Doráti: Rimsky-Korsakov & Borodin — Scheherazade & Polovtsian Dances

Antal Doráti conducts two celebrated works of the Russian repertoire from different historical sessions: Scheherazade, Op. 35 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin with the London Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Chorus.

Recordings

Scheherazade was recorded at Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis on 22 December 1958, with Rafael Druian as violin soloist. The Polovtsian Dances come from Mercury’s London sessions of 4 July 1956 at Walthamstow Town Hall.

Original label and first releases

Both recordings belong to the historic Mercury Living Presence catalogue. The new stereo recording of Scheherazade was released in the United States in 1959 as Mercury SR 90195. The 1956 Polovtsian Dances first appeared on the mono edition MG 50122 and later on stereo SR 90122.

Tapes and Mercury technique

The sessions belong to Mercury’s three-microphone, three-channel stereo period, recorded on half-inch three-track analogue tape, with a 3→2 mix made during mastering. For the 1956 Dances, Alan Melville is producer and C. Robert Fine engineer; for Scheherazade, the first pressing credits the Mercury team led by Wilma Cozart and C. Robert Fine.

Tracklist

01 — Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35: I. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship
02 — II. The Story of the Kalendar Prince
03 — III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess
04 — IV. Festival at Baghdad — The Sea — Shipwreck
05 — Borodin: Prince Igor — Polovtsian Dances

Credits

Composers: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Alexander Borodin
Conductor: Antal Doráti
Orchestra (Scheherazade): Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra
Violin soloist: Rafael Druian
Orchestra (Polovtsian Dances): London Symphony Orchestra
Chorus: London Symphony Chorus
Edition: Capsa Symphōnĭa
Code: CS625

Available formats

File PCM 44.1kHz • 16bit — CD Resolution

What are DSD and DXD?

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is a 1-bit digital encoding system based on pulse-density modulation. DSD64 operates at approximately 2.8 MHz, DSD128 at approximately 5.6 MHz and DSD256 at approximately 11.2 MHz. Playback requires a DAC or player compatible with the selected DSD rate.

DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) is a very high-resolution PCM format; in the version presented here it operates at 352.8kHz. Developed also as a professional editing and post-production environment for very high-resolution workflows, it requires a compatible DAC or player.

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