Works You Collect Compulsively: Scheherazade!

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner (cond.) RCA
Paris Conservatory Orchestra, Ernest Ansermet (cond.) Decca
London Symphony Orchestra, Igor Markevitch (cond.) Decca
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin (cond.) Decca (Philips)
London Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski (cond.) Decca

[@drgaryb13]

Performances of Scherezade are like pizza-- Even when they're bad, they're good!

[@dmntuba]

Everybody has their favorite, but Scheherazade is just magical 😊

[@Taosravenfan]

100%. I compulsively collect Rimsky Korsakov. I love the Kirill Kondrashin version.

[@albiepalbie5040]

Agreed Really beautiful recording as well

[@stephenharding2895]

Like you, I have loved this piece since I was a child and am very happy to have recordings by Reiner, Ansermet and Kondrashin. A few years ago I was lucky enough to go to a concert at Southampton's Turner Sims (UK) where Simon Trpčeski played a solo piano transcription of this. It was a staggering display of virtuosity (there is a video on KZbin of this performance which doesn't do justice to the dynamic range of his playing). Fortunately, Trpčeski has recorded the work on Cd on the Onyx label (Tales From Russia). He did a BBC broadcast at around the time of the performance I saw and Trpčeski said in the interview that he had also loved the piece since childhood and this was why he was performing it. Worth hearing if you don't know it.

[@alanmcginn4796]

What a video. I may go on a binge today.

[@DavidJohnson-of3vh]

Great selections of the sweetest of Symphonic Suites.

[@StandingStoneVideo]

At the age of eleven (66 years ago) I got a stereo for Christmas along with a handful of stereo LPs - including the Reiner Sceherazade . Although I initially "impriinted" on the white-hot Reiner, my collection now includes Beecham,, Ansermet, Monteux, Gould and two Stokowski's, plus a fine mono recording of Steinberg and the Pittsburg. So glad to know that I'm not the only compulsive collector out there! Hmmmm. I think I'll take a listen to that Kondrashin. Thanks, Dave for this fun posting!

[@BillDyszel]

I'm glad I'm not the only sucker for Rimsky-Korsakov, especially Scheherazade. It's thrilling every time. I only have the Reiner recording, but it's glorious.

[@richardallen3810]

On point as always. I love RK operas in particular. I think The Tsar’s Bride is superb and tell everyone to explore his stage works too.

[@marlenemeldrum7382]

I heard SCHERAZADE as a child and I wss about 10 or 11 years old!! Imediately hooked and indeed still am!!! Thank you so much for this video!! Hallo to all!!

[@dankravetz]

There is a stereo recording by Stokowski from 1962 in a live concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra on a Guild CD. It is quite impressive.

[@robertforman3494]

When I young I was interested in the stories of Scheherazade because my mother was born in Baghdad and the stories were exotic and fun. And of course there were the Harryhausen movies. When my parents bought a stereo console I started to develop an interest in classical music. I saw an early tv infomercial that featured a guy sitting in a chair by a fireplace selling all the world’s greatest music on (I think) ten record discs. Kind of like those commercials for K-Tel “Hits” from various periods. I persuaded my parents to get it. What it actually was, was excerpts of dozens of various famous pieces of music. I suppose most here would be appalled but actually perfect as an introduction to a child. An excerpt from Scheherazade was one of the tracks and it fit in perfectly with my thoughts of that exotic place.

[@pianomaly9]

Yes, I remember commercials from back then for similar sets, a very distinguished looking man with a Brit accent, skinny tie and skinnier moustache, standing next to a cheesy bust of Beethoven on a pillar, telling you how you could own excerpts from "all the greatest maaasterpieces".

