October 2003

Mussorgsky
Khovanshchina Prelude - Dawn over the Moscow River

There is an interesting double CD on EMI's Forte label at mid price which combines the music of Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Mussorgsky's contribution sees the Night on the Bare Mountain (orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov), Pictures at an Exhibition ( Ravel's orchestration) and the Khovanshchina Prelude (Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestration) in performances with Maris Jansons conducting the Oslo Philharmonic. A recent release on the BBC Legends label has Carlo Maria Giulini in a 1961 Edinburgh live performance (BBCL 41232) , a reading which in spite of the intrusive audience noises had a recent reviewer regretting that there was no opera following - the coupling is a fine rendition of the Bruckner 7th Symphony. There is also a recording of the complete opera available from Claudio Abbado and the Vienna State Opera on a 3CD set from Philips.

Sviridov
Time Forward

According to my research, this work has been recorded twice although one performance is no longer available. This leaves a recording on the Russian Boheme label as the only choice, obtainable either direct from the company's Prague Office or from the importer in this country. The number is CDBMR 911108, the orchestra is the Russian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under Vedernikov.

Grieg
Piano Concerto in a minor

There is a budget priced CD from Naxos which couples the Grieg and the Schumann concertos , Jeno Jando is the soloist on 8550118. However there are other performances which are well worth investigating. On two of these the soloist is Leif Ove Andsnes. On his earlier recording, now available as a mid price double VBD 561 7452 other works for piano by Grieg are featured including the E minor Piano Sonata and 18 of the Lyric Pieces. The orchestra is Grieg's own, the Bergen Philharmonic.
(Also available is a companion CD which includes the C minor Symphony and the Unfinished drama Olav Trygvason VBD 5616212)
A recent EMI Release at full price eclipses the earlier performance; on 5575622 Andsnes couples the Grieg with the Schumann in an inspirational performance accompanied by Maris Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic. I suspect that in the future this recording will enchant the visitors to the Troldhaugen museum as has done the earlier one.

Tchaikovsky
Sleeping Beauty

Naxos have a 3CD set of the complete ballet played by the CSSR State Philharmonic under Andrew Mogrelia, a Penguin Guide 3 star rated set 8550490-92. Naxos also have a recording of the Sleeping Beauty Suite, coupled with the Glazunov The Seasons. Andre Previn's performances of the complete "Big 3" Ballets - Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Nutcracker are available in a box set from EMI CZS 573 6242 although highlights from all these works can be found on CDE 574 7572 - again with Previn.
The Hyperion 1991 recording of the Nikolai Medtner 2nd and 3rd Piano Concertos, played by Nikolai Demidenko, which won a Gramophone Award in 1992 has recently been reissued at mid price and is well worth investigating.

Rossini
La Cenerentola ov.

There is a collection of eight of Rossini's overtures on Naxos 8550236 played by Michael Halasz and the Zagreb Festival Orchestra, La Cenerentola is one of this selection. Sir Neville Marriner has recorded it with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, but this is a £30 import set of over 20 overtures spread over 3 CDs on E4340162.
If hearing the overture whets your appetite for the complete opera, then the Decca recording starring Cecilia Bartoli would be a good choice on 436 9022.

Brahms
Violin Concerto.

If we combine a budget price with a historical performance then a Naxos CD will fit the bill. On 811 0927 the soloist is none other than Fritz Kreisler in a programme which also includes the 4th Mozart Concerto as well as the Schumann A major Romance. Moving up to mid price brings a recording from EMI with Itzhak Perlman into contention. The conductor is Carlo Maria Giulini on CDM 566 9772. however there is only the one work on the CD. At full price Anne Sophie Mutter's live 1997 recording is coupled with the Schumann Fantasy on 457 0752; the orchestra is the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur. Incidentally, she has just released a recording of her husband Andre Previn's violin concerto on the DG label.

Dvorak
Symphony No 9.

A recent phenomenon in the world of CDs has been the growth of the LSO's label LSO Live. Taken from concert recordings these have attracted critical acclaim. One of the earliest of these was the Dvorak 9th Symphony on LSO0001 with Sir Colin Davis on the podium. This is available at a budget price as is the Slovak Philharmonic recording under Stephen Gunzenhauser on Naxos 8550271. Incidentally Sir Colin's earlier recording with the LSO is available as a Philips Duo 438 3472 coupled with the symphonies 7 & 8, where the orchestra is the Concertgebouw. Another release worth seeking out is the legendary 1973 recording from Rafael Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic on 447 4122, where the coupling is the 1966 recording of the Eighth Symphony. My own preference is for a bargain set of all the symphonies conducted by Libor Pesek on Virgin VB561 8532. The works are split between two orchestras; one just happens to be the RLPO.

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