Rimsky-Korsakov: Shéhérazade, Capriccio Espagnol

Scheherazade was fine for the most part. Some parts were quite different than what is standard, though. Capriccio Espangol is decent until you get to the beginning of the third movement, at which point your ears begin to hurt because of how out-of-tune the piccolo player is. It doesn’t get much better as the piece progresses. You might be able to enjoy a little bit it if you try to block out the piccolo

I know that some feel Bernstein did strange things with the tempo in this according, but I cannot enjoy other versions because this was my first. I feel more drama within this recording. Take it for what it is, shut your eyes and enjoy it.

I feel that this recording of sheherazade was somewhat strange. Almost everywhere that is normally slow the tempos are overspeed or so under that the mood dies, to me that is, and in the fast sections the speeds are so fast it is unmusical. kinda left a void needing to be filled because it didnt move very smoothly or naturally which this song is both of. it just always felt disjointed, but that is because it didnt move the way I wanted it, that doesnt mean you wont like it. It will always be my favorite work by Rimsky-Korsakov no matter how much I felt it was messed up by this conductor just in this recording (Yes, I know it is Bernstein, this is just how I felt the song was treated)

It's a perfectly fine rendition but a bit disappointing all the same. I expected better from such a renowned orchestra and conductor. If I had to chose one of the two pieces, I'd choose Capriccio Espagnol over Schéhérazade.