Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov:
‘Antar’ Suite (Symphony), Op. 9

Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov:
Caucasian Sketches, Op. 10

Reinhold Gliere:
The Red Poppy, Op. 60

Aram Khachaturian:
Gayaneh Ballet Suite

“Abravanel is very good in this music - crackling with energy tempered with tender ways with the great melodies. Antar is a neglected prize among Rimsky's works ranking with Sheherazade …Caucasian Sketches have These You Have Loved status with Procession of the Sardar establishing the idiom for a thousand Hollywood triumphal and barbarous marches … The Gliere is a fun piece that stamps emphatically and clearly influenced by Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition.

As an inexpensive single disc collection of less obvious Russian repertoire this is difficult to top. I recommend it strongly.” (Rob Barnett / MusicWeb International)

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Recording: 1967.