The symphonies of Alexander Borodin are compact and concise works, and unlike some other symphonies of the mid-19th century, they possess a clarity that reveals them as efficiently designed, logically developed, and almost Classical in their formal restraint. Indeed, they are close to Classical and early Romantic symphonies in their modest orchestration, moderate size of movements, and relatively short duration; all three can fit on one CD. Yet they also contain exotic elements that are quite characteristic of this member ...
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The symphonies of Alexander Borodin are compact and concise works, and unlike some other symphonies of the mid-19th century, they possess a clarity that reveals them as efficiently designed, logically developed, and almost Classical in their formal restraint. Indeed, they are close to Classical and early Romantic symphonies in their modest orchestration, moderate size of movements, and relatively short duration; all three can fit on one CD. Yet they also contain exotic elements that are quite characteristic of this member of the Mighty Five, the group of Russian nationalist composers that also included Modest Mussorgsky, Mily Balakirev, César Cui, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This album by Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony delivers fresh-sounding performances of the symphonies that balance the need for transparency with the heavier Russian strands, particularly in the Symphony No. 2 in B minor. Schwarz and his orchestra give the music its proper color and intensity, so there is a fair balance...
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