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Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker (complete)

by: Chorus of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg Valery Borisov Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg Valery Gergiev

Release Date November 16, 1998
Of all the recordings by Gergiev I own, I feel more than ready to consider this among his more pleasing efforts. Gergiev brings a new perspective to this well-worn Tchaiokvsy chestnut, such that it is given a more robust performance than typically given during the myriad of Christmas ballet productions. From the lightness of the overture to the weighty grandeur of the finale, Gergiev ably fleshes out the contrasting moods in the score. Adopting generally brisk speeds, he adopts continuity yet still churns out a magical performance for one to revel in the many felicities of the score. Now, these brisk seeds are not as rushed as many people might think, but they really make the ballet lilt and trip along without sounding clunky like most other ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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In tempus praesens - Bach, J.S.: Violin Concertos BWV1041 & BWV1042; Gubaidulina: Violin Concerto In tempus praesens

by: Anne-Sophie Mutter Trondheim Soloists Anne-Sophie Mutter London Symphony Orchestra Valery Gergiev

Release Date September 22, 2008
The Gubaidulina has to be listened to a few times to experience its real power, but it grabbed me from the beginning. Its a very modern peice but at the same time classical in feel. The Bach takes no getting used to and its refreshing to hear a soloist not trying to be too "authentic" in her style. That being siad the overall performance is light and brisk. Mutter just gets better and better in my view. I also have to comment on the outstanding quality of the recording- if I were a geek I'd buy it just for that.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Mahler - Symphony No. 1 (LSO/ Gergiev)

by: London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev

Release Date May 26, 2008
Having demonstrated that he is among our foremost interpreters of Shostakovich, eminent conductor Valery Gergiev has embarked on a potentially great Mahler symphony cycle with the London Symphony Orchestra as its new principal conductor for the orchestra's LSO Live label. A musical journey that shouldn't surprise long-time listeners and admirers of Gergiev's conducting, especially when Shostakovich expressed his own artistic debt to Mahler's genius for melody and orchestration throughout his fourteen symphonies. Gergiev's exceptional interpretation of the Mahler 1st Symphony is one that shall be remembered for its great clarity and emotional depth. All Gergiev asks of his new orchestra is superb intonation and fidelity to Mahler's intentions; needless to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

by: Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, St. Petersburg Valery Gergiev

Release Date September 07, 2001
Valery Gergiev is a passionate conductor and it is somewhat of a surprise to hear his interpretation of Stravinsky's landmark work. This is an unusally quiet, brooding birth, less the outwardly dramatic, sonic bursting performances to which we've grown accustomed. While we wait for what Salonen and the LA Phil do with this work in the new acoutically wondrous Disney Hall in Los Angeles there is much to be learned and absorbed by this magnificently understated recording. Gergiev presents the ballet score more as a symphonic poem, uncovering many delicate moments rarely heard in this masterpiece. Not that he is afraid of massive outbursts - those are captured by him in this spacious recording brilliantly. The Kirov Orchestra obviously has played this piece countless ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

by: Lang Lang Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre Valery Gergiev

Release Date March 07, 2005
I'm not an expert on classical music and could not offer an opinion on whether this is Lang Lang at his best, but I can say that to me this recording is simply wonderful and at times, breathtaking.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet

by: Kirov Orchestra Valery Gergiev

Release Date March 12, 2001
In his score for Romeo and Juliet Prokofiev is on top form. Here we see him triumphant after dealing with his own personnal battles. His modernist musical impulses were at odds with his desire to return, after self imposed exile, to Russia. Here he find resolution by giving late romanticism an early modern bite, with a profusion of fine tunes. What to compare it with? Well Imagine that Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' is his children's cartoon: this is his full lenght film epic.

What could be more appropriate than to hear a performance by one of Russia's great Ballet Orchestras? There is also some irony, as this Ballet company rejected Prokofiev's proposed Ballet in 1934. The 1990 orchesta aquit themselves well. The ballet is presented as it is danced. This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Mahler - Symphony No 6 (LSO/Gergiev)

by: London Symphony Orchestra

Release Date March 31, 2008
This is a fine performance and one that moves along at a cracking pace. You won't find any of the ponderous molto adagios that seem so popular in this performance. I'm sure that some people will insist on recordings that offer more space, but personally I think it makes a nice to change to hear Mahler performed with such direction.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade

by: Kirov Orchestra, St Petersburg Valery Gergiev

Release Date October 07, 2002

Having been an admirer of Gergiev's fresh and exciting Tchaikovsky Nutcracker, I found myself rather shortcharged after hearing his lacklustre version of Scheherazade. Despite the lavish praise that was heaped upon this version by the Penguin Guide, I found that it tended to suffer from Gergiev's mannered approach and lack of adreanaline and passion in the orchestral playing. Gergiev's performance also suffers from a cloudy and close-miked recording where one may not be able to hear the felicities and nuances of the orchestral playing because of the artificial reverb that counters the dryness of the acoustics. Nevertheless, Gergiev ably builds up climaxes slowly but steadily and keeps the architecture of Rimsky's sweltering music in shape.

Gergiev's performance ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Boris Godunov - Mussorgsky [1992] (NTSC)

starring: Robert Lloyd, Olga Borodina, Alexei Steblianko, Sergei Leiferkus, Alexander Morosov
directed by: Humphrey Burton

Release Date August 05, 2002
Beautifully sung, very well-acted, superbly directed. You can't go wrong with this recording. Robert Lloyd sings brilliantly and the Tarkovsky direction is of a very high standard. If you love Russian opera, if you just love opera and pageantry, this is a marvellous performance and a very enjoyable entertainment.

CD-Charts Position 10
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Russian Album (Netrebko, Gergiev, Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre)

by: Anna Netrebko Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre Valery Gergiev

Release Date October 30, 2006

The `Russian Album', released in 2006, is Anna Netrebko's debut solo recording with long friend, teacher and conductor of the Orchestra of the Mariinsky theatre, Valery Gergiev. It's also her solo debut album with the Deutsche Grammophon label.

Russian composers of opera have not enjoyed such popularity, in recent years at least, as those by the great Italians such as Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti and Rossini. Russian opera emerged during the early 1800's, at a time when the European composers completely dominated the field, and used elements of Russian folklore, traditions and native melodies to produce a distinctive sound.

So it's only natural that a Russian opera singer should feel compelled to celebrate and show off some of those lesser heard arias from her homeland, ... Read More: