Customer Reviews

Borodin: Symphony No. 2 / In the Steppes of Central Asia / Prince Igor - excerpts (including Polovtsian Dances)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this CD because I heard a performance of the evocative "In the Steppes of Central Asia" on the radio and wanted an affordable way to hear it again. At the time, I was unfamiliar with Borodin's 2nd symphony. A few days later I had the CD playing in the background. At some point during the 3rd movement of the 2nd symphony I found myself unable to continue my task, being simply gripped by what I was hearing. I had discovered the magic of Borodin's 2nd symphony.

Since then, I have realized that Tjeknavorian's performance is further magic exacted upon this wonderful piece, a performance that balances the somewhat classical structure of the 2nd symphony, with that longing for distant horizons that haunts this work, especially the third movement.

Of course, for many folks, the fine performance of the Polovitsian Dances will be the drawing card. But if you love the 2nd Symphony, this is one of the best. And if you don't know the symphonic Borodin yet, this disc is a fabulous introduction.

The performance is 5-star, the sound is only 3-star by late 90's standards. But it averages out to a superb budget recording value.

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) was, by his own account, a "dilettante" when it came to music, with most of his primal energies expended on furthering the science of chemistry and, later in life, his duties as a professor at the academy of medicine in St. Petersburg. Composition was a hobby to Borodin, a means of personal expression found only in his (very) few moments of free time. Still, the Russian was talented enough to gain the notice of several other prominent composers of his era and environment, including Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Together with Balakirev and Cui they formed 'The Mighty Handful,' a group diametrically opposed to the strident rules/form of then-academicians and, more specifically, to the ego-driven histrionics of Richard Wagner. 'The Five', as they were also known, considered themselves champions for spontaneity and 'truth in music.' Borodin, though the least committed of the group, is also widely considered to have been the most talented and sensitive in approach.

For potent evidence of Alexander Borodin's compositional gifts, look no further than this assemblage, which contains his 'Symphony no. 2', excerpts from the 'Prince Igor' opera, and 'In the Steppes of Central Asia.' These pieces were conducted by Loris Tjeknavorian and performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra in 1977. The mastering of the disc is sonically quite rich, and compares favorably with recent, digital-transfer releases.

Amidst his professional and private duties, Borodin worked irregularly on Symphony no. 2 for some seven years before completing it. The symphony begins on a stern, authoritative note, exotic and very, very Russian, before segueing into more cheerful terrain with the second movement's jolly, cascading strings. The third movement is a somber, reflective piece, while the concluding fourth... These ears greatly suspect a certain archetypical 'old wild west' jingle, used in both cowpoke movies and "Beef - It's what's for dinner" TV commercials, of ripping its theme from this movement; and in that, of transforming/diluting the music from its proud Russian origins to this eventual 'down home on the range' Texas motif - an ironic symbolic revert-form. Regardless, Symphony no. 2, clocking in at just over twenty-six minutes, is a marvel of shifting mood and variety, and well deserving of its high-ranked status.

'In the Steppes of Central Asia' is perhaps Borodin's most famous piece; I had the fortune to hear it performed last summer by Vadim Gluzman on a 17th century Stradivari. It begins with a simple, understated melody that gradually builds and evolves in idea, if not volume, over the course of the piece, until about halfway through: then the main theme comes crashing in, epic with a capital 'E', peaking the movement. 'Steppes' then expands, undulates and contracts, until resuming its beginning simplicity at the end, tapering off into golden notes. It resonates with the mystery of its namesake, symbolizing the untamed frontier of a Russia long past.

Lastly, but certainly *not* least, are the excerpts of Borodin's 'Prince Igor'. Set in the 12th century, the opera chronicles the invasion of the barbaric Polovtsian nomads into southern Russua; specifically, the capture of Prince Igor and his son Vladimir by the Polovtsian leader Khan Konchak, and the Khan's attempts to entertain his prisoners with lavish arrangements and lusty slave-girls a-whirl. The Overture begins slowly but soon erupts with string dynamics; cello and woodwinds accent the quieter passages. The 'March' and 'Dance of the Plovtsian Maidens' have broad-string melody, fast-paced horn-work and a strong rhythmic percussion, exemplifying the rustic folk-tribal character of the nomads. Finally we arrive to the 'Polovtsian Dances,' one of my favorite pieces of classical music, and not just for the fact that I watched the incomparably lovely Yuka Sato win the Hallmark Skating Championship this year with her swan-like ice dancing to it. No, this final choral masterpiece tugs at unseen heartstrings, brings an involuntary tear to the eye - it is a work of beauty, of sublime artistry. At eleven minutes, 'Polovtsian Dances' builds and builds, alternatively roaring with energetic orchestral work and innocent-sounding choral interludes; evocative chanting enhances the rising tension; finally we return to the opening choral as climax, female and male voices resonating together, complimenting the other against blaring horn and cymbal-crash.

