Listeners thinking this is a normal recording of
Rimsky-Korsakov
's
Scheherazade
should be apprised right off: this is a unique adaption of the work. The score is reduced to chamber dimensions and played by the 14-member
Ensemble K
. More unorthodox yet is the inclusion of a text ("A Tale") adapted from the One Thousand and One Nights and other ancient love poetry with a somewhat feminist orientation that includes Scheherazade's sister Dinarzade. There are two CDs in the physical version, the first interweaving text and
's music, the second with the music only, unchanged except for the instrumental reduction. In at least some streaming versions, these are presented as two separate albums, leaving the listener with a choice as to sequencing; one might consider alternating between the two versions so as to immerse oneself in what is being done here. The text, a narration of the tale by Scheherazade and Dinarzade (by
Golshifteh Farahani
and
Kristin Winters
, respectively), is likely to be the big news here, but perhaps even more startling is the new orchestral version of
's music. To reduce to 14 players a score whose main attraction is generally agreed to be its spectacular orchestration would seem a risky enterprise, but give it a try. The remaking is credited as "under the auspices of
Vincent Paulet
," and it might have been helpful to learn more about exactly what that means. However, it certainly lends a fresh pair of ears for the work that leads listeners into aspects that make up inner layers in the original, such as the third relationships in the harmony and the sheer beauty of the melodies in the "Young Prince and the Young Princess" movement. The recording environment of the Salle Colonne in Paris is just right, and the album can certainly be recommended to those with a taste for experimentation. ~ James Manheim