Search - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra :: Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade / Russian Easter Overture

Standout Scheherazade in a Crowded Field

05/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are over 70 available recordings of Scheherazade but this one truly stands out of the pack. The Atlanta Symphony and Robert Spano produce an amazing display of orchestral virtuosity in which every section of the orchestra--including the soloists--plays flawlessly. The result is one of the most exciting and beautiful Scheherazades you'll ever hear in knockout hi-fi sound.
The Russian Easter overture is also one of the best ones out there and probably has the best sound quality of them all. Don't listen to the negative customer reviews. The critics were unanimous in declaring this one a winner and you will too as soon as you hear it."

One of the Best Scheherazades Ever!

04/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With all due respect to the negative reviews, I don't understand what they didn't like about this recording. This is easily one of the best Scheherazades ever recorded(and many have been recorded), and, taking into account the excellent "hi-fi" sound, the first choice for anyone looking for a modern recording. As the critic points out, the opening brass is as menacing as you'll ever hear, which sets the stage for the rest of this piece. The first movement is very exciting, the second has the necessary exoticism and menace--and the conductor does a wonderful job increasing excitement by holding back the orchestra for just a moment before climaxes and then letting it burst out. The third movement is soothing, with beautiful solo violin. The last movement has just the right tempos and coherence to be both exciting and a recapitulation of all the themes.The last movement of all other recordings of Scheherazade just sounds like an incoherent jumble of loud noise, when compared with this one. The sound quality is amazing and creates a true concert-hall experience. The Russian Easter Overture may go down as the best one ever recorded,and here the sound quality works to create a truly magical--and sonically impressive--finale. Quite simply, this is the Scheherazade and RE Overture to own."