Hello JAS,

I looked at my university library's online catalogue and it lists 20 Melodiya CDs from 1989 to 1991, most conducted by Svetlanov. The catalogue provides no cover images, but the catalogue listing of an example reads:

Balakirev, Mili, 1837-1910, helilooja
Sümfooniad, ork., nr1, C-duur
Symphony No. 1 [Helisalvestis] ; Overture ; Russia / M. Balakirev ; USSR Symphony Orchestra, Evgeni Svetlanov, conductor
[Moskva] : Melodyia, p1991
1 CD (62:06)

Does this sound like what you're looking for?

 

Answering my own question: this is indeed what you're looking for.

Here's the catalogue's detailed listing for the same CD:

SUCD 10-00151 Melodyia
Anthology of Russian symphony music 4
Антология русской симфонической музыки 4
1. Symphony No. 1 in C major ; 2. Overture on three Russian songs ; 3. Russia: symphonic poem
1974 (1.) ja 1978 (2., 3.)
Märksõnad vene
19. saj. 2. pool
orkestrimuusika
sümfooniad
avamängud
sümfoonilised poeemid
Täiendkirjed Svetlanov, Jevgeni, 1928-2002, dirigent
Balakirev, Mili, 1837-1910, helilooja. Увертюра на темы трех русских песен
Balakirev, Mili, 1837-1910, helilooja. Русь
Государственный академический симфонический оркестр СССР, esitaja

 

Yes, that appears to be volume 4. Perhaps I should just go ahead and post the list as I currently have it. The last numbered volume that I know of is 79, which is orchestral opera excerpts from Tchaikovsky. (It is possible that more were planned, but never completed or issued. Alphabetically, as the series is generally arranged, there wouldn't be much after Tchaikovsky.) Here are the details for vols. 1-10:

Vol. 1 (SUCD 10-00148) - Anton Arensky:

# Suite No. 1 in G minor (Op. 7) (32.52)
# Suite No. 3 (Variations) in C major (Op. 33) (29.51)
# Introduction to the opera "Nal and Damajanti" (6.44)

Vol. 2 (SUCD 10-00149) - Anton Arensky:

# Symphony No. 1 in B minor (Op. 4) (11.25/10.21/6.49/6.49)
# Symphony No. 2 in A major (Op. 22) (13.27/4.37/4.12)
# Overture from the opera "Dream on the Volga" (Op. 16) (7.37)
# Intermezzo in G minor for Strings (Op. 13) (3.14)

Vol. 3 (SUCD 10-00150) - Anton Arensky:

# Silhouettes, Suite No. 2 for Symphony Orchestra (Op. 23) (3.11/3.10/3.14/5.22/3.00)
# Suite from the ballet "Egyptian Nights" (Op. 50a) (6.17/2.26/2.11/2.20/1.08/3.12/4.25)
# Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky (Op. 35) (14.37)
# Fantasia on Themes of Ryabinin, for Piano and Orchestra (Op. 48) (9.06)

Vol. 4 (SUCD 10-00151) - Mily Balakirev:

# Symphony No. 1 in C major (11.38/6.49/21.30)
# Overture on Three Russian Songs (8.22)
# Russia, symphonic poem (13.47)

Vol. 5 (SUCD 10-00152) - Mily Balakirev:

# Symphony No. 2 in D minor(9.33/7.44/9.45/8.22)
# Tamara, symphonic poem (after M. Lermontov) (21.05)
# In Bohemia, symphonic poem (12.03)

Vol. 6 (SUCD 10-00153) - Mily Balakirev:

# King Lear, Music for W. Shakespeare's tragedy (Overture, Procession, 4 Entre'acte) (11.30/6.29/2.54/5.11/7.24/2.10)
# Suite in B minor (2.14/8.15/5.42)
# Overture on the theme of [a] Spanish March (13.23)

Vol. 7 (SUCD 10-00138) - Mily Balakirev, Alexander Borodin, and Modest Mussorgsky:

# (M. Balakirev) Suite in D minor of four pieces by F. Chopin (5.09/3.51/6.45/6.46)
# (A. Borodin) Polovetsian dances and chorus from Prince Igor (Act II, Act III) (11.00/5.37)
# (M. Mussorgsky) Night on Bald mountain: fantasia for symphony orchestra (edited and orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakov) (11.01)
# (M. Mussorgsky) Two choirs with orchestra (The Destruction of Sennacherib, after G. G. Byron; Joshua) (5.55/5.34)

Vol. 8 (SUCD 10-00154) - Alexander Borodin:

# Symphony No. 1 in E flat major (13.23/6.37/8.14/6.38)
# Symphony No. 2 in B minor "Heroic" (9.05/5.28/16.50)

Vol. 9 (SUCD 10-00155) - Alexander Borodin:

# Symphony No. 3 in A major (unfinished) (9.13/10.21)
# Petite Suite (orchestrated by A. Glazunov) (6.01/3.55/2.51/3.01/4.25/2.18/6.49)
# In the Steppes of Central Asia, Musical Picture (9.15)
# Overture to the opera Prince Igor (10.18)

Vol. 10 (SUCD 10-00179) - Waltzes and Polonaises (by Russian Composers)

# A. Glazunov - Waltz from ballet "Raymonda" (5.15)
# A. Glazunov - Waltz from ballet "Lady Soubrette" (6.11)
# A. Glazunov - Waltz from "Ballet Suite", Op. 52 (5.44)
# A. Rubenstein - Waltz Capriccio (6.11)
# P. Tchaikovsky - Waltz from the Opera "Eugene Onegin" (6.33)
# N. Rimsky-Korsakov - Polonaise from the Opera "Christmas Eve" (4.39)
# N. Rimsky-Korsakov - Polonaise from the Opera "Pan Voyevoda" (6.52)
# M. Mussorgsky - Introduction and Polonaise from the Opera "Boris Godunov" (6.35)
# A. Glazunov - Polonaise from "Ballet Suite", Op. 52 (5.33)
# P. Tchaikovsky - Polonaise from the Opera "Cherevichki" (6.10)
# P. Tchaikovsky - Polonaise from the Opera "Sleeping Beauty" (4.04)

 

Here is the information for vols. 11-28. These cover music by Alexander Glazunov, and are certainly the largest block by a single composer in the series.


