Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Capriccio Espagnol

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Composer), Charles Mackerras (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Mackerras
• Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
• Audio CD (June 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CVU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,271 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #40 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > General
  • #69 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Charles Mackerras is an unassuming guy who just makes great music. He's never made a bad record, and his enthusiasms range from Handel to Janácek to Sullivan (he's one of the world's leading authorities on all three). Because he's had no long-term relationship with any specific label, his career hasn't been pushed the way, say, Herbert von Karajan's was, but that doesn't make his recordings any less good. In fact, as this brilliant and exciting performance of two Rimsky-Korsakov classics shows, Mackerras is as completely at home in these lush, Romantic orchestral soundscapes as he is in his chosen fields of expertise. Add Telarc's knockout sound to the equation, and what more could you ask for? --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This comes close to being the Perfect One, August 25, 2003

By 

JPH "JPH" (Crawley) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Capriccio Espagnol (Audio CD)

There is no need to add too much to the glowing praises already humped onto this recording. This disc stands as a testament to the greatness of the LSO's virtuosity, its great violin soloist (Hulmanns) and the skilful, seductive conducting of Mackerras. If you are a fan of Scheherazade this CD is mandatory in your collection, regardless if it becomes your No.1 favourite or not.

The only quibble that could be raised is the overly w-i-d-e dynamic range of the recording. This CD is one of Telarc's audio engineering spectaculars, but listening to it at lowered volume levels late at night is a problem due to the immense -dB range, especially in the third movement. At lower volume levels, Hulmann's delicate playing is barely discernible. This rules it out as a Scheherazade for considerate late-night listening.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Powerfull, Amazing, December 30, 1999

By 

Rafael Rodriguez "Rafael" (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Capriccio Espagnol (Audio CD)

The performance is one in a million. Both works are played brilliantly. Scheherazade's beginning is powerfull, the first part of the second movement y lovely, soft, the rest is just great. The third movement is absolutely romantic and the fourth is breathtaking. The capriccio, one of my favorite works in the entire world of classical music is performed just as a miracle, in fact, the best performance I've heard (listen to the harp. Mackerras was great in this recording, as always in his recordings. Besides, the sound of the recording is absolutely clean and that counts too. Don't leave this recording out of your collection.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite Scheherazade!, May 1, 2002

By 

D. Seymour "snadmus" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Capriccio Espagnol (Audio CD)

I confess, Sheherazade is my all-time favorite piece of music, bar none. You only need two four-letter words to describe this recording: FULL and LUSH. This recording is romantic to the hilt. Mackerras carresses every last drop of ecstasy out of the London Symphony Orchestra. His Sheherazade is breathtakingly hypnotic, not unlike the lady herself. It is like a fine opiate. (By the way, Mackerras approaches this piece with a technique similar to the great Sir Adrian Boult.) The soundscape provided by Telarc will absolutely blow you away! It is like an opening into another dimension. The only reason I give this 4 instead of 5 stars is the inclusion of the Cappriccio Espagnol. While it is a nice piece in its own right, it completely burns away the intangible, drug-induced haze that is woven so carefully for you by Sheherazade. By it for Mackerras' Scheherazade alone. This version kicks butt and takes names!