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Russian Classical
By an Amazon.com customer
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9 by Valery Gergiev
Buy used from: $8.24
Gergiev & the Mariinski Theater Orchestra are as good as it gets. Shostakovich's 5th is my favorite of his symphonies
Shostakovich-Symphony No. 10Shostakovich-Symphony No. 10
Buy used from: $91.00
Moscow Studio Archives is my favorite label. The 10th Symphony is also quite good.
Shostakovich: Violin & Viola SonatasShostakovich: Violin & Viola Sonatas
Buy used from: $19.95
Yuri Bashmet said that there were only two outstanding works written for Viola in the 20th century. Here he performs one of them.
Schnittke: Concerto Grosso No. 2; Viola ConcertoSchnittke: Concerto Grosso No. 2; Viola Concerto
Buy used from: $64.47
And here Bashmet performs the other outstanding work of the 20th century.
Alfred Schnittke: Symphony No. 4/Three Sacred HymnsAlfred Schnittke: Symphony No. 4/Three Sacred Hymns
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $10.50
Schnittke's Russian Side. Also look for his Requiem, or for his German side, look for his Faust Cantata.
Kancheli: Styx, Gubaidulina: Viola ConcertoKancheli: Styx, Gubaidulina: Viola Concerto by Giya Kancheli
Buy new: $19.98 / Used from: $17.50
Here Bashmet performs two works for Viola written in the late 1990s
Gubaidulina - The Canticle of the Sun · Music for Flute Strings and Percussion / Pahud · LSO · London Voices · RostropovichGubaidulina - The Canticle of the Sun · Music for Flute Strings and Percussion / Pahud · LSO · London Voices · Rostropovich by Sofia Gubaidulina
Buy used from: $10.00
Gubaidulina's Cello concerto outdoes even Saariaho's for weirdness. But in a good way.
Khachaturian: Symphony No. 3; Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian SketchesKhachaturian: Symphony No. 3; Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $12.50
I love the 3rd Symphony here. The organ solos are nice, and the 15 trumpets are quite powerful.
Terterian: Symphony Nos. 3 & 4Terterian: Symphony Nos. 3 & 4
Buy used from: $6.48
Terterian is far too neglected by classical music enthusiasts. His music is very unique, but very captivating. If you like exciting rhythmic music, he's a great composer.
Kanon PokajanenKanon Pokajanen by Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Buy new: $22.99 / Used from: $16.00
My favorite work by Arvo Part, performed by an incredible choir. Written not quite 10 years ago, but it has staying power.
PassioPassio by Arvo Part
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $4.70
My second favorite work by Arvo Part (also choral). If you'd prefer Orchestral music, get Lamentate, his Piano concerto (and check out Valentin Silvestrov's Piano Concertos on ECM also)
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 4 & 5Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 4 & 5
Buy used from: $20.00
Do Prokofiev's Piano Concertos belong on this list? Yes.
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos 2 & 3Prokofiev: Piano Concertos 2 & 3
Buy used from: $72.46
Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrushka / Le Sacre du PrintempsStravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrushka / Le Sacre du Printemps
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $5.77
I can't leave Rite of Spring off this, can I? Might as well have Stravinsky conduct it.
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio espagnolRimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio espagnol
Buy used from: $43.12
Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade is a necesity
Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomRachmaninov: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by Baikov
Buy used from: $39.95
Rachmaninov wrote two great orthodox church pieces. They sound old. But they aren't quite a century old yet.
Rachmaninov: VespersRachmaninov: Vespers
Get em both.
Borodin-Symphonies 1 & 2Borodin-Symphonies 1 & 2
Buy used from: $47.46
Two nice symphonies. Very lush and beautiful.
Rachmaninov-Symphony No. 3 in a/Isle of the Dead/ScherzoRachmaninov-Symphony No. 3 in a/Isle of the Dead/Scherzo by Rachmaninov
Buy used from: $15.98
I love the Isle of the Dead. Its my favorite Symphonic Poem.
Rachmaninov: The Bells; The SpringRachmaninov: The Bells; The Spring
Buy used from: $60.67
I love the Bells. And its in English - based off of Edgar Allan Poe.
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite/Nutcracker SuiteTchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite/Nutcracker Suite by Svetlanov
Buy new: $6.98 / Used from: $43.13
I don't like Tchaikovksy that much, but I can't leave off the Nutcrackerr.
Khachaturian: Gayanne Suites Nos. 1-3Khachaturian: Gayanne Suites Nos. 1-3
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $1.90
Khachaturian's Gayane. Everyone's heard the Sabre Dance. But the rest of the ballet is good, too.
Khachaturian: Piano Concert; Concert RhapsodyKhachaturian: Piano Concert; Concert Rhapsody
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I love his piano concertos
Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.02
I don't like the first Piano Concerto much, but the middle movement of his second piano concerto just makes me melt.
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $6.00
Rachmaninov Piano Concertos with Ashkenazy playing. Enough said.