Rimsky-Korsakov: Schéhérazade, Op. 35

Scheherazade, based on the Arabian Nights, is one of the most kaleidoscopic orchestral showpieces of the late 19th century, memorable in particular for its thrilling portrait of Sinbad’s ship at sea. Rimsky-Korsakov, who actually did write the book on orchestration, perhaps never topped the panoramic majesty of the fourth-movement shipwreck, where the sea foam seems to leap out of the score. This vintage Reiner/Chicago recording is extroverted and vibrant, and the shipwreck moment is a particular showcase for the renowned Chicago brass sound.