Borodin: Prince Igor Overture

Borodin's second and third symphonies, plus the Overture and Polovstian Dances from Prince Igor and "In the Steppes of Central Asia" collect on a single CD all of Ernest Ansermet's Borodin recordings for Decca. All recordings have been widely praised for their dynamism and thrust, the Suisse Romande's weighty brass noted for its kindship with the Sultan's theme in Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.

This collection includes some lesser known works by Borodin, including his Petite Suite for piano which is performed here in Glazunov’s instrumentation. Symphony No.3 was never finished. Borodin often played it to his friends and we can listen to it thanks to Glazunov writing down the first movement. All the works are interpreted by the expert Russian conductor Svetlanov.

Many overtures have become orchestral favourites in their own right and some of the Russian overtures here are in this category. Brilliantly interpreted by the connoisseur of Russian music Svetlanov, this CD includes famous examples such as Ruslan and Ludmilla as well as lesser known works.

A stunning 2CD of Russian music from Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra that includes a mix of the familiar and the not so familiar. Liadov’s exquisite miniature tone poems and Glinka’s effervescent overture to Ruslan and Ludmila rub shoulders with a rare Tchaikovsky overture and two preludes by Tcherepnin. All the composers here had a deep knowledge and respect for the traditional music of Mother Russia, and every work on these discs has the unmistakable sound of Russia irrespective of whether it was composed under the Tsarist or Soviet regime.

Recordings made in 1993/94