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I don't really know where to put this, but Technical Questions & Answers seems kind of logical.

How do people feel on the issue of leaving the applause IN at the end of the recording of a concert performance?

Personally I am in favour - if not all of it then at least 10 to 15 seconds before fading out.  I've got several recordings (including the Bortkiewicz violin or cello concerto, can't remember which, which were kindly uploaded here) where the final notes are played, the applause starts, and then no more than 2 seconds later - CUT!  Silence!  It makes the end seem very abrupt, especially when there is still a hint of reverberation of the magical final notes.  Moreover, if it has been a particularly good performance, enthusiastic applause and acclaim almost become an integral part of the recording.

Similarly, when recording from an LP, I would encourage leaving the record button on for just a few seconds longer after the LP has finished, otherwise once again you get that abrupt cut sensation.  I've got recordings of Tigranian's (or Dikranian's, depending how you transliterate from Armenian) operas David Beg and Anoush, and the last notes of each coincide with the final second of CD play - it's the aural equivalent of having a bucket of cold water thrown over you!

Would be interested in other opinions...

Does anyone know how to convert these various formats into MP3 so I can store in I-Tunes?

I am going crazy with box set editions.  Often a box set will consist of 10 discs with the performances/recordings of a certain conductor or soloist, with a number of major pieces (say, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1), and then a few tantalising pieces by unsungs.   If these artists thought these pieces worth recording, I am curious to hear them. However, there is no way I am going to spend upwards of 40 pounds just to listen to these pieces, which are often short.   Does anyone know of any (legal) websites where one can purchase these rare tracks?  I-tunes and classicsonline.com have not been much use in this respect!

For example (and these are all from the Historical Russian Archives series):

Historical Russian Archives: Alexander Gauk Edition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexander-Gauk/dp/B0010SU4UM/ref=pd_sim_m_h_1
Ivanov-Radkevich - Russian Overture

Historical Russian Archives: Gauk Edition Vol 2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gauk-Vol-Historical-Russian-Archive/dp/B0036J02HI/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317037789&sr=1-1
Includes unsungs such as:
Laskovsky - Mazurka
Kryukov - Czech Rhapsody
Boris Tchaikovsky - Sinfonietta for Strings; Fantasia on Russian Folk Themes; Capriccio on English Themes
Solodukho - Zoya
Svetlanov - Daugava
Machavariani - Fantasia
Amirov - Azerbaijan
Dolukhanian - Armenian Capriccio
Ivanovs - Symphony No.7

Historical Russian Archives: Gennady Rozhdestvensky Edition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historcial-Russian-Archives-10-Boxset/dp/B002VZ2MQM/ref=pd_sim_m_h_7
Shebalin - Symphony No.3
Shaporin - The Flea - suite
Rakov - Sinfonietta; Symphony No.3
Agadzhikov - Concerto-Poem
Volkonsky - Immobile
Belimov - Concerning Water, Dead and Alive
Polovinkin - Telescope 2

Historical Russian Archives: Gidon Kremer Edition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gidon-Kremer-Historical-Russian-Archives/dp/B000V3SXE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317037957&sr=1-1
Karayev - Violin Concerto
Lourié - Concerto da Camera
Martynov - Come in! for violin & ensemble
Kupkovic - Souvenir

Historical Russian Archives: Daniel Shafran Edition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historical-Russian-Archives-Daniel-Shafran/dp/B000HC2NSS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317038014&sr=1-1
Artemiy Ayvazian - Armenian Dance

Historical Russian Archives: Evgeny Mravinsky Edition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historic-Russian-Archives-Evgeny-Mravinsky/dp/B000PFU96K/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317038065&sr=1-2
Maximilian Steinberg - Dance of the Buffons; Dance of Gillina
Vadim Salmanov - Symphony No. 2 in G major
Zhivotov - Heroic Poem 

Historical Russian Archives: Evgeny Svetlanov Edition
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Historic-Russian-Archives-Svetlanov-Composers/dp/B001ACTND2/ref=sr_1_11?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317036417&sr=1-11
Napravnik - Dances
Arensky - Dances
Parsadanian - Symphony No.2
Pakhmutova - Concerto for Orchestra
Mazaev - The Krasnodarians
Boiko - Symphonies 2 & 3; Peter's Chimes
Zaimov - Overture
Svetlanov - Siberian Fantasy; Preludes (Symphonic Reflections); Festive Poem; Daugava; Symphony No.1; Pictures of Spain
Muravlev - Azov Mountain

Historical Russian Archives: Viktor Tretiakov Edition
http://www.amazon.com/Viktor-Tretiakov-Historic-Russian-Archives/dp/B000EPE6U6/ref=sr_1_18?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317037429&sr=1-18
Boris Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto

Historical Russian Archives: Rudolf Barshai Edition
http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//9010.htm
Rääts: Concerto for Strings
Boris Tchaikovsky - Chamber Symphony
Meerovich - Serenade
Karen Khachaturian - Aria
Lokshin - Symphony No.7
Bunin - Symphony No.5; Concerto for chamber orchestra

Does anyone know if there is another recording of Lyapunov's 2nd Symphony other than the Evgeny Svetlanov and USSR Symphony Orchestra.  Without anything to compare it with, or a score to follow, that version sounds as if it's all over the place, especially in the first movement. But the piece nevertheless sounds like a good symphony...

