Scheherazade / Polovtsian Dances

Rimsky-Korsakov (Artist), Borodin (Artist), Beecham (Artist), Rpo (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B000002ROS
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,727 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphonic Suite, Op. 35 After 'A Thousands And One Nights': The Sea And Sinbad's Ship

2. Symphonic Suite, Op. 35 After 'A Thousands And One Nights': The Story Of The Kalender Prince

3. Symphonic Suite, Op. 35 After 'A Thousands And One Nights': The Young Prince And The Young Princess

4. Symphonic Suite, Op. 35 After 'A Thousands And One Nights': The Festival Of Bagdad - The Sea - The Ship Goes To Pieces On A Rock Surmounter By A Bronze Warrior

5. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Introduction: Andantino

6. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Allegro vivo

7. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Allegro

8. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Presto

9. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Moderato alla breve

10. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Presto

11. Polovtsian Dances ('Prince Igor' Act II): Allegro con spirito

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply the best ever., November 13, 2000

By 

William Mealiffe (Richmond, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Scheherazade / Polovtsian Dances (Audio CD)

It is hard to believe that in rank of sales, this wonderful recording of Scheherazade ranks 65th out of 86. Beecham's recording of Scheherazade has not been out of print ever since it was first released in 1958. It is quite simply by far the best recording of Rimsky-Korsakov's finest work. The sound quality of the recording is excellent. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays fabulously well, and Beecham brings out all of the mystery, sensuality and barbarism that used to be associated

with the Orient. The notes that come with the recording describe it best: "extraordinarily charismatic". It is not an exaggeration. No one does the violin solos better than concertmaster Steven Staryk, and Jack Brymer's clarinet solos are also brillant. This recording will rise to the top of the charts again.

As a bonus, this CD also has the best recording of Borodin's Polovtsian Dances ever made. Unlike most recordings of these dances, excerpted from "Prince Igor", it includes the choral voices just as they are in the opera.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scheherazade and Beecham, April 2, 2005

By 

John Fox (Norfolk, Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Scheherazade / Polovtsian Dances (Audio CD)

I first heard this recording in Germany in 1975, on a mono cassette player, in fact. I bought the stereo cassette tape of Beecham's version at that time, and wore it to flinders because I liked the music so much, and believe me, Beecham's version really does move the mind. Although I can play portions of the work in my head at any time, the actual hearing of the music with eyes closed cannot be surpassed. If you like Rimsky-Korsakov, then take this recording of his Scheherazade, and let your mind range through the 1001 Arabian Nights as in a dream with Sir Thomas Beecham as your guide.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Performance, January 11, 2008

By 

John T. Blake - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scheherazade / Polovtsian Dances (Audio CD)

Beecham gives a very solid performance of Scheherazade, and I have no complaints. The recording is a little dated, however, and there are recordings of more recent origin having better technical sound quality. I partucularly like the newer release of Scheherazade by Philips, with Valery Gergiev conducting the Kirov Opera Orchestra.