Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov(1844-1908)

[vandermolen]

Looks like the soundtrack to 'Clash of the Titans' - fun though. 

[cilgwyn]

I would have loved sleeve artwork like this when I was a youngster;and a bit disappointed that (as far as I can recall? ) Rimsky-Korsakov's Suite didn't include  a Ray Harryhausen style fight with a dragon! Oh well,that's what The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts are for!! I would also have been thrilled by those warning notices about the sonic levels!!!!
That said......does the performance actually measure up to the artwork? Or,perhaps I should say;the original artwork? I know you shouldn't judge a 'record' by it's cover.......!!!!

[Scion7]

I've never run across this on YT - not one of the versions I own.  So, can't answer you.  I don't think it took the world by storm, though. 

[cilgwyn]

One to buy for the sleeve,perhaps! I have bought records like that!! The Mackerras Telarc is one recording I've always been tempted to buy because of the artwork. Although,I think that it might actually be a good or decent recording? Does anyone know it here? The artwork is very alluring. According to one review it is "a lush sumptuous reading that has all the swashbuckling power of an Errol Flynn movie."
I keep meaning to add Maazel's Telarc recording of Antar to my collection,too! It's usually very cheap s/h. I'm a bit of a fan of the score. I have several recordings;but not that one.

[mc ukrneal]

One to buy for the sleeve,perhaps! I have bought records like that!! The Mackerras Telarc is one recording I've always been tempted to buy because of the artwork. Although,I think that it might actually be a good or decent recording? Does anyone know it here? The artwork is very alluring. According to one review it is "a lush sumptuous reading that has all the swashbuckling power of an Errol Flynn movie."
I keep meaning to add Maazel's Telarc recording of Antar to my collection,too! It's usually very cheap s/h. I'm a bit of a fan of the score. I have several recordings;but not that one.

The Mackerras you speak of is among the best. The playing is outstanding and the sound is demonstration quality. It's one of my favorite discs.

[cilgwyn]

Thanks! A perfectly logical reason to have that very enticing artwork on my shelf!

[mjmosca]

Thank you, Dundonnell for getting this thread underway! I am new to this site, and am a huge fan of Rimsky, and find his music to be a source of endless pleasure. I have the wonderful set of suites from the Operas (Jarvi) which give a hint of the music within- I think that the fantasy nature of several of the operas have worked against them in the West. As for his orchestral music - there is so much beyond the glorious Scheherazade - I would love to hear "Antar" some day in a live concert. Years ago I read his book on orchestration (in translation)- he was certainly one of the greatest orchestrators.

Speaking of Scheherazade, I have about 7 recordings, and am always on the lookout for one that is a real "wallow"in the romantic character of the work! Any suggestions?

[Spineur]

Speaking of Scheherazade, I have about 7 recordings, and am always on the lookout for one that is a real "wallow"in the romantic character of the work! Any suggestions?

Do you have the version of Ferenc Ficsay ?  He is excellent in this repertoire
A version I cant recommend is this chamber music version by the Zurich ensemble.  Once you remove the Rimsky orchestration, there is hardly anything left !!

[Jo498]

Fricsay is slow and "grand" but the dryish mono sound is probably not the best for "wallowing". I don't care enough about that piece to give recommendations. I tend to prefer "Antar", a piece that is undeservedly far less known. And the suites from the operas are even more entertaining.

[PerfectWagnerite]

One to buy for the sleeve,perhaps! I have bought records like that!! The Mackerras Telarc is one recording I've always been tempted to buy because of the artwork. Although,I think that it might actually be a good or decent recording? Does anyone know it here? The artwork is very alluring. According to one review it is "a lush sumptuous reading that has all the swashbuckling power of an Errol Flynn movie."
I keep meaning to add Maazel's Telarc recording of Antar to my collection,too! It's usually very cheap s/h. I'm a bit of a fan of the score. I have several recordings;but not that one.

You referring to this one?



Yes one of my all time favorite album covers, worth the price alone just for the cover. It truly captures the splendor, the exoticism, the grandeur, and the mystery of the music. Performance is excellent also.

[mjmosca]

Thank you all for the information- I also love "Antar" and it should certainly be played more often. I have the Maazel recording which is very fine, only complaint is that the recording level is on the low side, but it is beautifully paced and played.

[cilgwyn]

You referring to this one?



Yes one of my all time favorite album covers, worth the price alone just for the cover. It truly captures the splendor, the exoticism, the grandeur, and the mystery of the music. Performance is excellent also.

Yes,I have ogled that one a few times. I really must buy it,one day!!

Just spotted this on the internet. Anyone here ever bagged this one? Was this design only on an Lp.....or was it on a cd release?!! This would have looked very nice indeed next to my record,or cd player!!



I also see that Melodiya have reissued an old Soviet recording of The Golden Cockerel on cd. I might be tempted at some point. I have greatly enjoyed their ancient old recordings of Sadko and The Tale of Tsar Saltan. The latter is a delight (indeed both are!).I find it very difficult to understand why it has been neglected in the recording studio. It really is quite wonderful to listen to;and hearing the well known,and utterly magical and escapist suite,and the famous Bumblebee,in it's original context is fascinating. I suppose the old mono recording is really impossible to better in many ways.

[vandermolen]

The Invisible City is a fine work. I had it on an old Vox/Turnabout LP.

[snyprrr]

Do you think I'm going to enjoy R-K now that I've assimilated much of 'The Firebird', which seems to have a lot of R-K features? Will he sound hopelessly Romantic to me right now? I guess I can start with the Easter thingy... but I'm not sure I want to here 'Schzd'...

what's the best way to win "snyprrr" over to R-K (meaning, it probably won't be this, or that, but the other thing...)

[Maestro267]

Just listen to the damn music, for goodness' sake! I've heard The Firebird, and it's amazing. And I've heard Scheherazade, and it's amazing. Seriously, some people put way too many restrictions on their 'appreciation' of music, like you have to do things in a certain order. Just listen to it! No need to overcomplicate things.

[cilgwyn]

  That's telling you,snyprrr!
I actually prefer Antar. A big favourite of mine. I've got several recordings of it.

[cilgwyn]

There are several good recordings of Antar. This one gets less attention than some others,but I like it allot. Abravanel is a favourite conductor of mine,and I like the idea of a story line which begins in the desert being evoked by an orchestra in a desert state! As well as Ippolitov Ivanov's Caucasian Sketches,the cd version of this Lp includes Gliere's Russian Sailor's Dance and the Waltz and Final Scene from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. The Everyman cd I own has similar artwork (very attractive) but only the main detail,and lettering across the upper part of it,obscuring that pretty bird,somewhat!!

[Spineur]

Ravel wrote a version of Antar where he uses mostly Rimsky music adding transitions between recitatives

[asin]B06W5KSC3H[/asin]

I dont really care for it but some may be interested by this rarity.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Is it me or are the rest of RK's output not as high in Standard was the few works he is famous for? I HAVE listened to most of his works and don't really find them nearly as interesting as Scheherazade, Capriccio Espanol or even the Russian Easter Overture.

[vandermolen]

I think Tchaikovsky said of RK that he thought he'd become one of the greatest composers or disappear without trace. However, he did neither becoming, instead, the most accomplished second-rater.
Not sure I agree. RK was my first favourite composer. I'd recommend the delightful Christmas Eve ballet, the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Antar Symphony as well as the Russian Easter Festival Overture, the incidental music to Mlada and Sadko and May Night.