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I've been reading Richard Taruskin and how neglected Rimsky-Korsakov has been. If you take away his war horses Scheherazade, Russian Easter, Antar (to a lesser degree), The Golden Cockerel, and Capriccio Espagnol, you have quite a number of unsung works. I was introduced to this Opera through the writings of Taruskin and discovered what he calls the "rusky" sound and how this motif appears in so many of not only his works but others in the circle.
Tom

How are these treated as being sung or unsung. I just received a new CD of Schubert and Lizst works that have been adapted to orchestra. In fact one of the Lizst is a world premiere.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Sound-Weimar-Schubert-Liszt-Transcriptions/dp/B012PYQOGM%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJJY2YKHHLJKYIBNA%26tag%3Dslk03b1-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB012PYQOGM

Tom

I guess this new release by christophorous che0201-2 is a re-release from a 1998 recording of the two unsung piano concertos of Alexander Glazunov. Both works were composed during his time spent as head of the St. Petersburg Conservatory when he was appointed during the Russian Revolution of 1905. Neither are the traditional 3 movement form. The first filled with chromaticism is followed by the second and final movement which are 8 variations followed by a ninth which returns to the first melody. The second written in 1917 is a single movement but has movements within it.

Doing a small amount of research I couldn't find one well known pianist who performed these reinforcing the unsung category that Glazunov has fallen into in the last 50 or 60 years.

I'm looking for a book on the Russian composers. Does anyone have a suggestion?
Tom

I got this download yesterday from Naxos of a new CPO release (777 875-2) of Jurovski that recalls the music of the late 19th century. While the sound is completely different it does have the same idea that Moussorgsky did with the Bocklin paintings. My question is does anyone else have any experience with this composer? There is nothing from Wiki and the German liner notes when translated to English needed the expertise of Alan. It was horrible. The composer is unsung (I'd never heard of him) and like I said the work could fit the 19th century (parts of it). I'll try to post one of the the tracks later on my blog later. Any info would be much appreciated.
Tom

Received a new recording of Charles Ives on Chandos of his first two symphonies with Andrew Davis and the Melbourne. The thought occurred to me that perhaps his first symphony would qualify for unsung status. The symphony does but is Ives too popular?
Tom

My normal way of adding a photo is to put the image on my desktop and right click it in between which doesn't seem to work. Help!
Tom

I recently received a new recording of his first two symphonies done by the Malmo. It might be something to ponder.
Tom

http://www.baldur.info/blog/10-things-that-we-should-change-in-classical-concerts/

I found this article to be quite amusing and I'm sure you will too. It was on Facebook.
Tom

Received a new recording from CPO of works by Witt and Hoffmann. It could very well have been released earlier in Europe. Not too familiar with either composer I found Undine overture of Hoffmann and the Symphony in A of Witt to be the most interesting to me.
Tom

I just received from Toccata a new recording of Music For Alfred Hitchcock Films. Some of these are new revisions by John Mauceri, conductor. My question is would there be an interest in a contest to receive a copy of this CD. I asked Alan and he left it up to me. If you could respond with a yes or no answer I'll know how to proceed.
Tom

I've been exposed to yet another new set of material from George Enescu his Isis and 5th Symphony. Released by CPO in 2012 it was just made available to me in the new Naxos product guide release.
Tom

We all agree that Tchaikovsky is not an unsung composer yet this particular recording is. I'm in the process of reviewing the new Brilliant 55 CD collection of his works. I remember it grabbing my attention in 1981, an early digital LP. Simon conducts the London Symphony. This work never caught on but I like it anyway. For your info I've only listened to 6 of the 55 so far.
Tom

Just read in the local paper where the strike is settled. Hurrah
Tom

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.555394

A new release from Naxos.
Tom

I recently received a download from Naxos of the Rott Symphony, a once forgotten work until 1989 and now has several recordings to choose from. Has anyone else heard this recording yet? Acousence is a new company to me.
Tom

What is the general opinion of this work? Rarely performed it does fit into the unsung category and is probably his weakest symphony.
Tom

http://sdtom.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/symphonic-prologue-to-the-opera-tieflanddalbert/

New to me I found this work to be very satisfying to my ear. I enjoyed the oriental references and the influence that Debussy had on this work. It is completely different from his symphony in f which I've listened to but yet to give some serious time to it. That work is quite influenced by Brahms.
Tom

Originally released on Marco Polo #8.223320 in 1988 Naxos has reissued this recording on there regular series of recordings #8.557005.

I think the refreshing thing that I liked about the 5th was the Russian influence that it has to offer, at least the first two  movements for certain. I certainly wasn't bored by it at all as some of the previous comments from 3 years ago.
Tom

I can't believe that one of my favorite works Gliere's Red Poppy Suite doesn't qualify with your new rules. The Sailor Dance is a major highlight of classical music. Very disappointed
Tom

Brilliant just introduced a 10 CD of works of Borodin and it got me to thinking a little bit. Is his unfinished symphony really a work of Glazunov with his theme? I am leaning that way.
Tom