Moscow Chamber Orchestra – Alto CD

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-96) String Quartets Nos.7 & 8 Serenade Op.47/4; Sinfonietta No.2

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:34 +0000

These earliest and rare Weinberg (Vainberg) Russian recordings were too early to be reviewed then even if ever issued … “(In 1994), with only 14 months to live, Weinberg celebrated his 75th birthday … he lived just long enough to witness a new wave of interest. A series of CDs began in the 1990s, and his friend Tommy Persson (the Swedish judge who had brought medicines which almost certainly gave the composer a few extra years of life) was able to present Weinberg with (some of) those issues … the broadcaster and documentary maker Per Skans, went straight to the point, describing Weinberg’s neglect as ‘scandalous’. How gratifying for Persson that his underwriting of several CDs that appeared then not only kept the music alive for specialist collectors but touched off what has been described in Russia as the ‘Weinberg boom’. [David Fanning article for Gramophone].

Serenade for Orchestra, Op.47 No.4 [20:52]

1 I. Allegretto 5:46

2 II. Allegro molto 4:45

3 III. Adagio 4:24

4 IV. Allegro giocoso 5:56

USSR State Radio Orchestra / Alexander Gauk (rec. 1956)

String Quartet No.7 in C major, Op.59 [25:47]

5 I. Adagio 8:02

6 II. Allegretto 5:46

7 III. Adagio – Allegro moderato 11:58

Borodin String Quartet (1st issued 1960)

String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.66 [15:31]

8. String Quartet No.8 (single mvt.)

Borodin String Quartet (1st issued 1961)

Sinfonietta No.2, Op.74 [16:46]

9 I. Allegro 3:28

10 II. Allegretto 4:04

11 III. Adagio 4:04

12 IV. Andantino 5:09

Moscow Chamber Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai (1st issued 1962)

Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante K364 Violin Concertos No.1 K207 & No.3 K216

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“you can’t go wrong with Oistrakh’s pre-authenticity Mozart. True, this is big-boned, dyed in the wool Mozart, 1960’s style. Tempi are relaxed, textures quite heavy and the ethos masculine and robust … subtle shadings are there – but the prevailing spirit is strong-limbed engagement. K216 was always one of his best pieces of Mozart playing … he also contributes his own, rather good, cadenzas … second movement characteristically expressive and full of the artist’s noble warmth, and a spirit of romance enlivens the finale. Sinfonia Concertante opens at a real maestoso-qualified Allegro. Directed from the viola by Barshai … once again, there’s real affection in the Andante and the finale is nicely buoyant” (MusicWeb)

Sinfonia Concertante in Eb major, K364 [30:34]

[1] Allegro maestoso 12:50

[2] Andante 11:54

[3] Presto 5:49

Violin Concerto No.3 in G major, K216 [23:17]

[4] Allegro 8:44

[5] Adagio 8:17

[6] Rondeau: Allegro 6:15

Violin Concerto No.1 in Bb major, K207* [21:14]

[7] Allegro moderato 7:22

[8] Adagio 7:49

[9] Presto 6:02

Bach Violin Concertos – (including Brandenburg Concerto No.4) BWV 1041-1042-1043-1049

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:58 +0000

“this is the first time he has tried recording them without a conductor in the eighteenth-century way; The result is an enormous success. The orchestra lacks nothing in precision, while the balance is the best I ever remember in these works.. His tone escapes from the orchestral web exactly when it should, and one hears every orchestral detail without losing a note of the solo part. These are in fact superb recordings. David Oistrakh’s playing is tremendously good.” (Gramophone)