Orchestral Pictures From Russia

Modest mussorgsky (Composer), Alexander Glazunov (Composer), Rimsky Korsakov (Composer), Anatol Lyadov (Composer), Mily Balakirev (Composer), Alexander Borodin (Composer), Anton Arensky (Composer), Vasili Kalinnikov (Composer), Evgeny Svetlanov (Conductor), USSR Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: USSR Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Evgeny Svetlanov
• Composer: Modest mussorgsky, Alexander Glazunov, Rimsky Korsakov, Anatol Lyadov, Mily Balakirev, et al.
• Audio CD (June 17, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: BMG/Melodiya
• ASIN: B000001HDC
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,139 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dawn on the Moskva-River (from 'Khaovanshchina')

2. A Night on Bald Mountain

3. Hopak (from 'Sorochintsy Fair')

4. In the Steppes of Central Asia

5. Polovtsian Dances with Chorus (from 'Prince Igor') - USSR Radio Large Chor/Klavdi Ptitsa

6. Sadko, Op.5

7. Bright Holiday (Russian Easter Festival Ov, op.36)

8. Islamey

Disc: 2

1. Ov from 'Dream on the Volga'

2. Spring, Op.34

3. Romantic Intermezzo in D, Op.69

4. About Olden Times, Op.21b

5. From the Apocalypse, Op.66

6. Baba Yaga, Op.56

7. The Enchanted Lake, Op.62

8. Kikimora, Op.63

9. Nymphs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Russian sound for russian music., December 2, 2002

By 

"angelgabriel4" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Orchestral Pictures From Russia (Audio CD)

Soviet orchestras were the only orchestras ever to properly do justice to many russian pieces in my opinion. After hearing many of the pieces on this disc, I can't help but find American or West European versions of the same works a bit bland in comparison. Extremely emotional and moving renditions.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The original Russian sound - glorious Svetlanov recordings!, July 20, 2007

By 

A. Vella "Russophile" (Malta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Orchestral Pictures From Russia (Audio CD)

This CD set was part of a series released by BMG in the mid 90s after their licensing agreement with Russian record label MELODIYA. All CDs in the series have now been deleted (shame on BMG!). This particular title was one of the first in the series.

It is amazing that one reviewer claimed that both orchestra & conductor are 'obscure'!! Hello??? The USSR (State) Symphony Orchestra, now the Russian State Symphony Orchestra is one of the finest orchestras in Russia and the late maestro Svetlanov one of the leading and most prolific conductors of the ex-USSR. He recorded an endless list of works by a wide range of composers for various labels all over the globe.

This CD focuses on known Russian works (Night on the Bare Mountain, In the Steppes of Central Asia, Russian Easter Festival Overture etc) and some very rare Russian gems (on CD2). The recordings are typical of the golden era of MELODIYA and the Russian sound of the orchestra is unmistakable. There might be better engineered recordings of these works, but Svetlanov's magic cannot be easily surpassed. Of all the 'Steppes' I have heard, this wins hands down!

Grab a copy of this set if you come across it - an excellent 'sampler' of the art of Yevgeny Svetlanov!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Orchestral Pictures From Russia (Audio CD)

A marvellous CD. Moving and a great way to be introduced to the amazing and powerful music of the Mighty Handful et al. A must buy.