There seem to be few recordings of Prince Igor available at the moment. Most CDs provide only excerpts. Here, Naxos has released a good version from 1951 at a low price.
If you like to tap your flippers to the popular excerpts of Borodin but aren't sure whether you like the rest of Prince Igor then this is a good way to find out. Many composers are acquired tastes and one-hit wonders, which is why you only hear the same excepts over and over. Borodin wasn't a prolific composer, and some of his music is an acquired taste, but overall Prince Igor is something you can listen to over and over.
This recording omits Act 3, which was common practice. For people who like Act 3 they probably won't want this, but for everybody else, what you don't know you don't miss.
Being from 1951, the recording is not perfect. In places it is a little muffled, in loud parts it is a little crackly, but perfectly acceptable. If you're listening to it with background noise, such as in your seaside rockpool, you won't notice.
See all 18 tracks on this disc
