Khachaturian: Masquerade & The Valencian Widow

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
As a youth, Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) absorbed the folk music of his native Armenia and the neighboring states of Georgia and Azerbaijan, and these elements found their way into his rhythmically and melodically vivic compositions. Khachaturian composed incidental music to Lope de Vega’s comedic play La viuda de Valencia (The Widow of Valencia) for a 1940 Moscow production. It is one of his most colorful and delightful scores, and he later created a suite of six brief excerpts. The following year, Khachaturian was commissioned to compose incidental music for a revival of Mikhail Lermontov’s Masquerade in celebration of the author’s centenary. It has remained one of his most successful works. Azerbaijani-born conductor Veronica Dudarova was appointed conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in 1960, a position she held for almost four decades. In 1991, Ms Dudarova founded the State Symphony Orchestra. Winner of the highest awards both from the former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation, she appears as guest conductor with orchestras throughout the world.

Tracks:

Masquerade Suite: Waltz
Masquerade Suite: Nocturne
Masquerade Suite: Mazurka
Masquerade Suite: Romance
Masquerade Suite: Galop
The Comedians, Op. 26: Prologue
The Comedians, Op. 26: Comedians' Galop
The Comedians, Op. 26: March
The Comedians, Op. 26: Waltz
The Comedians, Op. 26: Pantomine
The Comedians, Op. 26: Intermezzo
The Comedians, Op. 26: Little Lyrical Scene
The Comedians, Op. 26: Gavotte
The Comedians, Op. 26: Scherzo
The Comedians, Op. 26: Epliogue
Capriccio italien, Op. 45
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Variazioni
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Scena e canto gitano
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Fandango asturiano

Amazon.com

Kondrashin came to the U.S. in 1958 to conduct concerts for Van Cliburn. While he was recording the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto with Cliburn, RCA also had him make these recordings (originally two LPs) with pickup musicians in New York's Manhattan Center. The nucleus of the orchestra was composed of members of the old NBC Symphony, and the ensemble plays splendidly, with violinist Oscar Shumsky earning his solo credit. Kondrashin leads spirited performances of these warhorses, mostly music so vulgar we should be ashamed of enjoying it as much as we do. RCA's famous "Living Stereo" sound has transferred splendidly to this CD, making it an exquisite, guilty pleasure. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Four Enjoyable Performances.......2005-10-06

This CD has four pieces from four composers, all performed by Kiril Kondrashin and the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra.

The opening brass fanfare of Tchaikovsky's Capriccio italien is precise and impressive, making it my favorite recording of this work.

The performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol is as good as anyone else's, with a full sound.

The real reason to have the disk is the inclusion of two obscure pieces, Masquerade Suite by Khachaturian and The Comedians by Kabalevsky. The former shows the surface gaiety and underlying tensions at a costume party. The latter is music depicting a troupe of clowns. Both get a lively, engaging treatment.

All four pieces are played with brio and are a joy to hear.

A Classic!.......2005-06-19

If you enjoy lighter classical music and everybody needs a break every so often, this magnificent CD is for you. Wonderful music, great performances that do not sound like they came from a studio and incredible sound. The Amazon reviewer calls this music vulgar. I totally disagree, however this music is great fun. And what in the world is wrong with a little bit of fun? Recordings of this quality are extremely rare. So go ahead and buy it. You will not regret it. I can guarantee that.

Get It To Listen Masquerade Suite (Others Are Alright...).......2004-02-17

This is a rare gem that many people will probably miss. If you listen to your local classical radio station, you might actually catch this really great piece by Khachaturian. All the movements have been done with gusto and enthusiasm. It will definitely get your attention with its rich melodies. I would characterize it as almost Tchaikovsky with romantic influences.

The CD leaflet is quite informative to describe the life of Khachaturian in writing the Masquerade Suite. So, it is worth the price of the CD since it provides more information about a relatively obscure composer. I think the music really got my attention and interested in learning about where Khachaturian got his influence.

The other pieces are a mixed bag and probably depends on what your tastes are. I personally found Kabalevsky not to be quite memorable since there are no distinct theme. It's a different style which takes time to appreciate. To me, it sounds very modern like Aaron Copland which doesn't appeal to me. It is really a progression from romatic to modern music.

