Search - Alexander Borodin, Modest Mussorgsky, André Cluytens :: Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2; Polovtsian Dances; Modest Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain

The Dances Are Not Kubelik's With The Choir!!

Bertram christmas | Boston ,MA. | 02/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The original LP of Kubelik's Vienna Phil. Borodin Symphony 2, also contained a masterful and exciting performance of the Polovtsian Dances with Kubelik again, conducting The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Oddly, this treasured performance of the Borodin Dances has NEVER found its' way onto a CD. When I first encountered this CD in the shop, I was led to believe I was going to get my old LP replaced with some good bonuses to boot. Though I'm delighted to have Kubelik's Vienna Borodin 2 on CD, I was really bunmmed that I got a choirless Polovtsian Dances with Steinberg and Pittsburgh instead. Owners of the original LP can and will be easily fooled here, for the back of the jewel case indicates Kubelik for The Polovtsian Dances. Only when the enclosed leaflet is read, is the error on the back of the case corrected."

Borodin is worth the price

Bruce Gray | Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA | 12/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this album for the recording of Borodin's "Symphony # 2" - a piece that is rarely played on classical music stations, but which I had heard on a show that plays only very unusual Classical numbers.I was not disappointed. This small short work by Borodin (about 27 minutes) is really what makes this CD worth purchasing. Borodin's Russian heritage has never been more evident than on this symphony, which may have been his way of "thumbing his nose" at the coming Russian Revolution.However, the very unusual version of Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" almost ruined my appreciation of the other Borodin pieces that come after. I have no idea how or why this particular piece was included - it would have been far better to include more of Borodin's short works, or a selection from his 1st symphony, rather than this rather disconcerting version of "Bald Mountain". Quite different from what is normally heard on recordings of "Bald Mountain".If you make it thru the Mussorgsky pieces however, there's more Borodin for you to enjoy. "In the Steppes of Central Asia" is masterfully done. The selections from the "Prince Igor" opera include the complete Polovetsian dances selection as well as the memorable version of the overture to "Prince Igor". Made me wish they had done the whole work.I would have given this a perfect five stars if the weird and strange "Bald Mountain" had been omitted and something else of Borodin's compositions had been inserted instead. Still worth buying just for the "Symphony # 2" however."

Long live the music of Borodin!

Instrumentalist | 03/27/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Borodin is going to be BIG someday. Working against him is the fact that A) he is dead B) he died long ago C) he was not prolific. Working for him is the fact that he wrote some of the greatest symphonic material ever. Big tunes are cleverly weaved together and the music is always moving forward, never stagnating. This music is still as fresh as when Borodin first put pen to paper. The only drawback is that all three symphonies are not all here. This does contain the most popular symphony as well as some of the better known short works. Also, at this price you have nothing to lose. However, you can also pick up lively accounts of all 3 symphonies on Naxos. Alternately, you can find a few big-name conductors and orchestras recording Borodin, but you will pay a definite premium. A premium may be justified, however, if you have a hi-fi sound system and want to experience Borodin in his full glory. The true beauty of classical music is that you can drop down less than $5 and get excellent performances, whereas $5 for a "popular" CD will only buy you the least desirable CDs of all time. With only a little research and a $50 investment you can get a significant amount of significant music. You gotta love it!"