Vol. 11 (SUCD 10-00020) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Lady Soubrette, Ballet in one act (Watteau's Pastorale, on plot of Marius Petipa) (Op. 61) (56.30)


Vol. 12 (SUCD 10-00022) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Symphony No. 1 in E major (Op. 5) (10.49/4.53/11.18/9.00)
# Kremlin, symphonic poem (Op. 30) (9.08/10.54/9.18)


Vol. 13 (SUCD 10-00023) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Symphony No. 2 in F sharp minor (Op. 16) (14.29/13.16/7.20/12.36)
# Song of Fate, Dramatic Overture (14.32)


Vol. 14 (SUCD 10-00024) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Symphony No. 3 in D major (Op. 33) (13.14/8.19/16.04/13.59)


Vol. 15 (SUCD 10-00025) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Symphony No. 4 in E flat major (Op. 48) (15.55/5.12/13.08)
# Symphony No. 5 in B flat major (Op. 55) (11.22/5.19/10.07/6.22)


Vol. 16 (SUCD 10-00026) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

#Symphony No. 6 in C minor (Op. 58) (11.02/11.39/5.05/10.19)
# Volga Boatman's Song (1905) (2.44)
# Serenade No. 1 (Op. 7) (4.04)
# Characteristic Dance (2.34)


Vol. 17 (SUCD 10-00027) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Symphony No. 7 in F major (Op. 77) (10.11/12.25/5.04/10.32)
# Karelian Legend, musical picture (Op. 99) (21.31)


Vol. 18 (SUCD 10-00028) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Symphony No. 8 in E flat major (Op. 83) (10.40/14.13/6.33/13.42)
# Two Pieces for Orchestra (Op. 14) (11.06/9.17)
# Serenade No. 2 in F Minor (Op. 11) (3.37)

Vol. 19 (SUCD 10-00156) - A. Glazunov:

# Forest, Fantasia for Large Symphony Orchestra (Op. 19) (21.18)
# Sea, Fantasia for Large Symphony Orchestra (Op. 28) (17.26)
# Oriental Rhapsody for Large Symphony Orchestra (Op. 29) (24.14)


Vol. 20 (SUCD 10-00157) - Alexander Glazunov:

# From the Middle Ages, symphonic suite (Op. 79) (7.05/3.53/5.22/9.46)
# To the Memory of a Hero, elegie (Op. 8) (15.51)
# Slavonic Festival (Op. 26, No. 4) (13.20)
# Wedding Procession (Op. 21) (7.28)


Vol. 21 (SUCD 10-00158) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Ballade for Large Symphonic Orchestra (Op. 78) (11.29)
# Solmen Overture for Large Symphonic Orchestra (Op. 73) (10.50)
# Spring, musical picture (Op. 34) (11.08)
# Introduction and Salome's Dance to O. Wilde's drama "Salome" (Op. 90) (8.04/7.59)
# Romantic Intermezzo for Large Symphonic Orchestra (Op. 69) (10.27)


No. 22 (SUCD 10-00159) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Seasons, ballet (Op. 67) (10.37/5.28/12.30/12.33)
# Solemn Procession in B flat (Op. 91) (3.18)
# Solemn Procession in D Major (Op. 73) (10.56)
# March on a Russian Theme for orchestra in E flat (Op. 76) (11.35)


Vol. 23 (SUCD 10-00160) - A. Glazunov:

# Ballet Suite For Large Orchestra (Op. 52) (3.06/2.22/3.51/1.18/4.02/2.46/5.25/5.37)
# Characteristic Suite for Large Orchestra (Op. 9) (5.02/5.59/3.54/5.09/4.10/8.47)


Vol. 24 (SUCD 10-00161) - A. Glazunov:

# Stenka Razin, Symphonic poem (Op. 13) (16.12)
# Lyrical Poem in D flat major (Op. 12) (12.03)
# Finnish Fantasia in C major (Op. 88) (12.20)
# Mazurka in G major (Op. 18) (7.40)
# Theme with Variations in G minor (Op. 97) (11.25)


Vol. 25 (SUCD 10-00162) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Concert Waltzes No. 1 in D major (Op. 47) (9.38)
# Concert Waltzes No. 2 in F major (Op. 51) (9.18)
# Chopiana, suite from F. Chopin's works (Op. 51) (5.58/5.47/5.30/3.11)
# From Darkness to Light, fantasia in C major (Op. 53) (13.17)
# Triumphal March (Op. 40) (9.62)


Vol. 26 (SUCD 10-00163) - Alexander Glazunov:

# Prelude to the Memory of V. Stasov (Op. 85a) (5.57)
# Prelude to the Memory of N. Rimsky-Korsakov (Op. 85b) (11.08)
# To the Memory of N. Gogel, symphonic prologue (Op. 87) (10.25)
# Carnival (Op. 45) (9.27)
# Fortune-Telling and Dance, ballet scene (Op. 81) (9.30)
# Finish Sketches, No. 1 (From "Kaleval") and No. 2 (Procession) (Op. 89) (5.16/4.33)


Vol. 27 (SUCD 10-00164) - Alexander Glazunov and Anton Arensky:

# (A. Glazunov) Overture No. 1 on three Greek themes in G minor (Op. 3) (15.00)
# (A. Glazunov) Overture No. 2 on Greek themes in D major (Op. 6) (16.29)
# (A. Arensky) Marguerite Gautier, fantasia for orchestra (Op. 9) (12.21)
# (A. Arensky) Introduction to the musical scenes from Renaissance "Raphael" (6.43)
# (A. Arensky) March "to the Memory of Suvorow".

