Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Symphony No. 1 in E flat major: 1st movement: Adagio - Allegro
2. Symphony No. 1 in E flat major: 2nd movement: Scherzo (Prestissimo) & Trio (Allegro)
3. Symphony No. 1 in E flat major: 3rd movement: Andante
4. Symphony No. 1 in E flat major: 4th Movement: Allegro molto vivo
5. Symphony No. 2 in B minor: I. Allegro
6. Symphony No. 2 in B minor: II. Scherzo: Prestissimo - Trio: Allegretto
7. Symphony No. 2 in B minor: III. Andante
8. Symphony No. 2 in B minor: IV. Finale: Allegro

Disc 2:

1. Symphony No. 3 in A minor (completed by Glazunov): I. Moderato assai
2. Symphony No. 3 in A minor (completed by Glazunov): II. Scherzo
3. Nocturne for string orchestra (arranged by Malcolm Sargent from String Quartet No. 2)
4. In the Steppes of Central Asia (V sredney Azii), musical picture for orchestra
5. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov): Overture
6. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov): Polovtsian Dances

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74959 in Music
• Released on: 1996-04-16
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.com
These two admirably played budget discs conveniently gather the complete orchestral music of Borodin, and if you want any of it, you might as well have it all. The major works here are the Second Symphony, the Polovstian Dances from the opera Prince Igor, and the lovely tone poem In the Steppes of Central Asia. The "Notturno" is actually an arrangement of the famous slow movement from the Second String Quartet, while the Third Symphony, as with so much of Borodin's music, was destined to remain incomplete. Andrew Davis--not usually a conductor to set your pulse racing--conducts with genuine flair. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Perfect Borodin sampler...
This CD has all of the great Borodin works, and unless you're really into Borodin, this should be the only CD you should have to buy. The Polovtsian dances was done how it should be. Of course then again would the New York Philharmoninc disappoint you? Steppes in Central Asia was so peacful and lovely, done ow it should be too. The Third Symphony, which I had never heard before, was surprisingly good! The First Symphony obviously wasn't completely Borodin's own; and after reading the booklet, I found this was true. Second Symphony was typical. I liked it and thought it was also a good recording. What's more...the CD is cheap...I mean 2 CDs! What's there not to like! Like most CDs, it's not perfect but it's pretty darn close.

Outstanding classical music
Of the all the great Russian musicians, Alexander Borodin is probably one of the least well known. Composing at the end of the 19th century, his name is not as well known as Tchaikovsky, Rubenstein, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, and Glazunov; maybe due to his lack of ballets or not having been the head of a major music school. Yet his music is every bit as melodic and beautiful. This multi-CD set contains possibly the best music composed by this genuis. COntaining all three of his symphonies, along with his Steppes in Central Asia and several other works, the music is very melodic, dramatic, evocative and rhythmic. Following in the footsteps of the great Russian Romanticism, this is some of the best classical music out there. The orchestration on these CD's are also wonderful, and the sound quality is flawless. I highly recommend this set to any classical music fan.