How nice to see Ansermet’s Antar, Decca’s first official stereo classical recording, back in the catalog. It remains in a class by itself interpretively, and the 1954 sonics still sound remarkably good, if slightly thin. Right from the opening, with its punchy accents from the bassoons, you can tell this performance is going to be special, and so it proves. Ansermet’s fluid tempos and crystal clear balances conjure up the perfect fairytale atmosphere, whether it’s in the first movement’s graceful second half, the exciting ensuing “Anger” movement (that in its intensity and bravura cleverly disguises the rudimentary nature of Rimsky’s counterpoint), the colorful third movement march, or the luscious slow finale. The orchestra itself is on its best behavior.
In general, the same holds true for Ansermet’s Scheherazade, a clean and neat performance that lacks only the last element of virtuosity, though its merits are considerable. Highlights include an excellent solo violin protagonist along with Ansermet’s sensible pacing of all four movements–and just when you think the orchestra sounds exhausted in the lead-up to the shipwreck, the moment itself proves to be one of the most panoramically satisfying on disc. Sonically, the 1960 recording sounds richer and fuller than Antar, though not hugely better in this remastering than in previously available incarnations. As a souvenir of Ansermet’s authoritative art in Russian music, this release stands tall.