Vol. 28 - ??? (SUCD 10-00???) Probably Alexander Glazunov: Raymonda (the ballet Raymonda would have taken 2 cds. Only one waltz from the ballet is included in vol. 10, and an Entrance to Scene 2, Act I on the Pearls of Russian Symphony Miniatures CD, which may be vol. 32. Melodiya did issue a 2 cd set of Raymonda, conducted by Svetlanov, October 9, 2012. The skipped SUCD number suggests that it was not issued as part of the series. SUCD 10-00165 is vol. 29. Everything in the later collected Glazunov/Svetlanov set is accounted for above, other than Raymonda.)

 

Here is the information for vols. 29-39:

Vol. 29 (SUCD 10-00165) - Mikhail Glinka:

# Symphony on Two Russian Themes (edited by V. Shebalin) (15.20)
# Jota Aragonesa, Spanish Overture No. 1 (9.10)
# Fantasia on Spanish Themes "Summer Night in Madrid," Spanish Overture No. 2 (9.01)
# Waltz-Fantasia (8.45)
# Incidental music to N. Kukolnik's tragedy Prince Kholmsky (6:42/3:32/3:26/3:40/3:32)
# Premiere polka in B flat major (8.24)

Vol. 30 (SUCD 10-00166) - Mikhail Glinka:

# Overture to the opera "Ivan Susanin" (A Life for the Tsar) (9.30)
# Dances from the opera "Ivan Susanin" (A Life for the Tsar) (Cracovienne; Mazurka; Waltz) (5.28/4.31/5.32)
# Overture to the opera "Ruslan and Ludmila" (5.02)
# Dances from the opera "Ruslan and Ludmila" (15.05/7.21)
# Chernomor's March from the opera "Ruslan and Ludmila" (4.21)
# Andante cantabile and rondo in D minor (17.05)

Vol. 31 (SUCD 10-00167) - Mikhail Glinka and A. Dargomyzhsky:

# (M. Glinka) Patriotic Song (Instrumentation by A. Gauk) (1.32)
# (M. Glinka) Prayer (M. Lermntov) (15.00)
# (M. Glinka) Memory of Friendship (arrangement for symphony orchestra of Nocturne, by J. N. Hummel) (14.55)
# (M. Glinka) Overture in G Minor (6.45)
# (M. Glinka) Overture in D Major (5.48)
# (A. Dargomyzhsky) Kazachok, Fantasia on a theme of malorossiisky kazachok (6.01)
# (A. Dargomyzhsky) Baba Yaga, of From the Volga nach Riga Joke, fantasia (8.21)
# (A. Dargomyzhsky) Bolero (6.29)
# (A. Dargomyzhsky) Chukhon Fantasia (7.07)

Vol. 32 - ??? (SUCD 10-00168 ???) Probably Pearls of Russian Symphony Miniatures (The only Glinka item in the collected set not accounted for in the single volumes is Kamarinskaya, which is only 7.25. A good secondary composer here would be Gliere. Svetlanov did record Gliere's Solemn Overture in 1981, and it was issued on the Olympia label. It runs only 7.47.) (According to a list of Melodiya releases, SUCH 10-00168 was Pearls of Russian Symphony Miniatures, and that includes Kamarinskaya.) [[Contents: 1. Kamarinskaya fantasy (Glinka)~~~2. In the Steppes of Central Asia (Borodin)~~~3. Introduction and Cracovienne from 'Boris Godunov' (Mussorgsky, arr. Rimsky-Korsakov)~~~4. 'Kikimora', folk legend, op. 63 and 'The Enchanted Lake' tone poem op. 62 (Lyadov)~~~5. Islamey, oriental fantasy (Balakirev, arr. Lyapunov)~~~6. Introduction, Melodrama and Dance of the Buffoons from the 'Snow-Maiden' op. 12 (Tchaikovsky)~~~7. 'The Dancer' from Suite No. 2 op. 23 (Arensky)~~~8. Scherzo for Orchestra (Rachmaninov, Ed. P Lamm)~~~9. Dreams, Prelude for Orchestra in E minor, op. 24 (Scriabin)~~~10. Entrance to Scene 2, Act I of 'Raymonda' (Glazunov).]]

Vol. 33 (SUCD 10-00169) - V. Kalinnikov:

# Suite (10.30/4.13/18.42/5.41)
# Cedar and Palm, symphonic picture (12.16)
# Bylina, overture (12.02)

Vol. 34 (SUCD 10-00170) - V. Kalinikov:

# Symphony No. 2 in A major (9.38/8.55/7.54/11.23)
# Intermezzo No. 1 in A major (4.57)
# Intermezzo No. 2 in G major (4.36)
# Serenade for String Orchestra (9.43)
# Nymphs, symphonic picture (10.10)

Vol. 35 (SUCD 10-00171) - V. Kalinnikov and N. Rimsky-Korsakov:

# (V. Kalinnikov) Symphony No. 1 in G minor (14.03/7.27/7.34/5.11)
# (N. Rimsky-Korsakov) Overture to the opera Boyarynia Bera Sheloga (5.11)
# (N. Rimsky-Korsakov) Overture to the opera Maid of Pskov (6.15)
# (N. Rimsky-Korsakov) Two Intermezzi from the opera Maid of Pskov (2.00/3.00)
# (N. Rimsky-Korsakov) In the Woods, Tsar's Hunting, Storm, musical picture (from the opera Maid of Pskov) (8.01)

