The World of Borodin

Decca's "The World of ..." series have been of variable quality, but for this issue, the selection is exactly on the mark. This CD presents all the major works of Borodin and provides a wonderful snapshot of his music. The three excerpts from Prince Igor are dramatically played, full of Russian vigour and energy. Sir Georg Solti injects power and grandeur into the London Symphony Orchestra, and one would be hard-pressed to find a more lyrical Polovtsian Dances.

Borodin's meagre chamber music output is represented here by the Nocturne from the Second String Quartet, ravishingly played by the Borodin Quartet. The song For the shores of your far-off native land is yearningly performed by the Ghiaurovs, while Ashkenazy plays stylishly in the Scherzo. The collection comes to a thundering conclusion with the rousing Second Symphony, a work to place alongside those of Peter Tchaikovsky.

This well-filled disc is great value for money, and will surely be of interest to anyone who enjoys full-blooded, powerfully nationalistic, late Romantic Russian music. There is no other compilation that offers such a satisfying overview of Borodin's musical career, so get it! -- I.K.