Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2; Polovtsian Dances; Modest Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain

Alexander Borodin (Composer), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), André Cluytens (Conductor), Constantin Silvestri (Conductor), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Rafael Kubelik (Conductor), William Steinberg (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: André Cluytens, Constantin Silvestri, Herbert von Karajan, Rafael Kubelik, William Steinberg
• Composer: Alexander Borodin, Modest Mussorgsky
• Audio CD (October 17, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000000UVR
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,163 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dances Are Not Kubelik's With The Choir!!, February 27, 2005

By 

Bertram christmas "bert" (Boston ,MA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2; Polovtsian Dances; Modest Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain (Audio CD)

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.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Borodin is worth the price, December 28, 2002

By 

Bruce Gray "gurpsgm" (Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2; Polovtsian Dances; Modest Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain (Audio CD)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Value Merits 5 Stars, Bald mountain rough, January 9, 2000

By 

Instrumentalist (Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2; Polovtsian Dances; Modest Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain (Audio CD)

Unfortunately, I am in "general" agreement with another reviewer here on the PSO's performance of Mussorsorgsky's Bald Mountain. I would speculate though that Steinberg's interpretation was intentional with the over emphasis on tight phrasing & articulation with the wind instruments in particular. I actually liked some of the effect, but it was a bit rough overall. The Borodin Polovstian Dances is another matter, superb PSO woodwinds here. (I would note that the PSO now (note: the recording is from the late 50's) ranks, according to most critics, in the top 15 globally, hardly a second tier orchestra and it has never been anything than good or better for the last 40 years..and I'm a native midwesterner not a Pittsburgher saying this) The Vienna Phily and Philharmonia performances on this CD are excellent and combine for a very fine value. Unless you are quite particular on the Bald mountain piece, I'd highly recommend it. IF you are particular..go for the Cleveland, NY Phily or Berlin recording to get the better Bald Mountain otherwise you'll be fretting forever, but expect to pay the $$ and buy two CDs minimum to get this good "select" selection of pieces.