Vol. 36 (SUCD 10-00140) - A. Liadov and E. Napravnik:

# (A. Liadov) From Apocalypse, Symphonic Picture (Op. 66) ( 8.45)
# (A. Liadov) From Days Of Old, Ballade for Orchestra (Op. 21b) (5.27)
# (A. Liadov) Baba Yaga, Illustration to a Russian Fairy Tale, Op. 56 (5.27)
# (A. Liadov) The Enchanted Lake, Fairy Scene (Op. 62) (7.08)
# (A. Liadov) Kikimora, Folk Tale, Op. 63 (7.55)
# (A. Liadov) Eight Russian Songs for Orchestra (Religious Chant; Carol; Plaintive Song; Comic Song: "I Danced with a Gnat"; Lay of the Birds; Lullaby; Dance; Round Dance) (Op. 58) (14.18)
# (A. Liadov) Musical Snuff-Box (Op. 32) (2.18)
# (E. Napravnik) Night Intermezzo from opera "Dubrovsky" (Act IV) (5.39)
# (E. Napravnik) Melancholy (Op. 48, No. 3) (9.40)

Vol. 37 (SUCD 10-0017) - Sergei Lyapunov and Mily Balakirev:

# (S. Lyapunov) Symphony No. 1 in B minor (Op. 12) (12.14/11.45/8.04/7.30)
# (S. Lyapunov) Solemn Overture on Russian Themes (Op. 7) (15.38)
# (M. Balakirev) Islamey, oriental fantasia (Instrumentation by S. Lyapunov) (8.03)

Vol. 38 (SUCD 10-00173) - S. Lyapunov:

# Symphony No. 2 in B flat minor (Op. 66) (19.00/7.00/12.35/11.05)
# Zelazowa Wola, Symphonic Poem (Op. 37) (14.45)

Vol. 39 - ??? (SUCD 10-00174 ???) (Probably S. Lyapunov. Hashish / Ballad which is listed as SUCD 10-00174. Both pieces are included on the later collected set.)

 

Here is the information for vols 40-51:

Vol. 40 (SUCD 10-00175) - N. Medtner:

# Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra in C minor (Op. 33) (36.47)
# From Stimmungsbilder (Op. 1) (1.27/3.01/3.25)
# Funeral March in B minor (Op. 31, no. 2) (3.14)
# Canzona fluviaia in E minor (Op. 38, no. 4) (3.54)
# Russian Fairy Tale in F minor (Op. 42, no. 1) (6.23)

Vol. 41 (SUCD 10-00176) - N. Medtner:

# Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra in C minor (Op. 50) (20.00/10.45/12.00)
# Sonata -- Reminiscence in A Minor (Op. 38, no. 1) (15.00)
# Sonata -- Elegy in D Minor (Op. 11, no. 2) (7.42)
# Graceful Dance in A Major (Op. 38, no. 2) (3.19)

Vol. 42 - ??? (SUCD 10-00177 ???) Probably N. Medtner: Concert no. 3 for Piano and Orchestra, which is SUCD 10-00177 (Although only concerti 1 and 2 are included on the later collected set, it was issued on LP, conducted by Svetlanov and with Tatiana Nikolaeva on piano. A recent Melodiya release, dated 2013, also contains only concerti 1 and. Perhaps the masters were lost?)

Vol. 43 (SUCD 10-00139) - Modest Mussorgsky:

# Pictures at an Exhibition (Instrumentation by M. Ravel) (35.00)
# Songs and Dances of Death, vocal cycle on words by A. Golenishchev-Kutuzov (orchestration by D. Shostovokich) (19.41)
# Golitsyn Train ("Khovanshchina," Act IV) (3.55)
# Solemn March (Capture of Kara) (4.58)

Vol. 44 (SUCH 10-00178) - Modest Mussorgsky:

# Dawn over the Moscow River, Introduction to the opera "Khovanshchina" (Instrumentation by D. Shostakovich) (6.28)
# Dawn over the Moscow River, Introduction to the opera "Khovanshchina" (Instrumentation by N. Rimsky-Korskov) (6.11)
# Dance of Percian [Persian] Girls (from the opera "Khovanshchina," Act IV) (7.13)
# Introduction to the opera "Sorochintsy Fair" (4.42)
# Merry Boys Gopak ("Sorochintsy Fair") (1.42)
# Scherzo in B flat major (4.00)
# Intermezzo in B minor (7.58)
# Sunless, vocal cycle to the words by A. Golenishchev-Kutuzov (Instrumentation by E. Svetlanov) (19.32)

Vol. 45 - ??? possibly Mussorgsky ??? (There is no other large Mussorgsky piece on the later collected set. Perhaps he intended to record the opera Boris Godunov) (SUCD 10-00179 is Waltzes and Polonaises, vol. 10, and SUCD 10-00180 begins the Rimsky-Korsakov vols.)

