Slovak Philharmonic, Daniel Nazareth – Mussorgsky & Borodin (1988, FLAC)

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M. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, Night on the Bare Mountain / A. Borodin: Polovtsian Dances, In The Steppes of Central Asia

The Slovak Philharmonik Orchestra / Daniel Nazareth

Tracklist:

1 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Promenade 1:53
2 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Gnomus 2:36
3 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Promenade 1:07
4 Pictures at an Exhibiton – The Old Castle 4:45
5 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Promenade 0:38
6 Pictures at an Exhibiton – The Tuilleries 1:08
7 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Bydlo 3:00
8 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Promenade 0:52
9 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Ballet of The Chickens 1:19
10 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Samuel Goldenberg & Schmuyle 2:27
11 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Limoges: The Market Place 1:28
12 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Catacombae 2:05
13 Pictures at an Exhibiton – Con mortuis in lingua mortua 2:11
14 Pictures at an Exhibiton – The Hut on Fowl’s Legs 3:45
15 Pictures at an Exhibiton – The Great Gate of Kiev 6:37
16 Night on The Bare Mountain 12:00
17 Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia 8:12
18 Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin: Polovtsian Dances 12:45

Recorded at the Concert Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic from 4th to 9th July, 1987.

https://mega.co.nz/#!D4pmlb7C!TA0qwmjYRGxgBG3GB3pmXhir4UpGkYVjXTxA70x H20c

———- Post added at 12:39 AM ———- Previous post was at 12:39 AM ———-

This is an excellent example of the many Naxos recordings from the 80s which helped establish this label as… well not your average budget label. Naxos often produces classical recordings which are in every way equal to the majors, every way but the price that is.

This well filled disc features fine performances of Modest Mussorgsky’s two best known works: "Pictures at an Exhibition" and the demonic "Night on Bare Mountain" (yes the work used in Disney’s "Fantasia"). This is a fine DDD recording of "Pictures" and due to the quality of the perforance and the generous playing time (68 minutes) I’ve replaced my Maazel recording with this. (My only complaint – and it is a minor one – "Night on Bare Mountain" could have been a tad "fiercer" in it’s interpretation.)

The two Borodin works ("In the Steps of Central Asia" and "Polovtsian Dances" – one of the themes served as the basis for "Stranger in Paradise"?) are just icing on the cake and round out this excellent recording.

One of the best "Pictures" on disc… certainly a bargain at this price and even a strong competitor at full price. John O’Neill