Boris Gudonov and other classical music fans, I need your help!

[monolith94]

I have the option of buyin Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" on either a Fritz Reiner or a Riccardo Muti version. Which one is preferable???

[Uncle Sparky]

I own both. I like both for different reasons. Reiner pushes the tempo a bit in a few places so in many ways is more exhilarating.

Or go to www.activemusician.com , purchase a score & form a garage orchestra. Not nearly enough people form their own philharmonics.

[Scowler]

I've not heard either version, but if I had to choose I'd go for Reiner - one of the legendary conductor-dictators.

[Nubclear]

Re: Boris Gudonov and other classical music fans, I need your help!

Originally posted by monolith94
I have the option of buyin Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" on either a Fritz Reiner or a Riccardo Muti version. Which one is preferable???

Cant you just download it?

[monolith94]

Oh my goodness! Uncle Sparky!!! There's a name I haven't seen in a while!

are you suggesting I form the first Grinnell Iowa philharmonic??? I play french horn but...
Could you go into a bit more detail with the differences? What do you like about the Muti version?

[monolith94]

"Cant you just download it?"
I would be downloading it. Only, I'd be paying for the download. Considering it's a dollar a track for four tracks, that's a four dollar album. Not bad.

[Uncle Sparky]

I can do one better - welcome to the 'net !

Muti version

http://www.emimusic.de/emi_at/xml/6/1405/5698312.html

Reiner version

http://www.iclassics.com/iclassics/album.jsp?selectionId=8714

I think both allow you to listen.

[monolith94]

Yuck! I would never lower myself to using Realplayer or a microsoft product! I have standards goddammit! I'll just go with the Reiner version.

[Uncle Sparky]

Good choice - on both counts !

[Boris Godunov]

I prefer the Reiner--the precision is unmatched, and while his tempos can be faster than normal, they are exciting. I have never been the biggest Muti fan--I think he is too cautious.

Another option, if you're not adverse to a mono recording, is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005MHN4/qid=1052107464/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/103-2774292-6133452?v=glance&s=classical

OR the Decca set of it:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000004241/qid=1052107622/sr=1-14/ref=sr_1_14/103-2774292-6133452?v=glance&s=classical

Ansermet's recording is regarded as perhaps the best ever made of Scheherezade.

The Eugene Ormandy recording is also very, very good:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000069JJ0/qid=1052107622/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-2774292-6133452?v=glance&s=classical

If you're after a really big, huge sound, then Karajan's performance with the BPO may fit the bill:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004R7X5/qid=1052107622/sr=1-15/ref=sr_1_15/103-2774292-6133452?v=glance&s=classical

However, the above features the surreal version of the 1812 overture with a chorus, which is a really terrible idea...

[monolith94]

Thanks Boris! I've got the Reiner version now - it'll be good music to jog to, but if I ever see the Ansermet disc I'll be sure to check it out!

[Asher]

My new MP3 player came with 60 classical songs on it.

Some of them are good.

[monolith94]

intriguing: hooking up my computer to my college network came with approximately ten movies on my hard drive... funny how that works, huh?