Composer: Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Borodin
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Antal Dorati
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Mercury
Size: 344 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Capriccio espagnol (Kaprichchio na ispankskiye temï), for orchestra, Op. 34: 1. Alborada
02. Capriccio espagnol (Kaprichchio na ispankskiye temï), for orchestra, Op. 34: 2. Variazioni
03. Capriccio espagnol (Kaprichchio na ispankskiye temï), for orchestra, Op. 34: 3. Alborada
04. Capriccio espagnol (Kaprichchio na ispankskiye temï), for orchestra, Op. 34: 4. Scena e canto gitano
05. Capriccio espagnol (Kaprichchio na ispankskiye temï), for orchestra, Op. 34: 5. Fandango asturiano
06. Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), concert suite for orchestra: 1. King Dodon in his Palace
07. Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), concert suite for orchestra: 2. King Dodon on the Battlefield
08. Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), concert suite for orchestra: 3. King Dodon with Queen Shemakha
09. Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok), concert suite for orchestra: 4. Marriage Feast and Lamentable End of King Dodon
10. Russian Easter Festival Overture (Svetlïy pazdnik), for orchestra, Op. 36
11. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov): Polovtsian Dances
Lots of Fun and Legendary Mercury Sound
Here’s one of the Mercury Living Presence SACD reissues that really worked. (Some, like Respighi: Ancient Dances and Airs for Lute Suites 1, 2 & 3 don’t sound quite as good for some reason.) The repertoire is what Beecham called “lollipops” — not profound, but profoundly enjoyable from time to time (hence 4 stars instead of 5). The performances, by Dorati and the London Symphony, are full of life, very musical.
And the recording, of course, couldn’t possibly be better: Wilma Cozart Fine and her crew in their prime. If you liked the Mercury house sound back in the LP era, you’ll probably love this. Yes, it’s brilliant rather than clinically well-balanced. The soundstage is probably not the deepest you’ll ever hear. But, hey, your ears will thank you with every castanet snap, every snare-drum roll.