Russian Orchestral Works

Eugene Ormandy (Artist, Conductor), The Philadelphia Orchestra (Artist), National Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist, Orchestra), Leopold Stokowski (Artist, Conductor), Mily Balakirev (Composer), Reinhold Gliere (Composer), Mikhail Mikhaylovich Ippolitov-Ivanov (Composer), Dmitry Kabalevsky (Composer), Aram Khachaturian (Composer), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Composer), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: Eugene Ormandy, Leopold Stokowski
• Composer: Mily Balakirev, Reinhold Gliere, Mikhail Mikhaylovich Ippolitov-Ivanov, Dmitry Kabalevsky, Aram Khachaturian, et al.
• Audio CD (December 29, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Classical
• ASIN: B0000029S1
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,390 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), opera in 3 acts with a prologue & epilogue: 1. Tsar Dodon in his Palace

2. Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), opera in 3 acts with a prologue & epilogue: 2. Tsar Dodon on the Battlefield

3. Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), opera in 3 acts with a prologue & epilogue: 3. Tsar Dodon and the Queen of Shema

4. Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), opera in 3 acts with a prologue & epilogue: 4. Bridal Procession and the Lamenta

5. The Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) (ii), opera ('springtime tale') in 4 acts with a prologue: Dance of the Tumblers

6. Mlada, suite for orchestra: Procession of the Nobles

7. The Tale of Tsar Saltan (Skazka o Tsare Saltane), musical pictures (suite) for orchestra, Op. 57: Farewell of the Tsar

8. Christmas Eve Suite (Noch' pered rozhdestvom), for orchestra (with optional chorus ad lib): Polonaise

9. The Tale of Tsar Saltan (Skazka o Tsare Saltane), musical pictures (suite) for orchestra, Op. 57: Flight of the Bumblebee

10. The Maid of Pskov (Pskovityanka), incidental music for orchestra: Ivan the Terrible

11. Islamey, Oriental fantasy for piano

12. The Red Poppy, ballet, Op. 70: Russian Sailor's Dance

13. Gopak (Hopak), for orchestra, transcribed by Liadov from the opera Sorochintsï Fair

14. Masquerada, suite from the incidental music for orchestra (or piano): Galop

15. Gayane, ballet in 4 acts: Dance of the Young Maidens

16. Gayane Suite, for orchestra No. 3: Sabre Dance

17. The Comedians, suite for small orchestra, Op. 26: Comedians' Galop

18. Caucasian Sketches, suite for orchestra, Op. 10: Procession of the Sardar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Raucous Russian Collection, April 1, 2001

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Russian Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

This Sony Essential Classics disc collects some lesser-known works by great nineteenth and twentieth century Russian composers, and some great works by some lesser-known Russian composers. "Russian Orchestral Works" features yet another in a long line of terrific performances by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The most familiar compositions here by far are Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" (one of two pieces performed by Leopold Stokowski and the National Philharmonic Orchestra and not Ormandy) and "Procession of the Nobles," and Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance." The other pieces range from other excerpts from Rimsky-Korsakov operas, to less familiar works by Mussorgsky, Kabalevsky and Khachaturian, to three composers I had never heard prior to purchasing this CD -- Balakirev, Gliere and Ivanov. In all, the disc is sequenced intelligently, and the music played and recorded impeccably. This might not be the most "Essential" of the Sony Essential Classics series, but it will make a welcome addition to any classical collection.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Ormandy collection, March 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Russian Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

Ormandy's skill never ceases to amaze me. This is an incredible collection of many of the greatest Russian Orchestral pieces, all performed excellently -- attention to dynamics, expression, and timing is all superb. The lion's share of this cd is devoted to Rimsky. A brilliant performance of Le Coq d'or, and of course the usual Procession of Nobles, Tumblers, and Flight of the Bumblebee. The big surprise is Ivan the Terrible, which is rarely performed (neither orchestral nor opera).

The rest is made largely of modern Russians, save a Balakirev piece and a brief excerpt of Mussorgsky, thankfully excluding Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and gang.

Worth it even just for the performances, if not for the pieces.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, energetic, different, and wonderful, May 11, 2007

By 

Biblibio - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Russian Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

"Essential Classics", which has provided the world with many wonderful, delightfully cheap performances of the best known repertoire presents something a little different - a wonderful, delightfully cheap performance of little known pieces by some of the best Russian composers who have been overshadowed by their comrades.

No, you won't find Tchaikovsky here. You'll find Rimsky-Korsakov in something beyond "Scheherezade" (and boy do you find him). You'll find Balakirev, and will hopefully turn towards his other pieces (the incredible piano concertos on Hyperion [with Rimsky-Korsakov, as it so happens] are highly recommended!) and fall in love. You'll see another side of Mussorgsky, the one beyond "Pictures at an Exhibition". You'll spot Khachaturian, too. You'll meet Kabalevsky (who?) and Ivanov (again, who?). You'll find Gliere in his amazing form in "Russian Sailor's Dance" (my personal favorite - exciting, energetic, and awesome).

There are composers here you've heard of, but never heard. There are composers you know from one piece, and are curious for more. There are the obscure, the forgotten, and the brilliant. And it's cheap. If not found here, it's downloadable, but having it's preferable to purchase (thus the Amazon review).

Enjoy!