Speakers Corner / Mercury Living Presence - SR90310 - 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl

4260019714633 - Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering - Pressed  at Pallas Germany 

 

The Absolute Sound Super Disc List   TAS Harry Pearson Super LP List

At its finest Mercury could produce state-of-the-art recordings, and here it pulled out all the stops. The balance is middle-distance, and other than for the accordion there is no spotlighting, and the balalaikas produce a glowing bed of rustling, vibrant sound. Clarity and definition are exemplary, which means the percussion is crisp and you can hear that the domra is being played with a plectrum. No register dominates, the treble is sweet, the bass extended; the whole sound-picture has real vibrancy and presence.

 

"Balalaika Favorites":

Works by Andreyev, Budashkin, Gorodovskaya, Kulikov, Mikhailov-Shalayev, Mossolov, Osipov, Poponov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Shishakov, Soloviev-Sedoy, Tchaikovsky

 

The Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra conducted by Vitaly Gnutov

 

The balalaika is not a difficult instrument to describe: it has a triangular body, three strings and a fretted neck. It is far more difficult to describe the inherent values of this national instrument, of which there is a whole family with sizes ranging from the piccolo and alto to the bass and double bass. Accordingly a wide variety of timbral colouring can be achieved, which – together with a broad repertoire – is exploited to the full by a traditional ensemble such as the Osipov Orchestra. 

 

With their performances of arrangements of well-known, romantic Russian pieces, popular adaptations and waltzes, this professional orchestra gives us an insight into the spirited and highly entertaining world of a living musical culture. No different from a classical orchestra, the arrangements are rich in soloistic interludes. Alongside the domra, an instrument with three or four strings, we hear a xylophone, ancient wind instruments and the sonorous, rippling bajan (button accordion).

 

This recording goes back to the roots of Russian music and rightly occupies an important position in our Russian Edition.

 

Recording: June 1962 in Bolshoi Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, Russia,

by C.R. Fine and Robert Eberenz / Production: Wilma Cozart

 

Musicians:
The Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra
Vitaly Gnutov, conductor
Rudolf Belov, domra soloist

Selections:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
1. Dance of the Comedians

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
2. Flight of the Bumble-Bee

Nikolai Budashkin (1910-1988)
3. Fantasy on Two Folk Songs

Vera Gorodovskaya (1919-1999)
4. At Sunrise

Pavel Kulikov (1910-1981)
5. The Linden Tree

Nikolai Osipov (1901-1945)
6. Kamarinskaya

Vasily Andreyev (1861-1918)
7. In the Moonlight

Mikhailov-Shalayev 
8. Fantasy on Volga Melodies

Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi (1907-1979)
9. Midnight in Moscow

Vasily Andreyev
10. Waltz of the Faun

Yuri Shishakov 
11. The Living Room

Alexander Mossolov (1900-1973)
12. Evening Bells

Poponov 
13. My Dear Old Friend, Please Visit Me

Vasily Andreyev
14. Under the Apple Tree