Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
• Audio CD (November 24, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000FCKY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,798 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > General AAS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling., April 29, 2000

By 

Gilbert Hernandez (Lubbock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

To be honest, I am mostly not a big fan of Bernstein, but this is an instance where I must give credit where credit is due. Believe it or not, this recording outshines Reiner's recording with the Chicago Symphony, even where the Chicago brass is clearly superior. This is because Bernstein turns in an overall superior interpretation, not to mention some of the best solo performances of this piece on record. Could anyone beat the flawless piccolo virtuosity (taken at Bernstein's devilish tempo, no less)? The soulful violin soli? And in the final movement, if you don't feel like you ARE on The Ship that goes to pieces on a Rock Surmounted by a Bronze Warrior...well, listen again! Once again, thrilling.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein's Scheherazade, January 27, 2002

By 

Hermes Camacho "MusicianHermes" (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

This was the piece he first conducted his first summer in Tanglewood. Is it inspired? Of course.
It has it's moments, particularly at the recap of the first movement theme in the last movement. It's absolutely breathtaking the way Bernstein is able to perpetuate such intesity from the orchestra.

Bernstein conducts it much too freely, to my taste. His fermatas in the second movement are WAY too drawn out, and one can hear it in the orchestra. The sound just seems to be confused...a kind of "when is he going to move on" feeling.

Some of the melodic lines are covered up by overzealous brass and the violin solos lack a sense of mystery, which one can hear in either the Ormandy/Philly or the Masur/NYP recordings.

Of course, the virtuosity is there and the orchestra plays it's heart out. As for Lenny, his passion for the music is present, but not convincing. There are numerous other recordings that fair better (Ormandy's, Reiner's, and above all Beecham's and Masur's to name a few), but it's still a good recording.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and lyrical, June 1, 1999

By A Customer

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

Bernstein's driven performance of Scherherazade is an exciting experience indeed. Those who insist on technical perfection orchestrally will find problems: there are several timing issues. That being said, ff the several versions of this piece I have heard, none capture the excitement and drama of the tone poem, with Lenny's zest. Listen to the orchestra charge into the final Maestoso, for example. The rendering of Cappricio Espagnole is fine too, though less appealing, in part due to very dry sound quality.