It is not easy to put into words, just a few months after the perturbing revolution in East Europe, what the historic and social outcome of such events will be; however, if it is possible to make a wish of artistic nature, let it be that Russian music may find its due recognition in the West at last. Today, there are many versions of Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich's most famous works on the market and in concert programmes as well as Russian music from the nineteenth century, but apart from Stravinsky, whose later presence a part from the magisterial ballets is mostly of western flavour, the testimony of that world is still affected by predominant culture of Beethoven and Brahms. So, this is the wish that welcomes these historic recordings by Artur Rodzinski, in which as well as the conductor's admirable musical talent, one also listens to the rare testimony of a musical taste which has seized the profound cultural and social meaning of Russian music of the first half of the twentieth century.
My Wish List