I thought I would share another gem that I have discovered here in Russia:

Vyacheslav Petrovich Artyomov's Requiem "To the Martyrs of Long Suffering Russia".  The whole requiem is over one hour long, but I like it just for its Domine Jesu Christe.  The rest of it is twentieth-century-atonal, but then 35 minutes in there is suddenly the most beautiful harmony which on its own lifts the whole work.  You can listen to the Domine Jesu Christe here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae8EtL8jLFo&feature=related       and to a much larger excerpt here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoojDNgaIMY&feature=related       (I strongly suggest listening to the Domine Jesu Christe first!).

Unusually for a Russian religious work, it has instrumentation and uses the Latin text.

The work was briefly mentioned in another string on this site on Requiems.  On the website http://www.requiemsurvey.org/composers.php?id=29 it says the following:

Vyacheslav Artyomov (29/06/1940), a Russian composer, born in Moscow. He first studied physics at the University of Moscow, then transferred to the Tchaikovsky Conservatory where he studied composition with Nikolai Sidelnikov until 1968.
He has been a freelance composer since 1979.
Vyacheslav Artyomov has dedicated his requiem to "Martyrs of Long Suffering Russia" and, on a scale commensurate to the immensity of the tragedy, has created a gigantic sound epic, a majestic monument with meticulously elaborate details, fine treatment of each feature and all- immense. A grandiose painting, it provides a subject for a long, close "contemplation" - going into and taken by semantic meaning, then it amazes one with its majesty, the might of its artistic impression.
The composer's choice of the Requiem was symbolic to him for the complicity of the Russian tragedy with tragedies of the world history and for its joining with eternal spiritual values, the eventual cognition of which takes place only on the borderline between life and death.
With all this the composer interprets traditional text of the requiem in a different way, projecting it at the events of national history, comprehending it as an onlooker, an eyewitness. Canonical text becomes an impulse, a source of pictures, images - appearing in the creative mind of a composer.
We perceive the continuity of Artyomov's Requiem with the best works of this genre in the world music, a deep, basic connection with the music of Bach. An illusion of a boundless sound space, of the cosmic scale of "action". It has a zone of associative analogies with Scriabin's cosmos. The radiant light of the 'Sanctus' addresses the listener's memory to pages of The Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh by Rimsky-Korsakov. And the very conception of the composition – the redemption, quiet forgiveness and rise of the spirit in the face of the eternity. It the healing conception of all great Russian art.

At Alan Howe's request I have moved this to a new topic!

Who are the composers that, while famous and loved around the world, you personally just can't get your head round?  It could just be that you have not listened to the right pieces first.  For example, if your first exposure to Shostakovich was to his String Quartet you would probably run a mile, whereas if you came to him via his piano concertos, jazz suites etc you would then move on to his more challenging works.

In my case, the composers who come (broadly speaking) from the period that I love that I just don't get are Stravinsky, Mahler (with the exception of his 5th Symphony), Glazunov (so bland! And I am a Russianist) and Miaskovsky.  Maybe I just haven't listened to the right pieces first?  In another string, people here have suggested Miaskovsky's 21st Symphony as the way into his music. 

So, who are the sungs that you can't appreciate, and what pieces do others suggest as a remedy?

A very random request here - but does anyone know of this piece and if it has ever been recorded?  There are lots of references to the sheet music across the internet - but I have that already as it was a piece I had to play (MANY years ago) at school in preparation for (I think) grade 5 double bass, and I have been humming it ever since, as well as looking in vain on the internet (including youtube) for any recordings.  A simple piece but very beautiful.

A long shot I know...

Tchaikovsky wrote an opera "Undine" (or Undina).  According to Wikipedia (source of ALL knowledge...!), FIVE pieces from it survive (Tchaikovsky destroyed the rest).  These are:

1.Introduction
2.Aria: "Waterfall, my uncle, streamlet, my brother" (Undina)
3.Chorus: "Help, help! Our stream is raging"
4.Duet: "O happiness, O blessed moment" (Undina, Huldbrand)
5.Chorus: "O hours of death" (soloists, chorus)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undina_(Tchaikovsky))

However, on my VOXBOX recording there are only 4 pieces:
1. Introduction
2. Undine's Aria
3. Undine and Huldbrand's Duet
4. Finale of Act I

So, obviously, my question is - does anyone know if the missing piece has been recorded, or know where I can get it?! Has it even been recorded?

