Kees Bakels & Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra - Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 - Fantasia On Serbian Themes (2005)

Does it seem possible that a Dutch conductor could lead a Malaysian symphony in a program of orchestral music by a Russian nationalist composer and make a convincing case for the music? Proving that anything is possible, Kees Bakels leads the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in performances of Rimsky-Korsakov's First and Third symphonies and his Fantasia on Serbian Themes and succeeds completely. Bakels has distinguished himself with a fine series of recordings of Vaughan Williams' symphonies with the Bournemouth Symphony, and his Rimsky-Korsakov is just as impressive. Bakels' interpretations stress the raw strength and bright colors of Rimsky-Korsakov's music, giving even the early First Symphony -- which was the first symphony composed by a Russian -- an admirable power and attractive authenticity. Part of the reason Bakels stresses the raw strength of the music, of course, is that it plays to the Malaysian Philharmonic's own raw strength. If the Malaysian's colors are more primary than Rimsky-Korsakov's, they are no less appealing. And if the Malaysian's rhythms are more rudimentary than Rimsky-Korsakov's, they are all the more driving. While not the finest recordings ever made of the works -- Evgeny Svetlanov and the USSR Symphony Orchestra probably have that distinction -- these are still remarkable performances. BIS' on-location sound in PETRONAS Hall in Kuala Lumpur is very vivid, if a bit distant. -- James Leonard