Customer Reviews

Symphonies 1-3, Piano Concerto op. 30, Capriccio Espagnol, Russian Eastern Overture, Sadko

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Many of us started out our classical collections and love of classical music with Rimsky-Korsakov. Our uninitiated ears responded to his lush orchestrations and exotic sounds. This new Kitajenko edition of his 3 symphonies brings back that emotional response to Admiral Korsakov's old chestnuts. Kitajenko takes these pieces at a much slower pace then other recordings, but not because of any lack of virtuosity of the Bergen Philharmonic. The slower pace, clearly how the composer would prefer it, allows each orchestral section to bring out the full emotional impact of this music. Kitayenko integrates the entire series in a masterful manner not letting the power of the orchestra to get out of control, yet he allows each section to exercise their full emotional interpretation of this rediscovered music. The Antar is particularly compelling with musical textures extracted that make the music new to ears that have heard many versions of this symphony. If you want to introduce someone to classical music and have one shot at it, select this CD. I have not had such an emotional response to a performance in many years. The Chandos recording is also up to the performance. Although it gives a coeherent soundstage, each section is allowed to show its stuff since the recording allows the full harmonic detail or all the instruments to be heard in a wonderful clear manner.

Many of you started your classical collections with Rimsky-Korsakov's music. I have many versions of the Antar and his other symphonies and tone poems but none match the pure romantic elegance of this Kitajenko recording. He takes the music at a slower pace then we are all familiar with, but not because of a lack or vertuosity of the Bergen Philharmonic. The music drips with romantic intensity and the still exotic sounds of Admiral Korsakov's orchestrations. The music is tightly played yet Kitajenko allows the orchestrate's various sections to bring out their own emotional interpretations. The result is a performance both well integrated and managed as a whole, yet having an emotional impact that is rare in today's sea of perfect performances. The Chandos recording is impecable allowing each section's highlighted performances to be fully realized on the recording. The full impact of the percussion, woodwinds, brass and strings are not compromized in the recording chain. This set is a must have for the casual classical listener as well as the Romantic or Russian music collector.