Marina Tarasova’s recordings of Soviet-era cello repertoire for Olympia Records met with unanimous critical acclaim from the music press, but remained elusive for many collectors seeking out these often hard-to-find CDs when they were initially issued. Alto is pleased to return to international availability Tarasova’s recordings of the two cello concertos of Dmitri Kabalevsky, whose music was among the most popular of the Soviet era. The CD also includes two Kabalevsky rarities for violin and piano.

Dmitri Kabalevsky

Cello Concerto No.1 in g minor “Muzgiz”

• I. Allegro 7:06
• II. Largo-Molto espressivo 5:04
• III. Allegro-Allegro molto 6:45
• Cello Concerto No.2 in c minor “Muzyka” 30:59
• Improvisato for Violin and Piano * 4:18
• Rondo for Violin and Piano * 6:58

Marina Tarasova, cello
Veronika Dudarova / Symphony Orchestra of Russia
* Natalia Likhopoi, violin / Ludmila Uritskaya, piano

“Tarasova is one of Russia’s best kept secrets … [The] Concerto-Rhapsody is a big-boned cello concerto in all but name and soloist Marina Tarasova was made for the part; bold and gutsy and taking the work by the scruff of the neck. … Recommendable for Tarasova’s amazing performances.”
— Michael Cookson, Musicweb International

Born in Armenia in 1903, Aram Khachaturian showed early interest in music and left his native country for Moscow where he learned to read Russian and entered music school at the Gnessin Institute. At the Moscow Conservatory, he studied both cello and composition with Glière, Gnessin and Miaskovsky. His music, strongly influenced by folk music of his native Armenia, was built on what author David Ewen descruibes as “[t]he intonations, the rhythmic patterns, the oriental colourings, and the dramatic emotional contrasts found in Armenian folk songs and dances are the predominant traits of Khachaturian’s music.”

Originally released on Olympia Records to strong critical acclaim, the recording showcases the talent of cellist Marina Tarasova, who has been hailed as “one of Russia’s best kept secrets” by Musicweb International.