for a long time because his works were in Russian and were based on fairy tales rather than being verismo works.  But in recent years more has become available on CD and DVD, so maybe one of our opera experts can comment on some desirable releases.

[techniquest]

Daverz, it's a 50/50 split between Butt and Loris Tjeknavorian (who is also an ASV artist). Both of the latters' CD's are with the Armenian Philharmonic whereas the Butts' are one with the LSO and one with the Philharmonia.

[val]

rw1883
I would like to hear members input on which Rimsky-Korsakov orchestral works are worth collecting,  besides the obvious. 

Well, that is not what you asked, but I would strongly suggest some of his operas: Kitege, Le coq d'or, Tzar Saltan, Sadko, Katshei the Immortal, among others. They are very beautiful.

[MichaelRabin]

Daverz - The Capriccio Espagnole - is the Kondrashin/RCA better than the Maazel/BPO on DG?

[rw1883]

Well, that is not what you asked, but I would strongly suggest some of his operas: Kitege, Le coq d'or, Tzar Saltan, Sadko, Katshei the Immortal, among others. They are very beautiful.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.  I'll definitely look into the operas as well.  I've read Golovanov conducting "May Night" is one worth getting...

[Cato]

By chance I just this morning put a mini-comment about Rimsky's First and Third Symphonies under the topic "The Worst First."

Check for a 2-CD set with Neemi Jarvi conducting the Scottish National Orchestra in all of the best suites from the operas.  I also have his DGG set with all 3 symphonies and the Russian Easter Overture and the Capriccio Espagnol.

Although you said orchestral CD's, the ultimate Rimsky-Korsakov work to have is the opera The Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya.

[rw1883]

By chance I just this morning put a mini-comment about Rimsky's First and Third Symphonies under the topic "The Worst First."

Check for a 2-CD set with Neemi Jarvi conducting the Scottish National Orchestra in all of the best suites from the operas.  I also have his DGG set with all 3 symphonies and the Russian Easter Overture and the Capriccio Espagnol.

Although you said orchestral CD's, the ultimate Rimsky-Korsakov work to have is the opera The Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya.

Concerning "The Invisible City of Kitezh", is the Gergiev the one to get?

[AnthonyAthletic]

Night on Mount Triglav

30+ minutes of Orchestral, from the Opera Mlada...wonderful themes, lovely work

Marco Polo

[MishaK]

Night on Mount Triglav

30+ minutes of Orchestral, from Opera...wonderful themes, lovely work

Marco Polo

I was completely unaware of this work, but just the title alone has me interested. Mount Triglav (Three-Head) is the highest peak in Slovenia (formerly the highest peak in Yugoslavia). This the triple-peaked mountain is a national symbol of Slovenia and can be seen in the coat of arms on the flag of Slovenia.



The Marco Polo recording you mention appears to be OOP. But there is a Naxos CD with the Moscow SO and Igor Golovschin conducting. Has anyone heard that one?

[head-case]

Buy this CD and  you'll never need another Rimsky-Korsakov recording.



On the other hand, this one is also pleasant, if you like chamber music.

[Cato]

Concerning "The Invisible City of Kitezh", is the Gergiev the one to get?

Yes, I am fairly happy with it, even with the stage noise.  Some reviewers complained about a few of the singers, but if you want a complete recording, this is - I think - the only game in town.  There was another recording years ago, but it had cuts of about an hour.