RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Incidental Music to The Maid of Pskov
Symphonic Suite: Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh
Fairy Tale (Szazka), op 29
Fantasia on Serbian Themes, op 6
Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Igor Golovchin
Recordings made in June 1996
Naxos 8.553513 [72:40]
Crotchet
This disc comes as a welcome reminder that Rimsky-Korsakov wrote a good deal
of orchestral music which is as colourful and exciting as Capriccio
Espagnol or Sheherazade, yet is heard far less frequently as these
two old repertory warhorses.
The Maid of Pskov (also known as Ivan the Terrible) occupied
the composer off and on for over 25 years. The first version of the
opera was staged in 1871. A revised version was completed in 1877 but never
staged. After various other transformations the complete opera was not performed
until 1901. It is from 1877 version that Rimsky-Korsakov drew this incidental
music for a performance of the original play in 1882: it consists of an overture
to the Prologue and a mood-setting entr'acte to each of the play's four acts.
The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh was completed three years
before the composer's death. From the opera, Rimsky-Korsakov drew the four
pieces which comprise the symphonic suite: Prelude: A Hymn to Nature;
Wedding Procession (interesting to compare this with the similarly
entitled piece from Le Coq d'Or); Tatar Invasion and Battle of
Kerzhenets; and Death of Fevroniya and Apotheosis of the Invisible
City. All heady stuff!
The Fairy Tale and brief Fantasia on Serbian Themes complete
an attractive disc. Igor Golovchin leads the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in
performances which fully exploit the drama and passion of this music, while
also securing refined and subtle colouring in appropriate places. The sound
quality is excellent (though some may not care for the characteristically
fruity tone of horns and trombones).
Adrian Smith
Performance
Sound
A further review by Terry Barfoot
The extreme popularity of Scheherazade eclipses the full and proper
recognition of Rimsky-Korsakov's achievement, as this enterprising disc readily
reveals. So at the bargain Naxos price it fights for a good cause.
Any listener who wants to hear the best of Rimsky in unknown repertoire,
need look no further than the orchestral suite from his penultimate opera,
The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh. Richly colourful
orchestration, beautiful and memorable tunes, lively and exciting rhythms,
can be found in abundance; it is no surprise that this piece is the jewel
in the crown of this Naxos disc. The performance is good, too, though the
Moscow Symphony Orchestra don't sound as vibrant and richly committed as
the best Russian ensembles; nor do they sound particularly Russian. The recording
is unfussy and truthful, but not spectacular, which in this music it could
be.
The other items on the disc are also appealing. The Suite from The Maid
of Pskov (also known as Ivan the Terrible) confirms Rimsky's operatic
credentials, while the purely orchestral items - the Fairy Tale and
the early Fantasia on Serbian Themes - are skilfully and colourfully
written for the orchestra, and contain an abundance of interesting musical
material.
This disc is ideal for anyone who has enjoyed Scheherazade and wants to hear
more music by Rimsky-Korsakov. It will not disappoint, since it contains
excellent music in good performances, well recorded, and all at a bargain
price.
Terry Barfoot
