Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]

This is a classic recording of these two works, led with grand authority by Fritz Reiner. The Chicago's brass and wind section play gloriously throughout, and the final movement of Scheherazade (we learn from the original producer [1960] in an accompanying essay) was recorded in one take--an almost unheard-of feat. This fast movement is taken at breakneck speed, with no loss of clarity or power, with the strings in the hands of magicians. Stravinsky's Nightingale has never sounded so exotic, so bristling over with color, since this 1956(!) recording under Reiner, and the wonderful surprise with this new release of old material is the revamped sound: the original "Living Stereo" was a fantastic breakthrough in recording, and this new SACD format has returned the spatial relationships to something so "real" that it comes as close as I've ever heard to a true concert hall experience. Simply glorious. --Robert Levine Amazon.com

Listen in COMPLETE Surround--if you dare

Hear a new revelation in sound with this SACD.

RCA originally recorded this in 1960 using 3 channels. That makes this recording nearly 50 years old. Don't let that fool you. This is an EXCEPTIONAL recording. The fidelity is remarkable. It is not flawless and the highs can have a bit of an edge. Also, crashes on the cymbal occasionally overload the left channel. But the spatial aspects of this recording defy its half century age. In the 3 channel presentation there is a presence and dimensionality too often missing in more recent recordings. There exists a soundstage that extends beyond the left and right speakers and there is a depth of sound where the instruments have height combined with front to back spatial integration creating a convincing 3D image.

The performance itself is stellar. I have the SACD of the Kirov Orchestra recorded in 2002. The great Russian (actually Ossetian) conductor Valery Gergiev gives an invigorating reading of this score, but for me the orchestra lacks the finish of the CSO under Reiner. Reiner's performance has a mystery, that Gergiev lacks. And Reiner has fire and passion that explodes across the stage. For me, Reiner gives the definitive reading of this magnificent score.

The following FOR SACD AUDIOPHILES ONLY--
BUT--if you really want to launch your rocket, try putting your SACD player in 2 CHANNEL mode and switching your receiver into Dolby PLIIx music mode. With this setup (this ONLY works if your player AND receiver are connected via HDMI cable) you will get the full SACD dynamic range expertly and convincingly distributed into your 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 surround system. Suddenly you are not just listening from the audience, but you are quite literally in the middle of the orchestra. Now if you are a purist you will never go there, but if you want a really involving experience (and you have the system to pull it off) give this a spin. WARNING: If you try listening this way, going back will somehow sound a little FLAT. And MORE, you might even dare try this with regular CDs or other 2/3 channel SACDs. I promise, you will Hear a new revelation in sound with this SACD.
November 14, 2008

Historic -- the best Scheherazade ever! Details follow...

Scheherazade is performed a LOT. Fritz Reiner was well-aware of this fact in 1960 when he conceived this historic recording. As a consequence, he fostered no desire to yield just another run-of-the-mill performance. Here's a blurp from the notes which explains his subsequent efforts more fully:

"Some weeks before the actual recording was made, most of the existing recordings of the music were studied, re-studied, judged and re-judged. The best were very good, but short of that perfection for which all mortals strive. One version reveled in buttery sound and not always accurate execution; another proferred razor-sharp execution and equally ear-rending decibel content; still a third beckoned you from afar with a 'concert-hall' pickup, and so it went. To capture the Arabian temptress in all her glittering changes was not a simple task...

Once each of the facets of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was heard [referring to the lengthy orchestra practice sessions], music making was in order. During the morning session the first two movements were recorded, the last two during the afternoon period. Throughout the six hours required, there was constant exhortation by Dr. Reiner to the men in the orchestra 'to play with glow, not perspiration'. The performance had to be supple and sensuous, the sound alternately to shimmer and stun, with clarity in its definition, sonority and intensity in its climaxes."

Folks, this is about as perfect as it's ever going to get.

Just to follow up, the 1956 recording of Stravinsky's "Song of the Nightingale" is also quite good and is a piece that, in this level of quality, isn't all that easy to find. And it's also a perfect second, complementary piece to Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade".

This is an ADD recording/CD.

A must-have for collectors and a superb choice for all others. March 29, 2008

Classic Treasure

Conductor Fritz Reiner beautifully captures the fragrant aromas of Rimsky-Korsakov's exotic orchestrations with great poetry and sensitivity and just the right touches of elegance and flair from concertmaster Sidney Harth and the Chicago Symphony to make this one of the greatest performances ever. I am always stirred by the trumpet player's tonguing technique here and the driving, onward pace of the final movement of Scheherazade. The Stravinsky is also a marvel to hear, one of the thrilling and colorful works that display the composer's indebtedness to his wonderful composition teacher, Rimsky-Korsakov. The mastering in this edition is spectacular in SACD and all three specialized formats and the compatibility all in one disk is extraordinary. March 23, 2008

Scheherazade

This specific performanace of this album is excellent. The musical content is excellent and is a real crowd pleaser that anyone would want to listen to frequently. The technical recording (Hybrid SACD) is muddy when played back on ordinary equipment. That is the loudest passages are truncated (i.e. made quieter) and the softest passes are truncaded (i.e. made louder). This assessment is made in comparision to my original vinyl LP of this same recording. Presumably to get the best audio from the CD recording you will need SACD playback equipment. If you don't have a decent copy of vinyl version I would highly recommend this CD. July 8, 2007

Definitive SACD of Scheherazade - Outstanding!!!!

This multichannel SACD is recorded in the front 3 channels only, as this is what the technicians and their top notch analog equipment recorded more than 40 years ago. At that time the Chicago Symphony and conductor Fritz Reiner were both at the top of their game, and this recording has not been equalled to this day. Absolutely puts the listener in the middle of the ninth or tenth row, and provides the clean dynamic sound of the best recordings made today! This is the wonderful Scheherazade I grew up with, but much better because of SACD technology and my current audio system. February 18, 2007

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