[@TheOssia]

For the famous Piccolo excerpt in the middle of the 4th movement, the recording by Zubin Mehta / Israel Philharmonic is absolutely worth hearing! After comparing numerous recordings back-to-back of just those 12 bars of crazy Piccolo … that Mehta / Israel recording truly stands out. That Piccolo player nailed it! A must hear! [This comment is only about that 12 bar piccolo excerpt. While this is not a statement on the complete performances of any of those recordings ... the piccolo excerpt in the Reiner, Kondrashin, & Stokowski recordings is chaotic with lots of missed notes; while the piccolo excerpt in the Ansermet & Markevitch recordings sounds like a student is struggling to play it … most of the notes are missed and unprofessionally played for funded studio recordings]. If you’re into solid & clean Piccolo playing, the piccolo excerpt in the recording by Zubin Mehta / Israel Philharmonic is absolutely worth hearing! (… okay, piccolo rant, over. And, I do enjoy many other parts of the Reiner Scheherazade recording). 🙂

[@normanmeharry58]

We as kids gave Scheherazade extra meaning by convincing ourselves that she loved the Kalandar Prince who had died heroically and she only saved her own life to preserve his memory through her story.

[@nattyco]

My introduction to Scheherazade was that Ansermet Paris Conservatoire Decca recording. I still remember the very vivid record cover. My favourites now are Reiner, Kondrashin, Kletzki and Bernstein. I must hear the Stokowski.

[@barryfields-h4v]

Yes...wonderous and never gets old. I do have Reiner, Stokowski, Chalabala (Czech Phil), still have a mint sealed LP on Parliament, Jansons and Beecham...yeah...impulsively collected...but what the hey.

[@geraldmartin7703]

The Chalabala on Parliament is in fake stereo, with the entire orchestra wandering to and fro between speakers. Exasperating when you figure out what's happening.

[@barryfields-h4v]

@@geraldmartin7703 Hi Gerald....I would not know as the both my sealed copy and open copy and my CD reissue are all in MONO....thanks for responding.

[@geraldmartin7703]

The Parliament was also issued in legitimate monophonic so you're good. Actually, the fake stereo is kind of fun. When the solo violin plays, it and the orchestra are bunched in one channel. When the orchestra plays alone, the orchestra audibly sneaks across the soundstage into the opposite speaker. Fun once you catch on.

[@barryfields-h4v]

@@geraldmartin7703 Sound like a date with one's favorite headphones.

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

Yep! I rotate between the Reiner, the 1954 Ansermet and Stokowski on Phase 4. What is it you say? "Gloriously perverse?" Something to that effect regarding the things Stokowski did to scores, but it sure is a banger.

[@grahamharfleet6026]

I still adore the first interpretation I ever heard which is Haitink with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s a classic example I guess of that very first hearing affecting me so much that it remains my favourite to this day.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It's an excellent performance.

[@billdodd2361]

That Ansermet was my first classical stereo LP!

[@jimm8619]

Scheherazade is "entertainment" in the best sense of the word.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

It's aural cinema at its best. Technicolor in sound.

[@KellySedinger]

Time to look up these versions, I think! The only one I know is the Reiner...there's something about brass-heavy potboilers made by Reiner/CSO, when Bud Herseth was at the height of his powers. Others that I personally love are Bernstein/NYPO (this was my "gateway" recording to Scheherazade) and Mackerras/LSO on Telarc (one of those early-90s Telarc discs with sonics that come with a warning label).

[@steveschwartz8944]

I also love Scheherezade and make no apologies. I'm particularly drawn to Bernstein's NY Phil recording.

[@libor4128]

Thanks for a great video, as always. I am in full agreement with the recommendations for the Reiner and Stoki recordings, unfortunately I am not familiar with the other ones. Not that it matters, but for me the “go to” Scheherazade is Chalabala with Czech Phil. I discovered it in my father’s LP collection when I was about 10 (50 years ago) and I still love it dearly. It’s in mono, but the sound is not bad and the interpretation is sensational, in my opinion

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, it is.