Tchaikovsky is much more like what you are used to from him. Expect lush and some beautiful tunes. It is not played often so you will not be humming this immediately. So, you just have to listen to it a while. It is pretty slow with highs and lows which means more patience to detail.

Rimsky-Korsakov is more exciting and probably what you expect in this CD. This probably would make sense if the entire CD would focus on strong movements like this one. I guess that is the drawback when a CD album comes out. You are sure to really want to hear one piece but the others are not up to par. However, even popular CDs you buy is a mixed bag so this is not unlike in this regards. So, I would recommend listening to the samples and then decide to buy it. You will love Khachaturian but probably won't feel the same about the others.

Simply BEAUTIFUL!.......2003-02-06

Many do not know Aram Khachaturian's moving, romantic music, but they would likely recognised the Sabre Dance, used everywhere commercials and cartoons or the Adagio used by Stanley Kubrick in 2001: A Space Odyssey. That frantic, almost comical Sabre Dance comes from the oh so romantic Gayne Ballet Suite along with the Adagio made famous when Kubrick chose it for his film.

But it's his Masquerade Suite I love the most. Khachaturian's music has a feel as if it should come from a contemporary of Saint Saens, instead of one living and composing in the 20th century (he died in 1978). I danced to this as a ballet dancer, and I don't know any music quite so filled my heart and soul.
Few composure can imbue their music with so much passion. The Masquerade Suites' Waltz, Romance and Nocturne are just breathtaking.

I had to hunt and hunt to find this on a record, so I so delighted to see it on CD!!

Just is nothing as beautiful! To think this same composure also gave us the Gayne Ballet and Spartacus is simply amazing.

So discover the beauty of Khachaturian!

A rollicking good time.......2000-10-17

This is a fun CD. Yes, I think 'fun' is the best word to describe these works. They are all delightful (and by no means trivial) romps through the world of orchestral color. And the sound- it sounds as if it was recorded in '98 rather than '58! Add the brilliantly exuberant playing of the orchestra led by the incomparable Kondrashin to the mix, and you have a potent concoction. Don't pass on this one.

Khachaturian: Gayne (Complete Ballet); Selections from Spartacus; Masquerade Suite

Average customer rating:

Best out there for now
A dreadful sonic abortion......
Only flaw I found was the sound quality
Great performance, horrendous CD transfer
The best complete version

Khachaturian: Gayne (Complete Ballet); Selections from Spartacus; Masquerade Suite

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Khachaturian: Spartacus
Khachaturian: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
Khachaturian: Gayanne Suites Nos. 1-3
Aram Il'Yich Khachaturian: Spartacus Ballet Suites 1-3
Khachaturian: Masquerade Suite; Kabalevsky: The Comedians; Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol / Kondrashin

ASIN: B0007INY2Q
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Customer Reviews:

Best out there for now.......2007-03-08

Yes, this recording does sound a little "off" thanks to RCA's questionable job at remastering the original vinyl recordings. However, I still prefer this recording (75% of Gayaneh's original music) over the one issued by Vox (complete 2nd version) with Kakhidze and the USSR Large Symphony Orchestra.

The melodies used in the original version are much more appealing and Tjeknavorian and the Philharmonia Orchestra really seem to enjoy themselves. In contrast, Kakhidze and the Russian orchestra seem to rush through some of the dances giving the impression that they just want to get through the recording session as quickly as possible. It doesn't help that Khachaturian's editing of the original score for the 2nd version meant that some of the catchy folk-dance melodies in the 1st version were replaced with more "symphonic" pieces. Thus the Vox disc is only worthwhile if you're an avid collector of Khachaturian's music or want to study the differences between the 1st and 2nd versions of Gayaneh.

For now, this reissued recording by RCA is a lot better than nothing and I enjoy it warts and all.

A dreadful sonic abortion.............2006-11-24

I certainly don't want to be guilty of "piling on", but RCA is guilty of a felonious assault by issuing this set. - It simply defies belief that the same record company responsible for the magnificent SACD "Living Stereo" series of reissued RCA recordings is the same one which has issued this sonic disaster! - One understands that John Newton and Soundmirror were not responsible for this atrocity, but the engineers who were responsible should hang their heads in shame and find another field of work.

