Gennady Rozhdestvensky - Russian Orchestral Favourites (1972) [2021 SACD Definition Serie]

Rozhdestvensky, who celebrated his 90th birthday in 2021 and 3 years after his death, recorded the precious session recording with the Orchester de Paris when he was 40 years old on the former EMI label. It is a masterpiece to control the Paris Orchestra at that time with a dashing command. His ability to attract high-level players to Russian emotional performances is truly top-notch. All songs are lively and the recording is excellent, so it can be said that it is an effective sound source for reproducing high-quality sound.


Rozhdestvensky was well known in his later years, especially in Japan, and it is still fresh in our memory that his performance of Bruckner No. 5 with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra the year before his death left a particularly strong impression on the audience. 2021 will be his 90th birthday and 3 years after his death. Many of the remaining sound sources, including Melodia, were live, but at that time there were not many recordings for major labels in the West. His talent has been recognized since he was young, and although he has continued to make guest appearances in the West from an early age, I have little impression of him. Among them, this "Russian Music Collection" recorded with the Orchester de Paris at the age of 40 can be said to be an exception. Speaking of 1972, when it was recorded, it was only five years after its establishment, just when Karajan replaced Solti. If you listen to this performance, you will understand that Rozhdestvensky had the power to unite the strong players of the time like a French orchestra. It was only natural that the Soviet State Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra (1991-92: music director), which was evaluated as a genius and was said to have been arranged by the Soviet authorities to remain in the country, was reorganized. If you listen to Russian music in orchestras other than Russia, I think it's well understood that French orchestras are suitable. Here, surprisingly, not only does he control each player, but he also expresses Russian tones, reproducing music that is difficult to hear elsewhere in the Paris tube of this period. With the good recording, this hot board can be said to be a hidden masterpiece. The original analog master tape is in good condition, and it is an album that is suitable for a turning point where witty genius has been demonstrated, including the splendor of recording.

*As it is a machine translation, the result may not provide an accurate description.
Please use it only as a reference.


Tracks:

1. Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky: St. John's Night on Bald Mountain (arr. N. Rimsky-Korsakov)
2. Alexander Porfir'yevich Borodin: Prince Igor - Polovtsian Dances No. 2
3. Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival, Op. 36
4. Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34

Personnel:

Orchestre De Paris
Conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Recorded: January 6-8, 1972, Salle Wagram, Paris