Vol. 46 (SUCD 10-00141) - S. Rachmaninov: (I have seen an image of the cover, and it is numbered)

# Symphony No. 1 in D Minor (Op. 13) (14.12/8.14/12.10/12.30)
# Vocalise (Op. 34 No. 14) (8.52)

Vol. 47 (SUCD 10-00142) - S. Rachmaninov: (I have seen an image of the cover, and it is numbered)

# Symphony No. 2 in E minor (Op. 27) (18.12/9.11/15.43/11.02)
# The Rock, Fantasia for Large Symphony Orchestra (Op. 7) (15.10)

Vol. 48 (SUCD 10-00143) - S. Rachmaninov:

# Symphony No. 3 in A minor (Op. 44) (13.36/12.30/12.08)
# Isle of the Dead, Symphonic poem after A. Bocklin's painting (Op. 29) (20.45)
# Scherzo for Orchestra (edition by P. Lamm) (5.47)

Vol. 49 (SUCD 10-00144) - S. Rachmaninov:

# Symphonic Dances (Op. 45) (11.36/9.55/13.38)
# Six Choirs for Female Voices and Piano (Op. 15) (19.45)
# Excerpts From the Opera Aleko (Introduction; Women's Dance; Intermezzo; Men's Dance) (3.27/4.00/3.17/4.18)

Vol. 50 (SUCD 10-00145) - S. Rachmaninov:

# Bells, Poem for Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists (verses by E. Poe, translation by K. Balmont) (Op. 35) (6.48/13.19/8.51/12.41)
# Spring, Cantata for Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra (verses by N. Nekrosov) (Op. 20) (17.54)

Vol. 51 (SUCD 10-00146) - S. Rachmaninov:

# Prince Rostislav, Symphonic poem on plot of A. Tolstoi's ballad (1891) (edition by P. Lamm) (17.10)
# Capriccio on Gypsy Themes (Op. 12) (17.02)
# Moments Musicaux (Op. 16), no. 3 in B minor and no. 5 in D flat major (8.36/4.19)
# Vocalise (Op. 34, no. 14) (transcription for piano by E. Svetlanov) (7.56)
# Prelude in D major (Op. 23, no. 4) (9.41)
# Elegie (Op. 3, no. 1) (6.52)

 

Preparing vols. 52-62

 

Preparing vols. 63-79

 

Goodness, an anthology of 70+ CDs. Quite a project. It's also interesting to look at, because it reveals something of Soviet "logic".

We have here a very large set of CDs numbered (for the most part) alphabetically by composer. This means the complete set must have been planned before the first CD was released. For instance, our library has two CDs issued in 1989. The library listing for one has no number. At first, I attributed this to an error by our library staff, but it turns out to be

Vol. 14 (SUCD 10-00024) (vol. assumed, unnumbered) - Alexander Glazunov:

from the list. So it was not an error by our staff, rather some strange inconsistancy by Melodiya Records: some volumes are numbered, some are not (thus, our library staff are vindicated and I hang my head in shame). The second CD from 1989 is

Anthology of Russian Symphony Music 51 (Rahmaninov)

yet the CD I posted earlier (and issued in two years later in 1991) is

Anthology of Russian symphony music 4.

Strange way of doing things.

Of course, purchasing a CD or LP in the USSR was an interesting experience by itself: line up to order, line up again to pay, line up again to take possession...

 

purchasing a CD or LP in the USSR was an interesting experience by itself: line up to order, line up again to pay, line up again to take possession

that concerned only pop-music and other exotic goods, so let us not generalise and create myths here.

 

Unless I was halucinating until August 1991, it's no myth.

 

Some folks will create all sorts of myths though, to prove that their country/political regime has never had any faults.

 

I must have been hallucinating during the first 6-7 years of my life too. Of course I don't remember the life back then in all details, but huge long lines are one of the things I remember the best

 

huge long lines are one of the things I remember the best

you remember it because that is what West media always show whenever it comes to mention Communism and so on, as if they don't know that those lines were caused by the constant embargo policy the West imposed on Soviet trade.

 

Sharik, for your information, I was born in the Soviet Union and spent the first years of my life there, before it, fortunately, fell apart. I wonder how old you are and whether you have ever seen it with your own eyes or whether it was you who has been brainwashed by the media who, like I have earlier said, would say anything to deny the fact that there has ever been anything wrong with their country.

 

Sharik, for your information, I was born in the Soviet Union and spent the first years of my life there. I wonder how old you are and whether you have ever seen it with your own eyes or whether it was you who has been brainwashed by the media who, like I have earlier said, would say anything to deny the fact that there has ever been anything wrong with their country.

My observations - not what I am shown on TV or other media - lead me to believe that sharik is a troll and will be treated accordingly.

 

I've travelled quite a lot in Russia/USSR both before and after 1991 and quite a lot of people You meet in "Russia" have the kind of revisionist views Sharik puts forward, nothing surprising there! I'm fine with people believing in fairytale's, but I'll always contest anyone who think it is the truth just like I contest all of the WWII revisionists that loiter Europe or the Zionist's that believe that Israel is God given! (Sorry for the OT!)

/ptr

 

quite a lot of people You meet in "Russia" have the kind of revisionist views Sharik puts forward

but it in fact is not a revisionism, it is an opinion that people have formed after comparing the experiences they had with Communism and then with Capitalism.

 

Apparently I cannot edit a post from yesterday, so I hope that this reply still comes up in order.

Here is the information for vols. 52-64:


Vol. 52 (SUCD 10-00182) - N. Rimsky-Korsakov: (There is a 2004 rerelease, still with the Anthology label, but now says RUSSIA rather than USSR.)

