Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphonic Works

Firma Melodiya presents a set of symphonic works by the classical Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. "A wizard of the orchestra!.. A magician of orchestral sounds!.. How many unforgettable pages from Rimsky-Korsakov's scores arise as I say it! The wonderful composer created a bright orchestral style which we with good reason call "Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestra", wrote the patriarch of the 20th century Russian conducting school Evgeni Svetlanov. The composer developed various genres of symphonic music for forty-five years. "Conventional" four-movement symphonic cycles; one-movement programme overtures, fantasia on folk themes and "symphonic pictures" in the vein of the founder of the New Russian School Mily Balakirev; Capriccio espagnol continuing Glinka's line; individual orchestra pieces composed "in case"… Rimsky-Korsakov did not come at once to the genre of symphonic suite, the most organic for his creative individuality, in which he created Antar and Scheherazade, two masterpieces of Russian orchestra music. Rimsky-Korsakov's works are performed by the USSR State Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Evgeni Svetlanov. The recordings were made in the late 1960's – early 1980's in the heyday of the orchestra and its outstanding leader.