The music on this disc includes two of Alexander Borodin's most popular orchestral works and both of Modest Mussorgsky's two most popular orchestral works. The amazing thing is that, in fact, all four works are either editions, orchestrations, or realizations done by other composers after the original composer's death. Borodin's Overture and Polovtsian Dances were realized and orchestrated by the young Glazunov, Mussorgsky's A Night on the Bare Mountain was edited and orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov, and of course Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition was orchestrated by
Ravel. Nevertheless, these pieces are still rightly considered among the most characteristic works of Russian nationalism. Anything is possible.
And anything apparently contains the possibility of a tremendous recording of all four works by
Charles Mackerras and the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Because not only are these first-class virtuoso performances, they are first-class Slavic interpretations. Of course,
Mackerras is an old hand at Slavic music -- his recordings of Dvorák, Rimsky-Korsakov, and especially Janácek are all classics -- but his combination of brilliant colors, tender-hearted affection, and brutal strength in his interpretations here make them sound nearly Slavic. While the singing of the Liverpool Philharmonic in the Polovtsian Dances may be a bit anemic by Russian choral standards, the singers are still able to project the lascivious blend of supplication and sensuality the music requires. Virgin's sound is big, but a little too recessed.