Khachaturian may have composed some "junk" in his time, but a lot of this is quite good (particularly in this fine performance) and sonically it deserves at least a decent transfer from the original tapes. Three stars for the music, zero stars for the engineering. GET TO WORK, RCA!

Only flaw I found was the sound quality.......2006-03-09

Khachaturian's Gayne Ballet (in its 1942 original version, not the 1962 revised version) is wonderful and fulfilling. The selections from "Spartacus" are a pleasurable feast for the ears, and the Masquerade & Russian Fantasy are flawless through the baton of Loris Tjeknavorian. The tempi are precise, the orchestral emotion is outstanding, and the sound quality is awfully unsatisfactory. I mean, seriously, the BMF transfer is weakly done. Half of the tracks are frail in volume, and the bass sound is heard incorrectly. All in all, if you want a complete version of Khachaturian's Gayne and the Masquerade suite, then this is the 2-CD set for you. Otherwise, you better find a more recommendable recording...if there are still any out there.

Great performance, horrendous CD transfer.......2006-02-13

I love this ballet & performance, and have had the LP for years, so I was thrilled when it finally came out on CD. But what a disappointment -- they have butchered the CD. There is a loss of frequency on both the high & low end, with the lush strings from the LP being muffled throughout. Plus, they dynamic range is less than the LP. (And BTW, I'm not one of those "back to LP" types -- I prefer CDs). Unfortunately, this is not worth the money. Stick with the LP.

The best complete version.......2005-06-16

This is not the Gayaneh Suites, but the complete (1942) version of Khachaturian's folk ballet. I've never liked the later "even more complete" version, recorded by USSR Radio and TV Large Symphony Orchestra under Kakhidze. Khachaturian's rewrite didn't add anything but a lot of connecting music between the dances which are all here, unadorned, in Tjeknavorian's recording.
I have the original RCA LPs from the late 70s and they sound quite OK so I'm a little disappointed in BMG's CD transfer. It's toppy and harsh. For some reason BMG in particular seem to think their low and mid-price labels should feature bright, toppy sonics so they'll sound exciting on cheap equipment. If that's the case, they don't know much about classical collectors- and this complete performance is definitely a collectors' item.
There are many fine and more natural sounding CDs of the ballet suites, including Khachaturian's own with the Vienna Philharmonic on Decca Legends, recorded some sixteen years earlier, and I'm also fond of Svetlanov's milder rendition on Chant du Monde. However, the best ever performance of music from Gayaneh was recorded, also in the 60s, by Deutche Grammophon, featuring the Leningrad Philharmonic conducted by Rozhdestvensky. It turns up every so often; the last incarnation was in a cheap two-fer where it was harnessed to a performance of Scheherezade you probably don't need.
4 stars for this excellent and only performance of the best complete version of Gayaneh, but a star is missing due to the ghetto-blaster reproduction.

Khachaturian: Piano Concerto; Gayaneh Ballet Suite; Masquerade Suite

Average customer rating:

Definitely a good buy!
NOT BAD BUT THE ONLY ONE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Simply Beautiful!
Serviceable Recording

Khachaturian: Piano Concerto; Gayaneh Ballet Suite; Masquerade Suite

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Khachaturian: Spartacus / Khachaturian, Vienna Philharmonic
Khachaturian: Gayaneh & Spartacus Suites
Khachaturian: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2 "The Bell"
Glazunov, Khachaturian, Kabalevsky: Violin Concertos

ASIN: B000000AFY
Release Date: 1992-09-30

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano & Orchestra: I - Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Piano & Orchestra: II - Andante con anima
Concerto For Piano & Orchestra: III - Allegro brillante
Masquerade - Suite: I - Waltz
Masquerade - Suite: II - Nocturne - Nocturne
Masquerade - Suite: III - Mazurka
Masquerade - Suite: IV - Romance
Masquerade - Suite: V - Galop
Gayaneh - 4 Movements From The Ballet: I - Sabre Dance
Gayaneh - 4 Movements From The Ballet: III - Dance Of The Rose Maidens
Gayaneh - 4 Movements From The Ballet: V - Lullaby
Gayaneh - 4 Movements From The Ballet: VIII - Lezghinka

Customer Reviews:

Definitely a good buy!.......2006-02-27

I found the Masquerade Suite better than I expected. I orderded it because I played it with my youth orchestra and wanted to listen to it again...and again...and again...
I also found the piano concerto very interesting.
And we all know at least the first movement of the Gayaneh ballet, entitled the "Sabre Dance", most likely from a cartoon or movie.
Overall a great CD.

