Antar Recording

So far I have been able to track down only 4 wide-spread recordings of this interesting 'symphony' of Rimsky-Korsakov's, ever since I was introduced to it upon heard the Sveltanov recording on Hyperion. I have seen this Hyperion disc available, as well as a 2fer on DG with other Rimsky stuff all conducted by Jarvi, the Ansermet Decca recording from the 50s, and a Naxos realease (staying away). I'm sure there must be other Russian recordings off of Melodya too somewhere. Anyway, having only heard the first recording I was wondering which one would be most worth investing in. I love Ansermet's Scheherazade so I would probably like his recording of this similar work... Recommendations, please!

please!

You are quite right - there is a Melodiya recording which is, or was, available on a BMG 'Twofer' coupled with the other two symphonies and Sheherazade. All performed by the USSR SO conducted by Svetlanov. Number is (or was) 74321 40065 2. A quick look at 'Gramofile' suggests that it still available.

I don't have much to compare the symphonies with and all I can say is that I do enjoy hearing these performances occasionally.

Ansermet's Antar is not at the same exceptional level as his Scheherezade, but it has some historical interest as the first commercial stereo recording Decca made (June 1954).

Svetlanov is better in his earlier Melodiya recording than he is for Hyperion (he's much more polite, er .. dull, with the Philharmonia than with the USSR SO); his earlier one is available as part of a Melodiya twofer with the 3 symphonies and Scheherezade, which I recommend highly. I haven't heard the Naxos, but their Russian stuff is often good when a Russian orchestra is involved, as here.

Tony Movshon

If mono sound is not a disqualifier, you should check out Scherchen's Antar, available in a boxed set of his Nixa recordings. And I always liked Abravanel's Vanguard, and the stereo sound is excellent, if not DDD. Paray's Mercury mono is historic and many consider it the best of all time, but I'd vote for Morton Gould's RCA with the Chicago Symphony (these last two available from our website).

<< So far I have been able to track down only 4 wide-spread recordings of this interesting 'symphony' of Rimsky-Korsakov's, ever since I was introduced to it upon heard the Sveltanov recording on Hyperion. I have seen this Hyperion disc available, as well as a 2fer on DG with other Rimsky stuff all conducted by Jarvi, the Ansermet Decca recording from the 50s, and a Naxos realease (staying away). I'm sure there must be other Russian recordings off of Melodya too somewhere. >>

I have Maazel/Pittsburgh on Telarc (too slow much of the time, if I recall correctly) and Gould/Chicago (on RCA LP

..

Svetlanov. Number is

Antar is a fine work. although its main theme is repeated a bit too often. I like the earlier Svetlanov and Monteux (RCA Monteux edition, paired with Scheherazade and Sadko).

Marc Perman

I don't like that one much either...

But I have the Chandos (forgot conductor at the moment) set of complete symphonies + Piano concerto, etc., and I've heard the Jarvi set on DG, both of which are great.

The Ansermet was just released on CD with Sheherezade. I don't think it is available in the US but you can get it at HMV Canada or Tower UK. Tony Movshon is correct it was Decca's first stereo recording. there is a wonderful story about this in the liner notes.

Abbedd the Ansermetniac

says...

Scherchen

Paul Goldstein

That would be Dmitri Kitajenko and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, with Geoffrey Tozer as soloist in the piano concerto. It's a good set (I got mine from Berkshire), and has the advantage that the back cover of the booklet has a picture of Rimsky-Korsakov and, written in Russian, 'Ksh'yln - lshchk'flshchm'

Don't. It's ghastly. Terribly played. The rest of the Tjeknavorian I agree is damn' fine, but there's just too much good competition in the Sheherazade.

There's also a recording of 'Antar' on Chandos with the Bergen Philharmonic under Kitajenko. Haven't listened to it in a long time, so I can't comment on it.