# Symphony No. 1 in E minor (Op. 1) (second version) (8.53/10.36/4.52/6.46)
# Antar: Symphonic Suite (Symphony No. 2) (Op. 9) (12.18/5.15/7.07/10.52)


Vol. 53 (SUCD 10-00183) - N. Rimsky-Korsakov: (I am not certain that this was issued)

# Symphony No. 3 (Op. 32) (15.30/6.49/16.21)


Vol. 54 (SUCD 10-00184) N. Rimsky-Korsakov:

# Musical Pictures to the opera Tale of the Tsar Saltan (5.00/7.17/7.53)
# Procession of the Nobles from the opera-ballet Mlada, Act III (5.10)
# Introduction to the opera Le Coq d'or, Act. I (4.49)
# Procession from the opera Le Coq d'or, Act. III (3.45)
# Praise to Wilderness (4.23)
# Battle at Kershenets, Introduction and Symphonic Picture to the opera Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh and Maiden Fevronia, Act. III (3.40)
# The Blue Sea, Introduction to the opera Sadko (2.27)
# Overture to the opera May Night (8.25)
# Overture to the opera Tsar's Bride (6.10)



Vol. 55 (SUCD 10-00185) - N. Rimsky-Korsakov: (recorded in 1971 and 1985)

# Pan Voyevoda, Suite from the opera (Op. 59) (3.25/3.21/4.30/4.47/5.05)
# Suite from the opera The Snow Maiden (12.45)
# Suite from the opera Coq d'Or (four musical pictures) (Compiled by A. Glazunov, and M. Steinberg according to the authors intent) (11.06/12.33/6.06)
# Dubinushka (Op. 62) (second version) (4.44)


Vol. 56 ?? (SUCD 10-00180 ???) - Rimsky-Korsakov: (Not sure about this one, it may be one of the other releases, but another list placed it here, although using a different cover, not part of the official series)

# Scheherazade (Op. 35) (10.39/11.37/10.44/12.15)
# Sadko, musical picture, tone poem for orchestra (Op. 5) (10.49)
# Fantasia on Serbian Themes (Op. 6) (6.56)
# At the tomb, prelude to the memory of M. Belyaev (Op. 61) (4.18)


Vol. 57 (SUCD 10-00181) - N. Rimski-Korsakov:

# Sinfonietta on Russian Themes (7.44/10.22/6.26)
# Overture on Russian Themes (11.53)
# Russian Easter Festival Overture (14.18)
# Prelude-Cantata from Homer (12.26)

(Note: Although the new collection includes a full Snow Maiden recording, and that would certainly fill a whole CD, it does not appear to have been released in the original series.)


Vol. 58 (SUCD 10-00188) - A. Scriabin: (recorded in 1963)

# Symphony No. 1 in E major (Op. 26) (7.51/8.14/9.39/3.15/6.55/12.46)


Vol. 59 (SUCD 10-00189) - A. Scriabin: (recorded in 1963 and 1966)

# Symphony No. 2 in C minor (Op. 29) (18.20/13.20/14.05)
# Poem of Ecstasy (Op. 54) (22.06)


Vol. 60 (SUCD 10-00190) - A. Scriabin: (recorded 1968 and 1988)

# Symphony No. 3 in C minor "Divine Poem" (Op. 43) (24.02/9.50/12.47)
# Prometheus, Poem of Fire (Op. 60) (1911) (24.07)


Vol. 61 (SUCD 10-00191) - A. Scriabin and V. Kalinnikov: (recorded in 1989 and 1990)

# (A. Scriabin) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F sharp minor (Op. 20) (7.18/8.34/10.47)
# (V. Kalinnikov) Tsar Boris (incidental music to A. Tolstoi's tragedy) (11.16/1.10/5.54/4.02/7.49/7.15)


Vol. 62 - (SUCD 10-00192) Igor Stravinsky: (I have seen an image of this release, and it does show the number) (Svetlanov did record I. Stravinsky - Fairy's Kiss, Symphony of Psalms, but not sure about this one, was part of a later release, and it would not fit into the numbering, as far as I can tell) (recorded 1966 and 1970)

# Sacre du Printemps, ballet: Scenes of Pagan Russia (15.40/18.20)
# Jeu de Cartes (Card Game), Ballet in three deals (23.45)


Vol. 63 (SUCD 10-00021) (vol. assumed unnumbered) - Sergei Taneyev: (recorded 1984 and 1988)

# Symphony No. 4 in C minor (Op. 12) (11.40/13.43/5.52/9.45)
# Apollo's Temple in Delphi, Entr'acte to Scene 2 of Movement 3 of the musical trilogy Orestia (after Aeschylus) (5.54)


Vol. 64 (SUCD 10-00147) - Sergei Taneyev: (recorded in 1990)

# Concert Suite for Violin and Orchestra in G. Minor (Op 28) (8.26/5.25/9.15/14.49/6.28)

 

I am interested in discussing the music, and these recordings, but I will have to leave the political debate up to people who have actually been in the old USSR or the modern Russia.

 

The last section, 65-79, is the most troublesome, and I am still piecing together some information to list what I can.

 

Collecting the missing 1/3 seems a daunting challenge, but we all wish you luck, JAS. For your information, our library holds in its collection (SUCD ID ending): 021, 024-028, 139, 141, 142, 144-146, 148-153, 161, 162.

 

Yes, I suspect that I will never be able to complete my original set. Fortunately, Boheme/Svetlanov Foundation have been re-releasing a new set of the Anthology of Russian Symphony Music. (I don't know why the label is noted as Boheme as I cannot find a reference to that name anywhere on the CDs, packaging or booklets.) Although a website is listed as www.svetlanov.ru, no such website appears to exist, and the e-mail noted as svetlanov@list.ru also appears not to be real. The booklet states that the Svetlanov Foundation was created in 2001 "in order to carry out charitable and educational activity. The primary goal of the Foundation is to preserve the spirit, the aesthetics, the style, characteristic of maestro Svetlanov's creative work." Svetlanov himself died in 2002. The booklets are more substantial than in the Melodiya releases, but the brief text about the composer and the works presented hardly competes against the many pages about Svetlanov and the Svetlanov Foundation. (This imbalance seems to work itself out in later issues.) It is a strange arrangement, with some of the CDs issued individually, and other as collections. (I suppose this makes sense for the Tchaikovsky symphonies, which might have broader appeal as individual purchases, but why not collect the Arensky as they did for Glinka?) The design and presentations are not even slightly unified, although they are all clearly designated as The Anthology of Russian Symphony Music. Volume numbers for the set are not used. (Volume numbers are given for issues within a given composer, such as Glazunov, but not for the Tchaikovsky CDs.) As I am listing these, I see that in spite of some irregularities, the SVET number essentially conveys the volume number, with each CD counted as 1, and sets running multiple CDs.

