Lesser known Russian/Soviet composers

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 6 March 2026:



Kashperova, besides a composer, was the piano teacher of Stravinsky, so it puts extra interest on this coming release.

[DavidUK]

Popov symphonies 1,2 and 6
Shebalin symphonies 1 and 5

+1 for Kabalevsky, especially symphonies 1 and 4 and the First Piano Concerto.

And his magnificent Requiem which is partnered with the 4th symphony on an Olympia double CD.

[Cato]

To be released on 6 March 2026:



Kashperova, besides a composer, was the piano teacher of Stravinsky, so it puts extra interest on this coming release.

Thanks for the information!

Here is a recording of her Symphony in b minor:

[vandermolen]

Thanks for the information!

Here is a recording of her Symphony in b minor:

A very attractive sounding work.

[Roy Bland]

On Tppolitov-Ivanov

https://ippolitovka.ru/

concert with rare pieces of 11/11



For the first time after a long hiatus, Ippolitov-Ivanov's Symphony No. 1 will be performed under the direction of People's Artist of the USSR, Professor Yuri Simonov. His choral, vocal, chamber and instrumental works, as well as music written for the first Russian sound film, will also be presented.

[Symphonic Addict]

This is an extremely compelling disc of piano trio rarities by Russian/Ukrainian composers (Vladimir Dyck, 1882-1943; Constantin von Sternberg, 1852-1924; Sergei Youferov, 1865-1927). The short, carefree, graceful, yet substantial Sternberg is sandwiched between two dramatic trios, both in C minor, which are quite meaty and fresh-sounding, and where the striking ideas flow effortlessly. None of these trios contain modernistic writing, they are firmly rooted in the Russian late-Romantic tradition and all the good for that. I was especially taken by the Scherzo of the Dyck (what a marvel!) and the commanding first movement of the Youferov, but the whole works (including the Sternberg) have no waste whatsoever. Enthusiastically recommended.

[Roy Bland]

Mikhail Ziv(1921-1994)

[kyjo]

The other day I happened upon the delightful Harp Quintet in C minor (1953) by the barely-known Evgeny Golubev (1910-1988), contained on this album:



https://youtu.be/mN496cwz0D0?si=oLwngOfMl-wAonzQ

(Vera Dulova, harp & the Komitas String Quartet)

I don't know of any other Russian/Soviet chamber works featuring the harp, so I was most intrigued by this quintet. Its style is staunchly conservative in the Russian Romantic tradition, with hardly a hint of the comparatively "modern" idioms of Prokofiev or Shostakovich. However, this doesn't preclude it from being a thoroughly enjoyable and quite beautiful work which fills an interesting niche in the repertoire. Golubev was a hugely prolific composer with 7 symphonies, 6 concerti, and 24(!) string quartets to his name. Now there's a project for the record labels! In the meantime, there is a Melodiya album of his Piano Concerto No. 3 and Piano Sonata No. 4 (performed by Tatiana Nikolayeva), as well as quite a few works available on YouTube. I look forward to investigating more of his music!