NOT BAD BUT THE ONLY ONE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.......2006-01-30

Not up to the versions by William Kappel or Lorin Hollander, but this performance will have to do for now. Unfortunately this is not an often performed work and could find nothing else on Amazon other than another with a "dated sound" review by someone else. Not that inspiring but not a total loss.

Simply Beautiful!.......2003-02-06

I had to hunt and hunt to find this on a record, so I so delighted to see it on CD!!

Just is nothing as beautiful! To think this same composure also gave us the Gayne Ballet and Spartacus is simply amazing.

So discover the beauty of Khachaturian!

Serviceable Recording.......2002-04-05

Khachaturian is rarely called a profound composer and this is not exactly a profound recording. Yet it is serviceable and Neeme Jarvi draws inspired playing from the Scottish National Orchestra.

The Piano Concerto in D flat major is in the virtuosic style of Rachmaninov and Lizst yet it is without the sometimes distracting bravura of Lizst's piano concerti. In its place, it has the spirit of Armenian folk music, as does all of Khachaturian's music. The first movement is in a loose sonata form, with the cadenza featuring prominently in the development. The second movement is mainly atmospheric, with an appearance of what sounds like a musical saw. It's hard to get used to at first, but on repeated listening, you'll realize how much it really adds to the piece. The last movement is brilliant, fast-paced, and hair-raisingly difficult. Yet Orbelian handles it admirably. Together with Jarvi's conducting (he tones down some of the more overblown orchestral passages) this is a charming recording. This is the piece that first made Khachaturian famous and it's easy to see why.

The Masquerade Suite comes from incidental music that Khachaturian wrote for a play by the same name. Jarvi gives a good rendition of it, especially in the Russian sounding Waltz, the central Mazurka and in the witty Galop. However, the playing isn't exactly inspired, though the players are obviously enjoying themselves.

The recording closes with "Four Movements From Gayeneh." This is not the entire ballet suite. Rather, it is four selections from the suite, including the famous Saber Dance. The movements are played well, but Khachaturian enthusiasts may prefer Tjeknavorian's recording of the entire suite. This CD does withstand repeated listening, though some may tire of Khachaturian's incessantly folksy writing. The sound is good on these recordings, though reverberant. All in all, a serviceable recording, though barely worth the high Chandos price.

Khachaturian: Masquerade & The Valencian Widow
Average customer rating:
Khachaturian: Masquerade & The Valencian Widow
Detisov , Duderova , and Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Moscow Studio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AMPZSA
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Introduction
Serenade
Song
Comic Dance
Intermezzo
Dance
Waltz
Nocturne
Mazurka
Romance
Galop

Album Description

As a youth, Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) absorbed the folk music of his native Armenia and the neighboring states of Georgia and Azerbaijan, and these elements found their way into his rhythmically and melodically vivic compositions. Khachaturian composed incidental music to Lope de Vega's comedic play La viuda de Valencia (The Widow of Valencia) for a 1940 Moscow production. It is one of his most colorful and delightful scores, and he later created a suite of six brief excerpts. The following year, Khachaturian was commissioned to compose incidental music for a revival of Mikhail Lermontov's Masquerade in celebration of the author's centenary. It has remained one of his most successful works. Azerbaijani-born conductor Veronica Dudarova was appointed conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in 1960, a position she held for almost four decades. In 1991, Ms Dudarova founded the State Symphony Orchestra. Winner of the highest awards both from the former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation, she appears as guest conductor with orchestras throughout the world.