SVET 01 03-1 - Arensky (1 CD): Symphony No. 1 in B minor (Op. 4); Symphony No. 2 in A major (Op. 22); Variations on a theme of Tchaikovsky (Op. 35a) (1894) (released 2005?)

SVET 02 03-2 - Arensky (1 CD): Suite No. 1 in G minor (1885); Suite No. 2 "Silhouettes" for symphony orchestra (Op. 23) (1892); Suite from the ballet Egyptian Nights (Op. 50a) (1900-06) (released 2005?)

SVET 03 03-3 - Arensky (1 CD): Suite No. 3 (Variations) in C major; Fantasia "Marguerite Gautier" (Op. 9); Overture to Dream on the Volga (1891); Introduction to Raphael (1894); Introduction to the opera Nal and Damajanti (1903); Intermezzo in G minor for strings (Op.13); March "To the Memory of Suvorov" in C minor (released 2005?)

SVET 04-006-1/6 - Balakirev/Lyapunov (6 CDs) (this should probably have been labeled SVET 04-09/6 or something of that sort) (released 2007)

SVET 10-14 5 - Borodin/Mussorgsky/Liadov (5 Cds) (released 2009)

SVET 15-20/6 - Kalinnikov/Scriabin (released 2009) (This positioning, of course, throws off the alphabetical sequence)

SVET 21-26/18 - Glazunov (6 CDs): Symphonies 1-8 (released 2008)

SVET 27-32/18 - Glazunov (6 CDs): Lady Soubrette, etc. (released 2008)

SVET 33-41/18 - Glazunov (6 CDs): Raymonda, etc. (released 2008) (This should probably have been labeled SVET 33-38, although that poses a slightly different problem.)

SVET 38-003-1/3 - Glinka (3 CDs) (released 2008) (I think this should have been labeled SVET 39-003-1/3, which works between the previous and subsequent releases, or SVET 39-41/3 to use the other format)

SVET 42-47/6 - Medtner (6 CDs) (Curiously, this does not include the concert No. 3, although Svetlanov did record and release that, and there was a spot for it in the original series even though I think it was not released there)

SVET 48 is not accounted for, and might be an error in skipping a number for a single CD. It could be reserved for that missing concerto, but that seems unlikely.

SVET 04981-6 - Rachmaninov (6 CDs) (This numbering pretty much throws the whole scheme out the window, but individually, the CDs are marked SVET 049 8-1 through 054 8-6. Technically, therefore, the set should probably have been labeled SVET 49-54/6, although that does not account for SVET 48) (released 2007)

SVET 55-56 are not accounted for. I have no idea what would fit in this gap. (Perhaps a set of the Rachmaninov piano concerti? These were not part of the original set.)

SVET 57-009-1/6 - Rimsky-Korsakov (6 CDs) (released in 2007)

SVET 69 22-1 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): The Seasons, 12 Characteristic Pieces (Op. 37); The Tempest, symphonic fantasy after Shakespeare's drama (Op. 18) (released in 2005)

SVET 70 22-2-3 - Tchaikovsky (2 CDs): Opera Excerpts (released in 2005)

SVET 71 22-4 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Symphony No. 1 in G minor, "Winter Daydreams" (Op. 13); Overture in C minor (released in 2006)

SVET 72 22-5 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Symphony No. 2 in C minor, "Little Russian" (Op. 18); Solemn Overture on Danish Anthem (Op. 15); Fatum, symphonic poem (Op. 77) (released in 2006)

SVET 73 22-5 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Symphony No. 3 in D major, "Polish" (Op. 29); Romeo and Juliet, fantasy overture (released in 2006)

SVET 74 22-5 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Symphony No. 4 in F minor (Op. 36); Francesca da Rimini, symphonic fantasy (Op. 31) (released in 2006)

SVET 75 22-5 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Symphony No. 5 in E minor (Op. 64); Hamlet, fantasy overture (Op. 67) (released in 2006)

SVET 76 22-5 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Symphony No. 6 in B minor "Pathetique" (Op. 74); 1812, Overture (Op. 49) (released in 2006)

SVET 77 22-5 - Tchaikovsky (1 CD): Manfred Symphony (Op. 58); Festival Coronation March in D major (released in 2006)

SVET 78-82/22 - Tchaikovsky (5 CDs): The Swan Lake; The Nutcracker (released 2010)

SVET 83-88/22 - Tchaikovsky/Rimsky-Korsakov (6 CDs): The Sleeping Beauty; Snow Maiden (A Vernal Fairy Tale) (released in 2010)

SVET 89-92 are not accounted for. (This could be left for the Suites, No. 1-4, and/or the Tchaikovsky piano concerti)

SVET 93-96/4 - Taneyev/Kastalsky (4 CDs) (again, this jumps out of the ordering by composer's name. Interestingly, Kastalsky appears to be the first composer in the new series that was not in the old one.) (released in 2008)

Not really part of the Anthology, but also released by the Svetlanov Foundation, but oddly numbered SVCO 001/4-004/4 is a 4 CD set of music composed by Svetlanov himself (released in 2007). Of these, I think I like the symphonic poem The Red Guelder-rose best.

 

Most of the performances in the series are sincere, generally energetic, often very "Russian" (if I can use that term for a somewhat vague sense), but not always very polished. The recordings are often not very well engineered, which is understandable for the selections from the 1960s, but is often true even of ones from the 1980s. That is not to say that the sound is bad, and I find that my ears adjust to it fairly easily, except perhaps for the general harshness of the brass.

