Russian Nights

Disappointing

I bought this CD with high hopes. I really enjoy this type of music. Unfortunately these performances fall flat. There's no real life here; nothing to inspire. The notes are played (can't go wrong there) but it feels like nothing more than a standard pops concert -- nice, just nice. Kunzel needs to kick this music into high gear rather than just idling along. Disappointing. March 17, 2008

A Musical Excursion to Russia

You would like to travel, but due to the high cost of travel and inconveniences you want to stay home and be cozy. Well, you can have your cake and eat it all! Turn down your thermostat, put on the ushanka (if your have one; it is the Russian fur hat with ear flaps that you can tie under your chin), leave the ear flaps untied (or tie them on the top of your head) so that you can hear the sound, and turn on Maestro Kunzel's CD!
Before you know it, if you were not already a musical Slavophile, you will become one. You will hear all these delightful pieces by Glinka, Prokofiev, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Khachaturian, Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky, and others, which you remember so well from the pops concerts that you may have attended in the summer or around the holiday season in the winter. These beautiful, charming, timeless pieces won your heart then, and now you have them together on a single recording!
Maestro Kunzel is one of the best. He conducts the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra such that there is a natural flow of music. His conducting is true to the Slavic spirit of these pieces. In addition, he never rushes his orchestra, but follows the speed that is natural for these pieces. I have heard many rushed performances by other conductors, who somehow want their orchestra to play faster (maybe to show that they can; but faster is not always better), or because the conductor has too much nervous energy and cannot settle down to a normal speed. Such hyperactive performances I found disappointing or downright irritating. In contrast, Maestro Kunzel's conducting is relaxed, masterly, and true to the tempo that I believe is consistent with these pieces.
This CD comes with notes that are informative and charming. For each piece the description of the Russian folk stories, fairy tales, and also poetry and history of the times, around which these compositions evolved, is given. The fantasy elements of many of these pieces are reflected beautifully in this music.
You simply must have this recording in your music library!
February 17, 2008

Sonic Slavic Delights

Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops have done it again -- a rich trip in sound, this tme in and around Moscow. This CD is exceptionally good in the SACD format, which is what I have. Hearing these Russian warhorses through five speakers and subwoofer, broadcasting six channels, is a compelling experience. The sounds are clean, rich and full; the gentle moments lull one to peace. I doubt I ever have heard a better "Capricio Espangol." The temptation to tweak up the volume more than once has overwhelmed me. Bravo, Tovaritsch Kunzel! April 29, 2007

composers

Amazon doesn't list the composers, so here you go:


1. Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla

2. Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov (1859-1935) Procession of the Sardar from Caucasian Sketches

3. Sergei Provofiev(1891-1953) March from The Love for Three Oranges, Op.33a

4. Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Capriccio Espagnol, Op.34

5. I. Alborada
6. II. Variazioni
7. III. Alborada
8. IV. Scena e canto gitano
9. V. Fandango asturiano

10. Anatol Liadov The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62

11. Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) Love Theme from Spartacus

12. Piotr Llyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Russian Dance (Trepak) from The Nucracker, Op.71

13. Modest Moussorgsky (1839-1881) Polonaise from Boris Godunov

14. Liadov The Music Box, Op. 32

15. Tchaikovsky Hungarian Dance (Czardas) from Swan Lake, Op.20A



I dont' know how this release slipped by me, but I have it ordered now! I'm sure it is up to the standard to the other releases from Erich Kunzel and the CIncinatti Pops. Here's hoping they release a British Pops CD! March 11, 2007

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