Average customer rating:

Khachaturian: 3 Ballet Suites
Spartacus , Masquerade , and Gayaneh
Manufacturer: Eloquence
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000025ULJ

Khachaturian: Masquerade Suite for orchestra No1-5; Gayane Suite for orchestra No1

Average customer rating:

Great disc
Light and Enjoyable

Khachaturian: Masquerade Suite for orchestra No1-5; Gayane Suite for orchestra No1

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005EBY
Release Date: 1994-03-08

Tracks:

Gayaneah: Sabre Dance (Suite III No. 5)
Gayaneah: Dance of the Young Maidens (Suite I No. 2)
Gayaneah: Ayshe's awakening and dance (Suite I No. 3)
Gayaneah: Lezghinka (Suite I No. 3)
Masquerade: Waltz
Masquerade: Mazurka
Spartacus: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia (Suite II No. 1)
Spartacus: Dance of the Greek Slave (Suite III No. 2)
Spartacus: Dance of an Egyptian Girl (Suite III No. 3)
Spartacus: Introduction, Adagio of Aegina and Harmodius (Suite I No. 2)
Spartacus: Variation of Aegina and Bacchanalia (Suite I No. 3)
Spartacus: Scene and Dance with crotalums (Suite I No. 4)
Spartacus: Dance of Gaditanae and Victory of Spartacus (Suite I No. 5)

Customer Reviews:

Great disc.......2003-08-28

Khachaturian's music is something you turn to when you need to stay awake, and yet it's not the "ubiquitous headache" that some other reviwers have called it. This recording with the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Lazarev nicely balances some really vigorous pieces like the well-known "Sabre Dance" from GAYANEH and the "Dance of the Greek Slave" from SPARTACUS with softer, smoother pieces like the beautiful "Ayshe's Awakening" and the waltz from MASQUERADE.

Khachaturian's music is especially interesting in that it blends elements of Asian (specifically Armenian and Azerbaijani) folkmusic with the best of the "high" Russian and European ballet tradition. Khachaturian was Armenian himself, although he lived most of his life in Russia, and you can definitely hear the "eastern" element in his music, for example in the wild jumping bass that pulsates through the "Sabre Dance" and the "Dance of the Greek Slave" (also a characteristic of gypsy music). The ballet GAYANEH, in fact, written in 1942, is set on a kolkhoz (farming cooperative) in the composer's native Armenia. The fact that, like SPARTACUS, this music -- which at times has an aristocratic suavity to it -- is actually an example of Soviet Socialist Realism makes it even more interesting.

Also a great disc to listen to while you're driving. It'll make you feel like James Bond. Five stars.

Light and Enjoyable.......2002-03-07

Lazarev conducts excerpts of the music of Khachaturian. The gawky Sabre Dance begins this set - what Lazarev lacks in showmanship playing this ubiquitous headache he more than makes up for in virility. The rest of the pieces are handled with more sensitivity. A good deal of the music on this disc is really a pleasant surprise. From the tender orchestration and sinewy melody line of Ayshe's Awakening to the balmy satisfaction of the stunningly beautiful Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia. The Waltz from Masquerade has a one-of-a-kind melody line. Khachaturian's sometimes pedestrian compositional style is offset by his stylishly lush orchestration. Though it is not the greatest music ever written, I would recommend this disc if you enjoy the simple pleasures of Glazunov, Rachmaninoff or Tchaikovsky.

Khachaturian: Spartacus, Gayaneh, Masquerade (Excerpts)

Average customer rating:

Terrific performances - at an unbeatable price!

Khachaturian: Spartacus, Gayaneh, Masquerade (Excerpts)

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Khachaturian: Spartacus / Khachaturian, Vienna Philharmonic

ASIN: B00005MO9X
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

Sabre Dance (Suite III, No.5)
Dance Of The Young Maidens (Suite I, No.2)
Ayshe's Awakening ANd Dance (Suite I, No.3)
Lezghinka (Suite I, No.8)
Waltz
Mazurka
Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia (Suite II, No.1)
Dance Of The Greek Slave (Suite III, No.2)
Dance Of An Egyptian Girl (Suite III, No.3)
Introduction, Dance Of Aegina And Harmodius (Suite I, No,2)
Variation Of Agina And Bacchanalia (Suite I, No.4)
Scene And Dance With Crotalums (Suite I, No.4)
Dance Of Gaditanae And Victory Of Spartacus (Suite I, No.5)