[@stradivariouspaul1232]

This is definitely one I compulsively collect! Can I add a suggestion for a 'Ripe for reissue' entry, Scheherazade with Kletzki and the Philharmonia. For me it's got everything; excitement, wonderful playing and great sound. Almost impossible to find except as part of a box set. I love the Kondrashin, it's a lovely performance, I just wish Herman Krebbers' violin was more to the fore; I know that these days it's all about natural balance but I think it's the kind of showcase piece where you can justify going in close miked on the soloist. I have a rough sounding Svetlanov which is great in places, just a shame about the sound quality, it sounds like I should try the Markevitch for some Russian electricity.

[@jensguldalrasmussen6446]

Actually, we need a box-set devoted to Kletzki and all his recordings with the Philharmonia in its earlier days!

[@stradivariouspaul1232]

I agree that would be welcome, but I do find it frustrating when the only means of buying a historic recording is to buy an expensive box set - the Marriner Haydn symphonies spring to mind

[@morrigambist]

The Leningrad Philharmonic came to my city and played Scheherazade and Tchaikovsky 4. Very Impressive!

[@classicalmusiclists]

Because I love this piece I wanted to see it danced. There is a DVD by the Bolshoi Ballet called "Return of the Firebird: Petrushka / Firebird / Scheherazade" Bolshoi State Academic Theatre Orchestra, Andrey Chistiakov (cond). 2002. So interesting to see it danced in the original costumes. A bonus was seeing the Firebird danced, another piece I collect compulsively. This is the only ballet DVD I own.

[@mgconlan]

I've never understood why more conductors don't combine Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" with Ravel's "Shérérazade." I home-burned a CD myself once with the Rimsky-Korsakov "symphonic suite," Ravel's "Shéréazade" Overture and the three "Shéréazade" songs. It all fit neatly on one CD and was total dynamite! Like you, I discovered Rimsky's "Scheherazade" as a child, but fortunately I never had the horrible "children's" version you described and I first heard the work on the music-appreciation boxed sets that came out one disc at a time in the 1960's.

[@Bezart34]

I've always loved this work. As a 15 year-old, I spent nmy newsround money on a Classics for Pleasure LP of this, attracted by the cover art! I'd never heard of Rimsky-Korsakov. RPO / Kempe. Fabulous!

[@barrygray8903]

I, too, collect recordings of Scheherazade. My top five "go-to" performances are: Reiner/CSO Muti/Philadelphia O Stokowski/LSO Kondrashin/RCO Ansermet/Paris Conservatoire O Other favorites include Markevitch/LSO, Spano/Atlanta SO, and Mackerras/LSO (despite a less than ideal recording).

[@rogergersbach3300]

Funny that you mentioned Scherherazade. I just finished listening to Rudolph Kempe's version. Not as dynamic as Reiner but nicely done.

[@markwolf1374]

100%. I didn’t like this work at all (in 30 years of listening) until last year or so after watching a video here on YT that was a compilation of the oboe solo in the second movement. Then I’ve added a lot to my library.

[@orbyfan]

I first heard it when I was 14, and thought it was the most boring piece of music I'd ever heard. I refused to listen to it again for many years, and when I finally did, I was surprised by how much I loved it.

[@milesjacob4907]

I didn't intend to collect it specifically, but I have a dozen more versions of Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis than anything else becuase every time I want any other new version of any other Hindemith orchestral work I get another Symphonic Metamorphosis as a nice bonus As for Scheherazade, although the orchestral playing is not ideal, Goosens with the London Symphony is the most magical to me.

[@martinhaub6828]

The LSO sure made a lot of excellent recordings of Scheherazade. Add Mackerras and Goosens to the list of fine recordings.

