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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am still looking for the definitive performances on CD of these two works. These aren't it, but they provided some interesting variations on more basic servings.
The CD is labelled Deutsche Grammophon, Eloquence. An emblem denotes "Ambient Surround Imaging" but this is not explained anywhere, despite saying "details inside". However it may account for the surprisingly spacious, clean, and reverberant soundstage.
Firstly, Scheherezade: an Arabian tale in musical form by a Russian romantic composer. Here played by an American orchestra, conducted by a Japanese. Mmmm... could have been a dog's dinner, but turned out quite well. The original analogue recording was from 1978, but the digital transcription has been very well done indeed, suggesting that the master tracks were of a very high standard (as is the playing of the Boston S.O.). Ozawa's reading is a little off the beaten track here and there, with a wider range of tempi than usual, and occasionally disappointing dynamics within the orchestral sections. Strangely, here the opening tutti is the loudest part of the whole piece (mixing engineer go and stand in the corner!), but as the work unfolds you forget that.
Likewise the first violins dominate to a rather unreal extent: not particularly forward let alone shrill, but - just a lot of sound coming from them, sometimes at the expense of more interesting twiddlies going on elsewhere. Equally disappointing for me as a percussion enthusiast was the "downscaled" bass drum: often sounding more like hitting a punchbag with boxing gloves...
This all prepares you somewhat for the out-and-out quirkiness of Neeme Jarvi's reading of the Capriccio Espagnol. This is from 1988 and is entirely digital. The overall playing time of just over 15 minutes is not unusual in itself, but what is odd is the wide range of tempi. The slow sections drag a little IMHO, but the Alborada, and particularly the Fandango, are taken at breakneck speed, and the orchestra positively catapults from the final bars to the breathless end: impressively played by the Gothenburg S.O. it has to be said, no lack of togetherness amongst the frenzy!
Acoustically this piece is similar to the first, maybe due to the Ambient Surround Imaging. Excellent treble for smooth, sweet violins, airy cymbals, and clean but not strident woodwind and brass. Just a bit lacking down in the first octave, and missing the sizzle from the bows of the lower strings (alas, a common gripe) and the rasp of an unleashed trombone.
There, I hope this hasn't dampened your willingness to give this CD a try; as I said, these are not off-the-shelf stock performances, but you might find them a refreshing change :-)
The CD is labelled Deutsche Grammophon, Eloquence. An emblem denotes "Ambient Surround Imaging" but this is not explained anywhere, despite saying "details inside". However it may account for the surprisingly spacious, clean, and reverberant soundstage.
Firstly, Scheherezade: an Arabian tale in musical form by a Russian romantic composer. Here played by an American orchestra, conducted by a Japanese. Mmmm... could have been a dog's dinner, but turned out quite well. The original analogue recording was from 1978, but the digital transcription has been very well done indeed, suggesting that the master tracks were of a very high standard (as is the playing of the Boston S.O.). Ozawa's reading is a little off the beaten track here and there, with a wider range of tempi than usual, and occasionally disappointing dynamics within the orchestral sections. Strangely, here the opening tutti is the loudest part of the whole piece (mixing engineer go and stand in the corner!), but as the work unfolds you forget that.
Likewise the first violins dominate to a rather unreal extent: not particularly forward let alone shrill, but - just a lot of sound coming from them, sometimes at the expense of more interesting twiddlies going on elsewhere. Equally disappointing for me as a percussion enthusiast was the "downscaled" bass drum: often sounding more like hitting a punchbag with boxing gloves...
This all prepares you somewhat for the out-and-out quirkiness of Neeme Jarvi's reading of the Capriccio Espagnol. This is from 1988 and is entirely digital. The overall playing time of just over 15 minutes is not unusual in itself, but what is odd is the wide range of tempi. The slow sections drag a little IMHO, but the Alborada, and particularly the Fandango, are taken at breakneck speed, and the orchestra positively catapults from the final bars to the breathless end: impressively played by the Gothenburg S.O. it has to be said, no lack of togetherness amongst the frenzy!
Acoustically this piece is similar to the first, maybe due to the Ambient Surround Imaging. Excellent treble for smooth, sweet violins, airy cymbals, and clean but not strident woodwind and brass. Just a bit lacking down in the first octave, and missing the sizzle from the bows of the lower strings (alas, a common gripe) and the rasp of an unleashed trombone.
There, I hope this hasn't dampened your willingness to give this CD a try; as I said, these are not off-the-shelf stock performances, but you might find them a refreshing change :-)
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I love this piece of music and bought the CD to upgrade my collection because I only had it on vinyl or cassette tape . It is a good recording .
32 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Full of suspense,excitement, and beautiful relief, this truly is an amazingly deep work, full of intrigue and splendour.Rimsky-Korsakovs' finest piece. What a tale. Sheer persiflage.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Scheherazade
I bought this as my father had requested that it be played at his funeral. I had not listened to it since I was a child and it brought back many happy memories. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. A. J. Harris
How have I missed this?
I heard part of this CD being reviewed on the radio and on the back of that bought the CD. I had never heard any of this in the past and realise now that I have been missing out on... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. P. J. Maries
Lovely music
I bought this because I needed an up to date replacement. I have it on my iPod but so far each time I begin to listen to it I drift off to sleep. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mrs. Carole F. Weinstein
music
one of my favourite pieces of music,make a cup of tea put your feet up ,lay back and lose yourself in a dreamy romantic melody.
Published on 15 April 2010 by Mrs. W. Dillon
Absolutely wonderful
This has become my very favourite piece of music (among let's say appr. 2000 cds).
Pity that so few of Rimsky-Korsakoff's works are available as recordings.
Pity that so few of Rimsky-Korsakoff's works are available as recordings.
Published on 29 Mar 2007 by Roald Andresen
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