The most interesting releases for me, outside of some of the great rarities of obscure or unusual pieces, is Svetlanov's take on the Tchaikovsky ballets. He plays them as, essentially, extended symphonies. I suspect that this would make them more difficult to dance to, but it makes a very compelling case for the music as music, especially for Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. These recordings are available in various forms, including some not packaged as part of the collections.

 

Thanks for the comprehensive lists which I haven´t seen anywhere else on the web. Interesting material indeed.

Concerning Medtner, do you happen to have the 3rd Concerto with Nikolayeva/Svetlanov, and if yes, do you know the tempi ? There seem to be two very different readings of this work - a fast of about 31 mins (Ponti/Cao) and a much slower 35-38 mins (everybody else I know; I suppose Nikolayeva would be among them).

It seems that Svetlanov´s complete Myaskovsky symphonies (apparently issued twice on other CD labels) weren´t included in this series. I read somewhere that he produced around 3000 preserved recordings totally, but I guess this includes recorded live performances.

 

Concerning Medtner, do you happen to have the 3rd Concerto with Nikolayeva/Svetlanov, and if yes, do you know the tempi ? There seem to be two very different readings of this work - a fast of about 31 mins (Ponti/Cao) and a much slower 35-38 mins (everybody else I know; I suppose Nikolayeva would be among them).

I do not believe that Svetlanov's recording of Medtner's 3rd concerto ever made it to CD. I have no idea why. As far as I can tell, that recording was not issued in the original series, and it does not appear in the newer reissue by the Svetlanov Foundation. My guess here is that while those recordings are noted as being from Svetlanov's archives, that archive is probably just copies of the CDs (and/or LPs). I doubt he had copies of any masters. Melodiya has also been reissuing some of the recordings from the series, or licensing the titles to other labels, with no particular logic or order. (And Melodiya has essentially ignored the over-arching Anthology format, although some of the reissues do collect together works by one composer on multiple CDs.) (So far, they seem only to have released material that was already remastered for CD, although perhaps they will dip into older masters as they go along.) I have no idea how the copyrights work in Russia, or in this particular instance, but I presume that Melodiya is not exactly happy with the Svetlanov Foundation. But those CDs are noted as being manufactured in Russia, so I suppose Melodiya would stop them if they could.

For the Medtner concerto 3, I have only the recording in the Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto series, with Jerzy Maksymiuk conducting the Glasgow BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and Nikolai Demidenko on piano.

It seems that Svetlanov´s complete Myaskovsky symphonies (apparently issued twice on other CD labels) weren´t included in this series. I read somewhere that he produced around 3000 preserved recordings totally, but I guess this includes recorded live performances.

His complete recordings of Miaskovsky (that is how they spell it) were released on CD on the French Warner Classics label. It is a small box holding 16 CDs in sleeves. I have the set, and although many of them make pleasant background music, only a few really stood out for me, although I would have to dig back through them to find those again. (I think one of them was, or was around symphony #25.) My recollection is that they were all well played, and the sound was generally better than the old Melodiya Anthology series, of which they were never a part.

 

I was listening today to the Pearls of Russian Symphony Miniatures CD. (It duplicates some content from CDs that were officially part of the original set, so it may or may not have actually been issued as a volume although I think its place was preserved.) The orchestral version of Islamey must be the fastest performance on record. In parts, it was so fast that it sounded as if someone had set the wrong speed on an old record player. Really, I cannot even be certain that they actually hit all of the notes. It came off as more of a stunt than as a serious interpretation.

 

I have that (the Casella orchestration with Svetlanov) & your post will make me listen to it !

 

I think that some were on my shelfs there are (at least) three twoofer sets with Svetlanov that BMG released when they licensed stuff from Melodiya in the early 90's, one with Miniatures as You say, one with Waltzes and one with marches , all very delightful! (Stuff that might have been fillers in the anthology?)

/ptr

 

I see no posts since 2013
If it's any help I have all the discs ever issued in the series apart fron Tchaikovsky 3 and romeo and juliet which I have in other forms.
Also I have recreated the whole series as I think it was intended, if you are still interested
Doik

 

vol 65 Tchaikovsky symphony 1 francesca possibly never issued
66 Tchaikovsky symphony 2 serenade for strings sucd10 00194
67 Tchaikovsky symphony 3 romeo and juliet sucd10 00195
68 Tchaikovsky 4 Fatum, capriccio Italien sucd 196
69 Tchaikovsky 5 the tempest 197
70 Tchaikovsky 6 Voyevode andante cantabile possibly never issued 198
71 Tchaikovsky manfred Solemn overture on danish national anthem 199
72 Tchaikovsky suite no 1 overture in c minor definitely never issued 200
73 Tchaikovsky suite 2 Hamlet, overture in f major SUCD 1000019
74 Tchaikovsky suites 3 4 Sucd 1000104
75 reconstruction Tchaikovsky 1812, marche slave (corrupt versions) other marches never issued
76 Tchaikovsky swan lake the seasons sucd 1000403-5
77 Tchaikovsky sleeping beauty sucd 1000406-8
78 Tchaikovsky The nutcracker, piano concerto no 2 abridged Gilels sucd 1000409-10
79 Tchaikovsky excerpts from the operas orchestral only sucd 1000411-2

hope this helps anyone!

 

Medtner with Nilolaeva and svelanov 3rd concerto is just over 35 1/2 minutes long.

Superb russian orchestral playing, it's a crime it has not been issued on CD

Doik

 

The only CD in the set I am still missing is Swan Lake, although I have it in other formats. I too have filled in some of the omitted volumes with what I think would have been the material had there been a release.

It is strange that I just happened to see this old thread again today, as it turned up in a more general search.