Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Works (2007) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Works (2007)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 05:00:26 minutes | 2,21 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BIS Records

Two recent collections of Russian orchestral music – the Symphonies of Glazunov (BIS-CD-1663/64) and of Rachmaninov (BIS-CD-1665/66) – are here followed by a boxed 4-disc set of orchestral works by Rimsky-Korsakov. The recordings were all made between 2000 and 2002 with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra under their founding principal conductor Kees Bakels, and received much praise at the time of their original releases. The generous selection, at a very advantageous price, contains the composer’s ‘greatest hits’ – the rendition of Sheherazade was called ‘a particular joy’ by International Record Review – as well as the less commonly-heard three symphonies, in performances which to the reviewer of web site Classics Today proved ‘the Malaysian Philharmonic members fully immersed in the composer’s unique sound world.’ Another rarity is the Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, in which eminent pianist Noriko Ogawa makes an appearance.
The collection also includes a broad sample of the music for the theatre, a field in which Rimsky-Korsakov had some of his greatest successes. Indeed, the disc particularly dedicated to the theatre music caused particular joy to the reviewer on the web site klassik.com who claimed that the performers ‘painted the imaginary musical canvas with a truly wonderful array of highly sophisticated colours’. Besides praising the orchestra and conductor, most reviewers found cause to commend the sound quality of the recordings, as here, on Classics Today: ‘The brilliance and realism are simply breathtaking, with a full dynamic range, ideal depth and breadth of soundstage, firm bass, open highs, and a panoramic splendor unrivaled on disc.

Tracklist:
01. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Sheherazade – I. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship (09:07)
02. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Sheherazade – II. The Tale of the Kalender Prince (12:08)
03. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Sheherazade – III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess (10:25)
04. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Sheherazade – IV. Festival in Baghdad – The Sea – The Ship Goes to Pieces on a Rock Surmounted by a Bronze Warrior – Conclusion (12:14)
05. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.2 (Symphonic Suite), ‘Antar’, Op.9 – I. Largo – Allegro – Allegretto – Largo (11:37)
06. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.2 (Symphonic Suite), ‘Antar’, Op.9 – II. Allegro (04:45)
07. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.2 (Symphonic Suite), ‘Antar’, Op.9 – III. Allegro risoluto (05:30)
08. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.2 (Symphonic Suite), ‘Antar’, Op.9 – IV. Allegretto – Adagio (08:46)
09. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Capriccio espagnol, Op.34 – I. Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso (01:13)
10. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Capriccio espagnol, Op.34 – II. Variazioni. Andante con moto (04:39)
11. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Capriccio espagnol, Op.34 – III. Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso (01:13)
12. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Capriccio espagnol, Op.34 – IV. Scena e canto gitano. Allegretto (04:38)
13. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Capriccio espagnol, Op.34 – V. Fandango asturiano – Coda. Vivace assai – Presto (03:23)
14. Noriko Ogawa, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op.30 (14:16)
15. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Suite, Op.57 – I. The Tsar’s Farewell and Departure. Allegro – Allegretto alla Marcia (04:46)
16. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Suite, Op.57 – II. The Tsarina in a Barrel at Sea. Allegro – Maestoso (05:54)
17. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Suite, Op.57 – III. The Flight of the Bumble-Bee. Vivace (01:26)
18. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Suite, Op.57 – IV. The Three Wonders. Allegro – Moderato (07:59)
19. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Sadko, musical picture, Op.5 (12:31)
20. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op.36 (14:35)
21. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Tsar’s Bride, Overture (06:38)
22. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Pan Voyevoda, Suite – I. Introduction. Allegretto (03:36)
23. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Pan Voyevoda, Suite – II. Krakowiak. Allegro (03:29)
24. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Pan Voyevoda, Suite – III. Nocturne – Claire de Lune. Lento (04:33)
25. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Pan Voyevoda, Suite – IV. Mazurka. Tempo di Mazurka – Scherzando (05:10)
26. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Pan Voyevoda, Suite – V. Polonaise. Allegretto (06:29)
27. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – I. Introduction to Scene 1 (03:16)
28. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – II. Introduction to Scene 6 (02:21)
29. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – III. Games and Dances of Stars (01:45)
30. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – IV. Procession of the Comet – Round Dance (02:06)
31. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – V. Csárdás and the Rain of Shooting Stars (00:38)
32. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – VI. Devil’s Kolyadka (05:05)
33. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – VII. Polonaise from Scene 7 (05:09)
34. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – VIII. [Introduction to Scene 8] (02:55)
35. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Christmas Eve, Suite – IX. Ovsyen and Kolyada Procession (03:59)
36. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Overture on Russian Themes, Op.28 (12:01)
37. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Snow Maiden, Suite – I. Prologue. Andante sostenuto (04:25)
38. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Snow Maiden, Suite – II. Dance of the Birds. Allegro (03:09)
39. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Snow Maiden, Suite – III. The Procession. Allegro alla Marcia (01:57)
40. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – The Snow Maiden, Suite – IV. Dance of the Clowns. Vivace (03:37)
41. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.1 – I. Largo assai – Allegro (07:11)
42. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.1 – II. Andante tranquillo (07:27)
43. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.1 – III. Scherzo. Vivace (04:46)
44. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.1 – IV. Allegro assai (06:04)
45. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Fantasia on Serbian Themes, Op.6 (06:55)
46. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.3 in C major, Op.32 – I. Moderato assai – Allegro (13:19)
47. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.3 in C major, Op.32 – II. Scherzo. Vivo (05:51)
48. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.3 in C major, Op.32 – III. Andante (09:09)
49. Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kees Bakels – Symphony No.3 in C major, Op.32 – IV. Allegro con spirito (06:01)

Personnel:
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
Kees Bakels, conductor

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