Customer Reviews

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Rimsky-Korsakov is one of my favorite composers. I especially love his Scheherezade. Bernstein delivers a wonderful Scheherezade. The New York Philharmonic sounds great in this recording, especially the brass section, (I love that powerful introduction). Before I bought this recording, I had the copy of the same piece with Sir Charles Mackerras directing the London Symphony Orchestra, and I wrote a review on it thinking nothing could top it. I was wrong. Leonard Bernstein's version sounds like the stories of each movement are actually being told (as a reviewer previously said on this copy). Even though this copy was recorded in 1959, the sound quality is great because it was remastered using 20-bit technology. However, I did not care for the Capriccio Espagnol, because it sounded different with a dry sound quality. Plus, the feeling of the dramatic ending is lost because Bernstein takes it faster than what the orchestra can handle. I love fast tempos, but this was too much. I also felt the beginning was too slow. However, I reccomend the version of Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic for the Capriccio Espagno. It's terrific with great sound quality! Anyway, I think I rambled on too much, so get this copy for an excellent Scheherezade, but get the Masur/NYP for an excellent Capriccio Espagnol!

Bernstein is one of my favorite conductors because of his careful attention to detail--he lets nothing slip by, no detail is unimportant, as is apparent on his numerous Mahler recordings. However, everyone has their moments, and unfortunately, this is one of Bernstein's worst--however, it's even worse for the New York Philharmonic.

This is one of the worst recordings I have ever heard of this piece, and the simple reason is intonation--and it is the intonation of the woodwinds, the piccolo imparticular. This can in no way go unnoticed--string intonation problems are usually covered by the large number of string players in each section. Woodwinds are much more exposed, and the piccolo, in particular, has absolutely horrendous intonation throughout the entire piece--it is almost half a step falt the entire time! In general as well, the woodwinds are mostly out of tune, which is the first noticable thing.

This is not an argument that can swing "Well can't you even look at the interpretation and give them credit for that...." NO, i can't, because the intonation is the most noticable thing in any recording, and when it is as bad as it is in this recording, I can't help but criticize it.....trust me, and if you don't, just listen to the beginning of the 3rd movement of Cappricio Espagnol......you'll understand then.......

Many do not like Bernstein because of the dramatization he placed in the NYPO recordings. For a piece such as this, that drama brings out the real story behind the orchestration - Scheherezade entertaining her master, and thus saving her life, with wonderful stories.

Ohhhhh, this could have been the very best Rimsky-Korsakav's recording to ever exist! Bernstein's hot and energetic performance was completely magnificent all from the beginning ominous brass theme to the final stroke of the strings. And teh solo violin done by John Corigliano Sr. was absolutely beautiful. If only there wasn't this single BIG error (even a non-musician can feel something is wrong); one crash on the cymbal was really out of timing during the shipwreck scene at the fourth movement. This single "Oops!" really killed the perfection Bernstein and the listeners could have fully appreciated! (Sob...)

If you want a really good AND perfectly played recording, tough luck finding it. Not even Karajan's performance is as stimulating.

My husband and I first heard this composition decades ago. We loved it then and love it more now. The orchestration is phenomenal. One of our all-time favorites.

What a glorious CD! Such mad, lush, hyper-romantic music conducted to mad lush hyper-romantic perfection by Bernstein! A treat!

This recording from a few years ago is very good, if a little fast in Lenny's interpretation. Wonderful music. I recently saw the NY Philharmonic do Scheherazade where the final movement is a perfect example of teamwork. Breathtaking to watch.