USSR Symphony Orchestra – Alto CD

Shostakovich: Symphonies No.9 & No.15 Festive Overture; Scherzo Op.1

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:31 +0000

“(9th) They capture not only the joyful irreverence but the sense of danger lurking beneath … solo wind playing is excellent throughout…brilliantly played and vividly recorded” (CD Review) (15th) “with a superbly vivid Fifteenth, generally hard-driven à la Mravinsky but far more convincingly poised … first movement goes at a frightening lick, deserting the toy shop for the asylum, the slow movement lacks only the very last ounce of desolation and the finale, always intelligently conceived, is suitably emotive at the close. The sound has immediacy and enough depth.” (Gramophone)

[1] Festive Overture, Op.96 *** 6:01
[2] Scherzo for Orchestra in F sharp minor, Op.1 *** 5:01

Symphony No.9 in E-flat major * [26:28]

[3] I. Allegro 5:27
[4] II. Moderato 7:13
[5] III. Presto 2:53
[6] IV. Largo 4:14
[7] V. Allegretto – Allegro 6:40

Symphony No.15 in A major, Op.141 (1971) ** [40:25]

[8] I. Allegretto 7:06
[9] II. Adagio – Largo – Adagio – Largo 13:52
[10] III. Allegretto 4:15
[11] IV. Adagio – Allegretto – Adagio – Allegretto 15:10

GLINKA Overtures & Dances

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“An eminently recommendable survey of Glinka’s orchestral output … playing of the USSR Symphony is expert and idiomatic” (Penguin Guide) “firm and lively as one would expect from Svetlanov and a Russian orchestra very much on home ground. The recordings do full justice to Glinka’s beautiful scoring. An enjoyable record, not to by missed by lovers of Russian music”. (Gramophone) “all done with tremendous character and verve: the Waltz-Fantasie, written for one of the many young ladies who turned the composer’s head , is unfurled with just the right amount of insouciance and lashings of charm.” (MusicWeb International)

Ruslan & Lyudmila

[1] Overture (Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra) 5:05
[2] Chernomor’s March 4:20

Ivan Susanin (A Life for the Tsar)

[3] Overture 9:24

Spanish Overtures

[4] No.1 (Jota Aragonese) 9:08
[5] No.2 (Summer Night in Madrid) 9:01

(Fantasia on Spanish Themes)

[6] Waltz-Fantasia 8:44

Prince Kholmsky: Incidental music to N.Kukolnik’s tragedy

[7] Overture 6:43
[8] Entr’Acte to Act II 3:34
[9] Entr’Acte to Act III 3:28
[10] Entr’Acte to Act IV 3:41
[11] Entr’Acte to Act V 3:33
[12] Premiere Polka in B flat major 8:25

(Orchestrated M.Balakirev)

RACHMANINOV “THE BELLS” (Op. 35) CANTATA: “SPRING” (Op. 20) & SONG: “VOCALISE” (Opus 34, No.14)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“always something special about a Russian performance. The slavonic fervour and natural intensity of the singing, both solo and choral, give a gripping added immediacy here to The Bells … an added edge is the inclusion of the stirring cantata called Spring: an immediately attractive piece quite superbly sung by its baritone soloist, Sergei Yakovenko – indeed, the whole performance is unforgettable, both dramatically and vocally” (Gramophone) “1st choice ‘Bells’ in survey” Oct 2009 all recordings (Gramophone) “a compellingly attractive purchase” (MusicWeb)

“The Bells” Poem for Orchestra, Chorus, Soloists
Yurlov Russian Choir /Yuri Ukhov (1-4)/Stanislav Gusev (5)

[1] Allegro ma non tanto 6.48
[2] Lento 13.19
[3] Presto 8.51
[4] Lento lugubre 12.41

“Spring” Cantata for baritone, chorus, Orchestra

[5] “Spring” (text: V.Nekrasov) 17.54

“Vocalise” Song, orchestrated by V. Klin

[6] “Vocalise” 8.52