RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Cantatas, Chorus of the Moscow Academy of Choral Art [CD de audio] Victor Popov, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Rim

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) is primarily known outside his native country as the composer of his symphonic suite Scheherazade. In fact, he was a very talented composer of vocal music: he wrote no less than 15 operas and, in addition, some beautiful cantatas for soloists, choir and orchestra, which are summarized in this film. The choir of the Moscow Singing Academy and the Symphonic Muscovites under the direction of Vladimir Ziva and a series of excellent Russian soloists enchant with a round of magical, heroic and adventurous music: we listen to The Legend of Alexios the Man of God, Op. 20, the legend of the wise Oleg, op. 58, the Homeric cantata, op. 60 and the Switesjanka, op. 44. The 2001 recordings were until now only available as part of the extensive Rimsky-Korsakov edition, now they are available for the first time as a single recording. The booklet includes detailed notes on the composer and the works.