It's a shame that Borodin's legacy is so sparse, compared to some of his contemporaries; but that which he did compose - handily summarized here in a sort of 'greatest hits' package - rings loud and true in the pantheon of the Romantic Era. And at less that seven dollars, this CD is an incredible bargain to boot. Highest recommendation.

Anyone interested in discovering the beautiful works of Alexander Borodin should strongly consider buying this recording. Frankly I was shocked to see it listed for [the price], given the quality in all aspects: composer, orchestra, sound quality. "Symphony No. 2", "In the Steppes of Central Asia", and "Prince Igor", all seal Borodin's fate as one of the greatest composers, despite being a professor of chemistry by trade. One can only imagine his legacy had he devoted all his time to music. Well, he left us with some astonishing works for the ears to behold, which are well represented by this cd.

Pretty much Borodin's greatest hits with terrific sound, bold and robust performances and a great price. It is rare to get the March from Prince Igor complete with the male chorus. It takes a jaded listener to resist the sensuous yearning and unabashed romance of the Symphony #2's 3rd movement. Listen and enjoy!!!

This is an excellent recording of all of Borodin's most popular orchestral works. Although some people may classify pieces of this sort as "warhorses," all the works on this disc--especially the Polovetsian Dances--are thoroughbred. Like Tchaikovsky's Fifth.

An essential part of anyone's musical knowledge.

This recording of the Borodin b minor symphony is excellent, and the colorful orchestration that entranced Debussy and his colleagues is easily heard due to the clear sound (too clear in the first movement, actually - one of the cello players sounded a little tinny to me). The first movement, with its blatantly nationalistic motto theme, is balanced with a sparkling scherzo and an andante with an achingly beautiful song-like theme. The finale, with the exuberance characteristic of Borodin and of the Mighty Five in general, is sprightly and cheerful. Its main theme is pentatonic (consisting of a five-note scale), like most music from folk sources (yes, including America, which does not mean that we "ripped" it from anywhere, simply that it is the single most pervasive system of tonal organization in the world). This recording is highly recommended, as it represents the vast majority of Borodin's orchestral output, and not badly, either.

I have been a fan of Borodin ever since playing this piece in high school and then hearing his music in the musical "Kismet". The Symphony is wonderfully played and well extracted into the MP3 format. It seems however that someone made a major BOO-BOO in the extraction of "In the Steppes of Central Asia" The piece just stops in the middle of a phrase, only to begin at that point in the Prince Igor Overture track. If you want to listen to just the "Steppes" you will be cheated out of approximately 1 minute 30 seconds worth of music (the etherial ending of the piece). Conversely, if you wish to listen to the Prince Igor segments you will hear 1 minute 30 seconds worth of music that will make no sense whatsoever, followed by about a 15 seconds of silence before the overture begins. I hope this is an electronic transfer problem and not a problem with the CD itself.

If you wish to purchase this recording, which by the way is excellent in all respects, I would STRONGLY recommend getting the CD and waiting the 4 or 5 day is takes the mail to get it to you, then make your own transfer to your MP3 player, or maybe purchase the piece recorded by a different artist.

Again, the music is wonderful and the recording is terrific, but the MP3 editing leaves something to be desired.

I played Borodin's 2nd with the National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra, having never even heard of borodin before, let alone having played the symphony! I quickly fell in love with it and its wide range of themes. I particularly enjoy the 3rd movement and the way it changes from gentle sols at the beginning to a rising climax with a rising passage introduced by the violas and being built up by the orchestra.

Borodin's Prince Igor with choir is my favourite music, having once sung myself in Chesterton Choir Cambridge, and I've been searching for definitive recording. Most of recommended recordings hurry the music along spoiling the beautiful melody and intricate harmony. Solti's Formula One rendition is the worst one even though highly recommended by Penguin Guide.

I picked up this CD in a second-hand shop in London simply because it was cheap, and got a nice surprise. This unkown conductor paces each section of the music wisely and manages to bring best out of the music, achieving both nostalgic beauty of the female chorus and excitement of the fast sections. Male chorus blends beautifully with orchestra and female chorus. This might not be definitive version, but in the same class as Stokowski's famous DECCA Phase4 recording and BBC Legend live recording.

Truly lovely emotive music. A must-have Album for any classical collection.
Borodin: Symphony No.2/In The Steppes Of Central Asia/Prince Igor