Sibelius - Symphony No.7, Prokofiev - Andante for String Orchestra, Glazunov - 'Scenes de Ballet' for Orchestra - Gennady Rozhdestvensky [Original recording remastered, Import]

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Sergei Prokofiev (Composer), Alexander Glazunov (Composer), Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Conductor), USSR State Radio and Television Symphony (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1962
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Yedang Entertainment
• Run Time: 70 minutes
• ASIN: B0002DRCEC
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

SIBELIUS, JEAN (1865-1957) Symphony No.7 in C Major, Op.105 I. Adagio II. Vivacissimo - Adagio III. Allegro molto moderato - Allegro moderato IV. Vivace-Presto-Adagio-Largamente molto-Affettuoso Recorded: February 15, 1962 Rakastava for Strings, Op.14 I. The Lover II. The Path of the Beloved III. Good Evening! Farewell Recorded: February 15, 1962 PROKOFIEV, SERGEI (1891-1953) Andante for String Orchestra, Op.50 bis Recorded: July 1, 1962 GLAZUNOV, ALEXANDER (1865-1936) "Scenes de Ballet" for Orchestra in A Major, Op.52 I. Preamble II. Marionnettes III. Mazurka IV. Scherzino V. Pas d'action VI. Dance d'action VII. Valse VIII. Polonaise Recorded: March 4, 1962 Conductor: Gennady Rozhdestvensky USSR State Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra Total time 69:54 STEREO

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Performances Except..., May 30, 2007

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sibelius - Symphony No.7, Prokofiev - Andante for String Orchestra, Glazunov - 'Scenes de Ballet' for Orchestra - Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Audio CD)

Gennady Rozhdestvensky is one of my favorite conductors so this CD had an immediate interest particularly for the Sibelius. The Sibelius Seventh Symphony (1924) begins beautifully with the mysterious melody of the first movement expressively played. When the trombone player begins the "Aino" theme, however, he plays so loudly that one wonders if a microphone was hanging directly over him. The trombonist, and the brass in gerneral, play rather crudely which makes this performance the exception of the others on this disc.

The other Sibelius work on the disc is an early work that I was unfamiliar with. Rakastava for Strings was written in 1911 and is based on Finnish folk melodies. The movements have titles: The Lover, The Path of the Beloved and Good Evening! Farewell. Together the movements suggest a day in the lives of two lovers who meet, have a joyous time and part wondering when they will meet again. The first movement is meditative with passionate outbursts music is moody and is followed by a sort lively, dance-like movement. The final movement is one of resignation and sweet melancholy as if looking back over a happy time that is now over and wondering if there will be another.

The Andante for String Orchestra by Prokofiev was written in 1930 and is an appealing lyrical work. The Scenes de Ballet of Glazunov is a charming suite of written in 1894 as his first venture into ballet music. The suite contains some beautiful and memorable melodies and the performance made the purchase of this disc worth it for me. If you like the ballets of Tchaikovsky this suite will be perfect for your collection.

Overall the sound is on the dry side. I became accustomed to the sound as the disc played. With the exception of the Sibelius the performances are excellent.