Customer Reviews:

Terrific performances - at an unbeatable price!.......2006-08-14

I can't imagine what led me to audition this particular recording of Khachaturian, musical kitsch I've heard countless times since my childhood, but I'm certainly glad I did. And if any of you have a stomach for this kind of thing, do not hesitate a moment longer in acquiring a copy of this marvelous CD! - Forget the Arthur Fiedler and Kiril Kondrashin recordings (among so many others). Here Alexander Lazarev and the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra play this music as to the manner born. I simply cannot imagine better performances. And at this price, it's a steal!

Khachaturian: Spartacus; Masquerade Suite for orchestra No1-5

Average customer rating:

Welcome to the Katchaturian spirit still lives !
Brilliant Folk Artist
Ancient Armenian Corpuscles Aroused
Finally!!!
My soul has been put to ease yet my heart out of beat.....

Khachaturian: Spartacus; Masquerade Suite for orchestra No1-5

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Khachaturian: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2 "The Bell"
Khachaturian: Gayaneh & Spartacus Suites
Khachaturian: Masquerade Suite; Kabalevsky: The Comedians; Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol / Kondrashin
Khachaturian:Valencian Window/Gayaneh/Tjeknavorian:Danses Fantastiques

ASIN: B0000030SQ
Release Date: 1993-12-07

Tracks:

Sabre Dance
Dance Of The Young Maidens
Mountaneers' Dance
Lullaby
Lezghinka
Waltz
Nocturne
Mazurka
Romance
Galop
Var Of Aegina And Bacchanalia
Scene And Dance With Crotalums
Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia
Dance Of Gaditanae And Victory Of Spartacus
In The Mountain Pass
In The Village
In The Mosque
Procession Of The Sardar

Customer Reviews:

Welcome to the Katchaturian spirit still lives !.......2004-11-02

Tjeknavorian is terrific in this admirable tour de force along the most representative works of this unforgettable colorist composer Aram Katchaturian (1905-1978)
I thought that the last word in The Suite Gayaneh came from an old vynil recording of Efrem Kurtz the New York Philarmonic in those fifties, but I still remember how wondered I was when I listened this version thanks to a friend who love the Russian music .
Gayaneh is played with such wildful rage , and so expressiveness that you will be uncapable to find another version in the market that even it gets closer and less to pretend be at the same level .
The Sabre dance is simply out of this world , plenty of force and presence :
The Lullaby is exquisite . The music suggets as any other reading the oriental landscapes , the oriental pomp and circumstance .
The Masquerade Suite is simply radiant and Spartacus is filled with hard beat and filled heart expression .
The Caucasian Sketches is another big point .to its favour . Acquire this CD , it will be a wise choice.

Brilliant Folk Artist.......2003-07-17

You must be a Khachaturian fan to truly enjoy his outstanding masterpiece. One has to understand where he comes from and what he stood for to feel his music.
His Gayaneh ste:Lulleby is unique and unreplaceable. It captures your soul with a sence of piece and serenity.
His Masquerade ste: Waltz is revitalizing and awakes a dead soul to a cheerful dance.
Finally, The "Procession of Sardar" is a music that brings tear and joy to every Armenian's face with memories of their past history.
I recommend this CD to every classical music lover.

Ancient Armenian Corpuscles Aroused.......2001-12-24

This is, in a word, GORGEOUS music and is sensitively performed by an "All-Armenian Team"!! No mention is made of the concert hall where it was recorded which is unbelievably ALIVE! The conductor is aware of the subtle points and lyric elements of the music and allows it to flow from soft, heartgripping melody to enthusiastic outbursts of sheer energy. A 'MUST BUY'.

Finally!!!.......2001-11-04

I've been looking for this CD since I got back from Armenia this summer, and I finally found it. I was really looking for the Waltz that is on the album the most because it's such a beautiful piece of work. I love Kachaturian, I wish there were more recordings of his works. Anyway...the whole album is wonderful and very moving. The music is very Armenian and very beautiful. I'm totally satisfied and I'm sure others who bought the cd and will buy the cd will be as well...what's not to like?

