Search - Bernstein, Nyp, Glinka :: Russian Orchestral Pieces

Spirited recordings of Russian music by an American conducto

Alan Majeska | Bad Axe, MI, USA | 09/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings of works by Glinka, Borodin, Ippolitov-Ivanov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and Rimsky-Korsakov were made by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) with the New York Philharmonic during the 1960s when conductor and orchestra were in their prime. I bought this disc in 1999 when it was still readily available from US suppliers, and am not sorry that I did. Bernstein's energy and commitment are abundant in spades in the Glinka "Russlan and Ludmilla" Overture. Some may not agree, but Bernstein conducts all these works with more energy and commitment than many conductors. The Ippolitov-Ivanov sounds terrific, and Bernstein includes one of the lesser known movements of the "Caucasian Sketches" entitled "In the Village" in addition to the famous "Procession of the Sardar." Borodin's "In the Steppes of Central Asia" is also available as a discmate to Borodin's Symphonies 1-3 with Andrew Davis/Toronto Symphony (Sony), and benefits from warm sonics and a relaxed pace. Bernstein's "Scythian Suite" an early Prokofiev work dating from 1916, has more raw power and visceral energy than some other recordings I've heard. II of this piece is especially savage and violent in Bernstein's hands: the New York brass make a real feast of it! (Prokofiev's "Scythian Suite" has a similar motif and rhythmic sense as Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" dating from just 3 years earlier.)



This is a fine collection of Russian music, and whether you pay $40 for it depends on how well you like these works, your opinion of Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic in the 1960s,and your economic status. I would wait and see if these recordings might be released in a different compilation, with the recent Sony/BMG merger. Sony just released a batch of 10 reissues, including Bernstein's Ives Symphony 2 + shorter pieces; and Shostakovich Symphony 5 + Chamber Symphony. Perhaps Bernstein's recordings of shorter Russian Orchestral works will be in the near future..."