On a previous disc of Rimsky-Korsakov?s orchestral music, Kees Bakels and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra gave us their interpretation of one of the composer?s most...

On a previous disc of Rimsky-Korsakov?s orchestral music, Kees Bakels and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra gave us their interpretation of one of the composer?s most popular works, Sheherazade, coupled with the less well-known Second Symphony. (About this disc (BIS-CD-1377) International Record Review wrote: ?Bakel's new release is impressive, with Sheherazade a particular joy. The recorded sound, like the performances is lucid and natural.?) On the present release, the favourites are represented by the ever-popular Capriccio espagnol and that favourite encore The Flight of the Bumble-Bee, unusually presented in its context as the third movement of a suite of orchestral excerpts from the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan. But at least as attractive, and every bit as glowing, is the Russian Easter Festival Overture, dedicated to the memories of Mussorgsky and Borodin, and the composer?s final large-scale orchestral piece. Based on Russian liturgical themes it progresses from a solemn pre-Easter processional, through the discovery of Christ?s empty tomb, and finally to the joy and triumph of the Resurrection. Another work that definitely deserves to be better known is the Piano Concerto. Possibly because its short duration (only 14 minutes) it has proved difficult to programme in concerts, but within this short time-span it daringly explores a wide range of expressive possibilities, which soloist Noriko Ogawa and the orchestra know to exploit to the hilt. All in all, a most attractive programme then, performed by an orchestra which in a previous review has been described as follows: ?the players are obviously excellent; more importantly, this is an orchestra that plays with character and commitment ??