SHEHERAZADE / THE TALE OF TSAR SALTAN

David Nolan (violin) & Philharmonia Orchestra, Enrique Batiz

Rimsky Korsakov:
 Scheherazade, Op. 35
 The Tale of Tsar Saltan Suite, Op. 57

"Bátiz proves an impulsive, purposeful interpreter. In the second movement, his performance is more lilting Ozawa's, with rubato more persuasive, helped by superb Philharmonia wind-playing. The fanfares which interrupt in echelon (track 2) are brisk rather than weighty, confirming a more volatile approach than Ozawa's. In the third movement the Philharmonia strings may not be quite as rich as the Viennese, but with the excellent, well-balanced recording revealing more inner detail the result is more refined, with a delectably lilting clarinet entry on the grazioso dance-rhythm (track 3). David Nolan's violin solos are more individually rhapsodic, if not always as immaculate tonally as the Viennese. In short, this budget issue is at least as compelling and just as exciting as its full-priced rival, and rather better recorded. The fill-up can be warmly recommended too, three movements from the five which Rimsky included in the orchestral suite of musical pictures from Tsar Saltan, starting with the delectable march entitled the 'Tsar's farewell and departure'. The other movements are 'Tsarina in a barrel at sea' and 'The three wonders', with the over-played 'Flight of the Bumble-Bee' hardly missed."
Gramophone Classical Music Guide - 2010