[@peterrandsman4881]

Like so many people here my parents gave me a recording of SCHERAZADE when I was about 10. I like many was hooked. So I must have about 50 recordings of it and since the day I got that recording until today it's my number one favorite. It's Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. Yes, I know there are so many other recordings that so many think are "the ultimate" but to me although they are all glorious, they all pale compared to this recording with Bernstein under the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

[@pauloqueiroz9611]

By the way, my one of my collecting guilty pleasures is Holst's THE PLANETS :)

[@thomassmith3841]

My guilty pleasure is collecting Holst's THE PANTS! Most exciting piece is "Khaki Camo: The Bringer of War."

[@itzhakben-moshe828]

What's your opinion on Monteux?

[@bostonviewer5430]

Yes, I love the Stoki version and I have no problem with whatever he adds! But, the Kondrashin wins hands down for me. No matter what has been done to remaster and clean up the Phase4 Sound for Stoki it still doesn't sound great. I'm not concerned about the Phase4 engineering trickery I count that as fun but even in the supposedly remastering in the big Stokowski Phase4 box there is still distortion at the higher levels. A fun show at any rate but the Kondrashin, particularly in the Japanese remastered SACD is truly a demonstration CD in superlative sound.

[@Bucky58]

Jarvi (Chandos), Gergiev (Philips) are my go to but I will have to track down the Reiner and Stokowski.

[@sivakumarvakkalanka4938]

Haha, how do you come up with these ideas? Scheherazade is one of my guilty pleasures, like a nice, juicy burger or something, to be indulged in once in a while. Have recordings by Kondrashin, Mehta and Armin Jordan and am considering the Reiner now that you have recommended it. As someone who lives in South India without access to live performances by a good orchestra, was lucky to catch a performance on a trip to Oslo. Klaus Mikaela : Oslo Phil.

[@Magnus-n8x]

You need both Rainer and Markevich. Really.

[@sivakumarvakkalanka4938]

@ haha, one MORE recording? Okay,done! :) :)

[@claudiogabrielcastro3346]

Hello, how about Skazka or A Legend, op.29?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

How about them?

[@geshtin]

As much as I love Shehrazade, of R-K's orientalist masterpieces, I've always been a huge fan of Antar. I can't wait to see your video on Antar!

[@pauloqueiroz9611]

How about the Ormandy one with Philly? I thought it would figure among your 5

[@josephdiluzio6719]

Paulo, BRAVO! Eugene Ormandy is unbeatable in this extraordinarily colorful work. As good as the records are, one should see the late video he did where as per usual he conducts vigorously without a score

[@jimbreakall9331]

I agree that the 1962 Scheherazade is unmatched for its First Chair solos throughout with Brusilow violin, Garfield bassoon, DeLancie oboe, Gigliotti clarinet, Jones French horn, Johnson trumpet, the whole percussion section, brass and of course those strings. The later video live concert is also amazing, especially Garfield on bassoon. He is still living at 100 years old and will be 101 in May. This is the music that Ormandy did so well too.

[@pauloqueiroz9611]

@@josephdiluzio6719thank you Joseph! Will look the video up🤗

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I actually find Ormandy unimpressive, and poorly engineered.

[@martinhaub6828]

Ormandy blew his chance of being a definitive conductor of Scheherazade when he decided to make cuts. At the end first movement, and at the end of the third. Then again at the end of fourth. Why did he decide to make these changes??? Was he following in Stokowski's footsteps in Philly?

[@bl8241]

Maybe calling it the Overflow Room was a bit of a jinx…

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Possibly.

[@jaykauffman4775]

Shame his wonderful colorful operas don’t get wider hearings

[@Foisterous]

How does the Maazel / Berlin recording compare to these in your view?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Not as good and glassily recorded. Maazel/Cleveland is much better.

[@robhaynes4410]

Sorry to hear about your plumbing woes. Glad that it didn't directly impact your CD collection, though. I've always been left a little cold by Reiner (I know, I know...). Kondrashin & Stokowski are high up on my list. I'd round out my choices with Robert Spano (it's really, really good!), Haitink (surprisingly muscular), & Maazel (gotta have Cleveland doing such a precise work).

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

All good!