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GLINKA: Patriotic Song. Prayer. Memory of Friendship (Nocturne,
Op. 99). Overture in G minor. Overture in D. Symphony on Two Russian
Themes. Jota
Aragonesa (Spanish Overture No. 1). Summer Night in Madrid (Spanish Overture
No. 2). Waltz-Fantasia. Incidental music to Prince Kholmsky. Premiere
polka in B flat. Overture and Dances from Ivan Susanin. Overture, Dances,
and
Chernamor's March from Ruslan and Luydmila. Andante cantabile and Rondo
in D minor. BALAKIREV: Symphony No. 1 in C. Russia (Symphonic poem). Overture
on Three Russian Songs. Symphony No. 2 in D minor. In Bohemia (Symphonic
poem). Overture on the theme of Spanish March. Music for King
Lear. Tamara.
Suite in B minor. Suite in D minor on Four Pieces of Chopin. Islamey (Oriental
Fantasia). Zelazowa Wola (Symphonic poem). RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13. The Rock,
Op. 7. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27. Isle of the Dead, Op. 29.
Symphony No. 3 in A
minor, Op. 44. Symphonic Dances, Op. 45. Six Choirs for Female Voices
and Piano, Op. 15. Spring, Op. 20. (Cantata for baritone, chorus and orchestra).
Excerpts from Aleko. The Bells, Op. 35. Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14. Prince
Rostislav (Symphonic poem). Capriccio on Gypsy Themes, Op. 12. Scherzo
for Orchestra. Moment Musicaux Op. 16 Nos. 3 and 5. Vocalise, Op. 34 No.
14 (arr. Svetlanov). Prelude in D, Op. 23 No. 4, Elegie, Op. 3 No. 1 The Anthology of Russian Symphonic Music series is reissuing many older Melodiya recordings featuring Evgeny Svetlanov (Sept. 6, 1928 - May 3, 2002). All of these have been on CD before, sometimes at modest price, but these new remasterings sound better than ever. Orchestral sound is excellent with a fine stereo spread and much detail. Already mentioned on this site was a 3-CD set of orchestral works of Evgeny Svetlanov with the composer conducting (REVIEW). Although Svetlanov considered himself to be a composer rather than a "performer," there is no question that he has particular insight into his compatriot's music. These three new releases are valuable compilations of orchestral music by four major Russian composers. We have extraordinary performances of symphonies of Balakirev, Lyapunov and Rachmaninoff recorded from 1954 through 1990. Oddly, Svetlanov's recordings of Rachmaninoff concertos (Nos. 1 and 3 with Barry Douglas, No. 2 with Hiroko Nakamura) are not included, although we do have Svetlanov's performances of four brief piano pieces and his unexceptional arrangement for piano of Vocalise. All of these are technically undemanding, somber Rachmaninoff, well enough played on a rather clangy piano. Although none of the symphonic performances in these multiple-CD sets could be called definitive, they are a truly Russian approach to this music and important additions to the catalog, particularly for the relatively obscure works they include. Minimal program notes are provided in Russian and English. R.E.B. (December 2008)
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