Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Alexander Borodin - Sheherazade; Symphony No. 2 (Kirill Kondrashin)

Information

Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Alexander Borodin

• Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, Op. 35
• Borodin - Symphony No. 2 in B minor

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Kirill Kondrashin, conductor

Date: 1979; 1980

Label: Philips

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Review

Kondrashin had a distinguished career in the former Soviet Union that started when he was barely in his twenties. He held conducting posts at Leningrad's (St. Petersburg's) Maly and at Moscow's Bolshoi Theaters, and in 1960, he took the leadership of the Moscow Philharmonic. Most Westerners became aware of him in 1958, when he conducted at the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition for winning American pianist Van Cliburn. He made a few recordings for RCA Victor, with and without Cliburn, around that time. However, he largely remained behind the Iron Curtain until 1978, when he defected to the West. He was quickly offered a post with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw Orchestra. Tragically, he died less than two years later at the young age (at least for conductors!) of 67.

In his short time in Amsterdam, Kondrashin made several excellent recordings for Philips Classics. Many of these now are unavailable. Fortunately, Philips has seen fit to reissue what amounts to a record and a half of Kondrashin's work in their "Philips 50" series – "a wonderful harvest from 50 years of recording," according to the label's publicity.

The Rimsky-Korsakov is a studio recording from 1979; the Borodin was recorded a year later in concert. Both are winning versions of quintessentially Russian works. Kondrashin conducts a thinking-man's Schéhérazade, eschewing spectacle for subtlety and characterization. The wind chords that follow the imperious opening fanfare (the one that represents the murderous Sultan) are characteristic of what is to follow: they are played thoughtfully, and with a concern for atmosphere and story-telling. Nothing is thrown away in this performance. Beecham might be more charming, Karajan more sensuous, and Stokowski more flashy, but Kondrashin holds his own in this exalted company with a very intelligent interpretation, one that couldn't be farther removed from routine. Violinist Hermann Krebbers is meltingly beautiful in the "title role" – all femininity and gentleness.

The Borodin symphony badly needs a recording that combines podium savvy with modern recording techniques. Svetlanov's version, a favorite of mine, is elusive and poorly recorded by Soviet engineers. Kondrashin comes close to delivering the goods. The audience's enthusiasm at the end is well merited: this is a charismatic and colorful reading of this masterful score. I could easily live with it to the exclusion of any other.

The analog recording in both works is particularly attractive, now that it has been digitally remastered.

-- Raymond Tuttle

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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (18 March 1844 – 21 June 1908) was a prominent Russian composer and a key figure in the development of Russian classical music. He was a member of the group of composers known as "The Five" which dedicated to creating a distinctively Russian sound. Rimsky-Korsakov is best known for his orchestral works, including Scheherazade, Capriccio Espagnol, and Russian Easter Overture. His compositions often feature vibrant orchestration, exotic themes, and rich harmonic textures. He also contributed to the development of Russian opera, with notable works such as The Snow Maiden and Sadko.

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Alexander Borodin (12 November 1833 – 27 February 1887) was a Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian-Russian extraction. A member of "The Five," a group of composers dedicated to creating a distinctly Russian style of music, Borodin is known best for his symphonies, string quartets, In the Steppes of Central Asia and his opera Prince Igor. Although Borodin was a highly talented composer, he worked as a chemist for most of his life, being particularly noted for his work on aldehydes. His music, rich in folk melodies and emotional depth, has endured as a key part of the Russian classical tradition.

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Kirill Kondrashin (6 March 1914 – 7 March 1981) was a Soviet and Russian conductor. Born in Moscow to a musical family, he studied conducting at the Moscow Conservatory from 1931 to 1936. He conducted at the Maly Opera Theatre in Leningrad, then the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Kondrashin was chief conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra from 1960 to 1975, in a period of notable achievement. He defected from the Soviet Union in 1978 while touring in the Netherlands, became guest conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in the same year, and remained in that position until his death.

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