September 2016 - Rimsky Korsakov - Scheherazade - Decca & SXL 2268 - 1961



Mine is a French release (doubtless bought when I was in France) with an orange label and silver writing on it - please don't ask me for information from the consequentially illegible label.

I love this music.  Apart from a Bach Gavotte for Cello arranged for Guitar by Andre Segovia, it is my first memory of classical music - so introduced by my Dad.  It has a story, and you can really see the story in the music.  And as a bonus, we get some fat warblin women in a choir doing a bit of Borodin. Actually, probably not fat warblin women (Gordon Steadmans term) since they were the "Choeur des Jeunes et de Radio-Lausanne".  This is one of the classic performances, with Ernest Ansermet conducting the Orchestre de la Suisse-Romande ( a departement in the East of France).  This version zings with life and joy, even in the sad bits.  I have a personal theory that they recorded the Borodin first, and just couldn't slow down afterwards for the RK.  If you are a reluctant classical listener, do side 2 - the 4th movement and the Danses Polovotsiennes.

I also unashamedly enjoy cheesy popular classical.  These things get popular for a reason.  My early classical purchases were almost all inspired by TV adverts - Dvorjak 9th , "hot from th-oven", Lakme flower duet for the seats being lowered into a British Airways plane, the Jaques Lucier trio take on Bachs "Air" from the Orchestral Suite (cheekily entitled "Air on a G-string) for that advert where it takes 25 shots to get out of a bunker (very familiar)

I picked this also, for my virgin appearance on the thread, since I recall taking my first serious girlfriend to a valentines day concert at the Barbican, where this was one of the main pieces - along with the inevitable Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliette (which I might easily have been tempted to pick).  Sarah was given a red rose on entering the auditorium, which she picked apart one petal at a time in boredom throughout the performance. Fortunately her love of classical music was not her only quality, and she proceeded to demonstrate other accomplishments back at her nurses quarters later that evening.

This is Arabian nights stuff - from a traditional arab tale "One thousand and one nights" - Ripping yarns.  Sinbad, magic lanterns, Ali Babar and the 40 thieves.  The beautiful Scherezade has to keep the story running to avoid the usual post-coital treatment from the Sultan Schariar who had a view of women that is not PC today.

Wikipedia/Amazon/Discog factual links.

www.bartleby.com/16/





Maybe somebody could help me with Spotify I'm a bit of a    boy




Suggested related listening.  Romeo & Juliette by Peter T for another romantic piece to put in a Valentines day programme, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff for another rocking choral work, and the Old Spice advert, and Dukas the Sorcerors Apprentice for another piece with a clear and well-known story to it

Will that do?