Vox followers will know the names by now – Aubort & Nickrenz the original producers, trading as Elite Recordings, with Clements & Walton as the Audiophile upgraders – for this imposing and vivid Scheherazade conducted by Jerzy Semkow, recorded May 1976. Semkow (1928-2014) – St. Louis Symphony music director 1975-79 – sculpts a shapely performance, affectionate without losing pictorial or dramatic elements, indeed there are suitably Slavic emphases, enhanced by characterful solos, not least violinist (SLS concertmaster sat the time?) Max Rabinovitsj, whose ‘once upon a time’ introductions set the scenes admirably, and mention must be made for the beguiling clarinet contributions, no doubt from George Silfies, during a persuasively spacious ‘Prince and Princess’, here a loving couple, all faithfully captured by Aubort’s expert engineering, unflinching when the ship hits the rocks in the final tableau. No less fine are the Overture & Dances from Smetana’s opera, Prague-born Walter Susskind (1913-80; SLS MD 1968-75) leading idiomatic and spontaneous accounts from January 1975, the ‘Comedians’ an especially athletic troupe, with once again Aubort’s microphones in just the right place. Vox-NX-3043-CD.
SLS on Vox Audiophile – Scheherazade/Jerzy Semkow & Bartered Bride Dances/Walter Susskind.
https://www.colinscolumn.com/?s=vox+audiophile
Jerzy Semkov gave for me the most stunning Don Juan at a RFH Concert about 50 years ago.
I have never forgotten it.
I shall immediately order this new Vox recording having already many
Vox issues, mainly on Turnabout with early Brendel playing Mozart to die for.
Col, your kindness brings back so many memories. Thanks.
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Good to see Vox and Turnabout recordings reviewed. Since the demise of LPs they only appear from time to time. Bill Newman wrote liner notes for some CD re-issues with original artwork but it was short-lived series.
I played this Scherherazade the other night, not having heard the piece for many years, and was highly impressed. Thank you for the review and technical details.
PS the set up used this time was of far better quality than my old equipment.