My soul has been put to ease yet my heart out of beat............2000-06-18

I finally found it! The best recording of Lezghinka! Full of pounding cow hide! It's so great, it knocks my heart out of tempo from time to time. Too bad there's no much Gayanah on this CD. You will enjoy this well done music from a not well known orchestra though. The Ippolitov-Ivanov is very soothing. Until that is you get to the conclusion with an almost patriotic sense (if villagers can have some). This CD has all kinds of moods. Happiness, sadness, anger, love, rage, sleepyness, clowny, and other moods depending on who you are. Yes buy it. It's good! Not perfect but good.

Aram Khachaturian: Symphony No. 1 And Masquerade Suite

Average customer rating:

A Khachaturian curiosity and masterpiece

Aram Khachaturian: Symphony No. 1 And Masquerade Suite

Manufacturer: Russian Disc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001LNA
Release Date: 1995-01-11

Tracks:

Sym. No.1 in e: Andante maestoso con passione; allegro ma non troppo - Moscow RSO/Alexander Gauk
Sym. No.1 in e: Adagio sostenuto - Moscow RSO/Alexander Gauk
Sym. No.1 in e: Allegro risoluto - Moscow RSO/Alexander Gauk
Masquerade-Ste from the Ballet: Valse - Moscow RSO/Aram Khachaturian
Masquerade-Ste from the Ballet: Nocturne - Moscow RSO/Aram Khachaturian
Masquerade-Ste from the Ballet: Mazurka - Moscow RSO/Aram Khachaturian
Masquerade-Ste from the Ballet: Romance - Moscow RSO/Aram Khachaturian
Masquerade-Ste from the Ballet: Galop - Moscow RSO/Aram Khachaturian

Customer Reviews:

A Khachaturian curiosity and masterpiece.......2005-10-06

First, Amazon has the listing wrong on this CD. This item listed:

1. Black Intention
Composed by Maki Ishii
Performed by Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (Moscow Radio)

is not on the CD. This is the Khachaturian Symphony No. 1 and Masquerade Suite, both performed by the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra. The symphony is conducted by Alexander Gauk and the recording dates from 1959 in early stereo. The suite is conducted by the composer and was recorded in 1969.

The symphony is Khachaturian's first effort in the medium and was his final exercise before graduating the Moscow Conservatory where he was trained by Myaskovsky. He dedicated the opus to the 15th anniversary of Soviet Armenia, his homeland.

The music is more Turkish than we normally associate with this composer and begins on an ostinato flute and string theme in a dramatic manner the gives rise to a heaving section of strings and brass before settling back into a sustained andante.

The second movement contains a brass chorale that begins to mimic what we know of mature Khachaturian, before returning to the familiar ostinato in the finale, which sounds more like this composer.

The First Symphony is a dramatic creation that is worthwhile although not particularly memorable. It is given a strong reading by Gauk and the radio symphony in sound that is variable early stereo.

I'd suggest this performance is mainly for Khachaturian completists and/or is an attractive makeweight to the composer's own performacne of the more familiar "Masquerade" suite, which is far better recorded -- although there is some spotlighting going on for individual sections and instruments that may remind you of London Phase 4 recording technology in the same period.

Still, the suite is presented in full thorated version led by the composer and competes on the CD market with every version available including the famous Svetlanov recording which the Penguin Guide awarded a rosette. I don't hear much difference between the two performances and accept that the composer's own version must be the more authoritative.

As always, the notes to this Russian Disk are outstanding and give you information about the composer, performers, the compositions, their role in Soviet music history. The notes also include a photo of Khachaturian where he appears to be 35-40 years of age. This is the first photo I have seen of this composer and helps me link him and his Soviet-Armenian heritage to the style of music he composed.

Khachaturian Conducts Masquerade; Prokofiev: Gypsy Fantasia, Galynin: Suite

Average customer rating:

Khachaturian Conducts Masquerade; Prokofiev: Gypsy Fantasia, Galynin: Suite

Manufacturer: Urania
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0002MS3YG

Product Description

This CD introduces the work of Herman Hermanovich Galynin.

Track Listings: