Search - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Neeme Järvi, Scottish National Orchestra :: Rimsky-Korsakov: Overture and Suites from the Operas

The BEST Rimsky-Korsakov orchestral recording

Patrick Yamada | South Central Orange County, CA USA | 03/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Today Rimsky-Korsakov is now known primarily as an orchestral composer. His masterful use of color won him deserved praise in his day, and his book on composition is still in print after over 100 years.



Recently I glanced through an introduction to classical music and found his "Cappricio Espagnol", "Scheherezade", and "Russian Easter Festival Overture" (Op 34, 35, and 36) listed as the recommended works for listening. While these are his most famous works, they are not the best representatives of his orchestral mastery. Rimsky was first and foremost a composer of operas with 15 to his credit.



Alas, what is one to do if he doesn't like opera? Listen to the orchestral suites gleaned from his operas! Of those on this recording, "Christmas Eve", "Tsar Saltan" and "Kitezh" will knock your socks off with Rimsky's craftsmanship of color, melody, drama and humor. Even first-time listeners will recognize "The Flight of the Bumblebee" from Tsar Saltan, and the beautiful, obscure tunes (e.g. Fevronia's theme from "Kitezh") will grow on them. Amateur music historians like me can follow his artistic growth from "Snow Maiden" through his Wagnerian dementia in "Mlada" to his maturity in "Kitezh" and "The Golden Cockerel".



Neeme Jarvi and the Scottish National Orchestra "get" Rimsky. Other Russian works in their repertoire (e.g. Kalinnikov's symphonies) show they understand Russian music, and they perform with gusto. You will hear the twinkling of the stars in "Christmas Eve" and thrill to the martial fanfare of Tsar Saltan's march. The recording is clear and free of distracting noises.



If I could only keep one set of Rimsky-Korsakov's works on CD, this would be it."

Amazing Music and a great conductor

SRB | Texas | 06/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is great music. This is real music. Powerful, confident, by a composer at the top of his game.



If you are tired of the reader's digest stuff that only makes the top 10 lists (mozart, beethoven, etc) try some REAL classical music. Not to knock Ludwig & Amadeus of course. Usually the same set of concertos and symphonies make the top 10 lists , or recent soloists. You have to dig deep to find something like this. Rimsky was a genius. He was a state composer & conductor, he wrote pieces for the army orchestra, but he also wrote operas, beautiful operas with beautiful pieces like these. His grasp of melodies, of layering a composition - its indefinable. Neemi's recordings of this are one of a kind. Powerful, dramatic, like a storm at sea. I used to play these pieces in college in my dorm room, people would complain, snicker but slowly others started asking to borrow the CD and want it also. Rimsky's melodies will stay with you forever, snatches here & there will come to you. Also look for Bernstein's Capriccio Espangol and Scherezade & Russian Easter Overture to complete your Rimsky experience."