While living in Moscow, I have become familiar with the music of a very popular composer here called Eugen Doga, from Moldova.  (The Russians say Evgeny rather than Eugen.) He is most popular for his film scores, including the Waltz from the movie "My Sweet and Tender Beast" (also known as "A Hunting Accident" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mSHQgpeCbQ and the Waltz from "On a Speed-Boat" (my translation of "На катере") - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFXqph_5KXI

I think his style fits in well with what could be called Late European Light Music (a la Strauss, etc), if you like that kind of thing.

The wikipedia entry says "is the author of many cantatas, composed a symphony, instrumental music, romances, a symphonic poem, many songs for children, etc." - and I would be interested to know how I can get my hands on them!  Has anyone seen?  From the Russian wikipedia entry there is a link to this site http://doga.asm.md/ - with what appear to be links to recordings (in Real format), but I can't get them to work...

I thought I would share here a composer who is very popular here in Russia, but quite unknown and unsung in the "West": Isaak Dunaevsky (1900-1955).  (Also rendered, in Latin, as Dunayevsky, Dunaievsky, Dunajevsky, etc - Исаак Дунаевский in Russian.)

He wrote operettas and a lot of film music, in the days of Soviet cinema when the score was considered just as important as the movie itself. His operettas are light and joyful - quite an achievement given the Stalinist times in which he was composing.  Indeed, many say that was exactly why he was so popular - he brought lightness into the dark of people's everyday lives.

One of his most popular pieces is the overture The Children of Captain Grant - it's played every year by a live orchestra at St. Petersburg's annual Scarlet Sails festival in June which marks the end of the school year, as a huge scarlet ship sails up the Neva in front of the Winter Palace.  You can see this here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGTLah4mcOA&feature=related - the overture is from 16:38 to 20:45 .

His most popular operetta is Free Wind (in Russian "Vol'ny Veter") - very melodic (no twentieth century discordance) - Pepita's aria "Diabolo" is particularly well-known here.  Apparently it was the composer's favourite of his own works. Here is one recording - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvinAJnmoPw&feature=related

Another good operetta is The Road to Happiness ("Doroga k schast'yu").

Just something I thought I would share!  There are a lot of composers in the ex-Soviet space who are great but totally unsung elsewhere.

Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture exists in three versions.  The third and final version (from 1880) is the most famous, and there are many recordings of it.  There are also quite a few recordings of the original verion (premiered in 1870).   But does anyone know if there are any recordings of the second version (premiered in 1872)?

This could be developed into a broader theme - are there alternative versions of great pieces which can stand as good works in their own right?

I know there are a few other Bortkiewicz strings on here, but this one is in specific relation to his opera The Acrobats.  It is believed to be lost, but I want to know if any serious sustained searches have been made for it, or if it was just presumed lost following the chaos and wreckage of World War Two.  What do other people know?

I am trying to find out more about the Russian composer Alexander Ilyinksy (1859-1920). A very few recordings of his works exist - mostly in the form of his Berceuse (Cradle Song), part of his Noure and Anitra suite, Op.13 (No.7). I have this piece in its version for solo piano, and also in a version for voice and orchestra (by the Canadian soprano Florence Easton, recorded c.1924).  I also have a recording of another piece called Butterfly, for clarinet and piano (on Classical Records: Evgeni Petrov on clarinet, Tatiana Tarasevich on piano).  It is a wonderful piece, rapid and urgent and highly reminiscent of Ilyinsky's near-contemporary Rimsky-Korsakov and his Flight of the Bumblebee. 

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Ilyinsky) "His major work, the 4-act opera The Fountain of Bakhchisaray, to a libretto based on Alexander Pushkin's poem, was produced in Moscow in 1911.[3] He also wrote a symphony, a Concert Overture[1], a string quartet, three orchestral suites, a set of orchestral Croatian Dances, a symphonic movement called Psyche[1], two cantatas for female chorus and orchestra (Strekoza (The Dragonfly) and Rusalka), incidental music to Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Philoctetes, and to Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy's Tsar Fiodor Ioannovich, piano pieces, church music, songs...".

Another website (http://grandemusica.net/musical-biographies-i/iljinsky-alexander) says the following:  "Iljinsky's principal works are a Concert Overture; Overture to Count Tolstoi's tragedy, Tsar Feodor; Music to Socrates' tragedies, CEdipus Rex, and Philocetes; the opera, The Fountain of Bachtchisaraj, in four acts, libretto by Pushkin; the one-act ballet, Noor and Anitra; the cantatas, Strecoza, and Rusalka, for female chorus and orchestra; a symphony; symphonic scherzo, Red Dances; symphonic movement, Psyche; three suites; also a string quartet; and other music for violin, cello and piano. He has also written the church works, Pray to the Father; Pater Noster; Te Deum; Laudamus; Imitation prelude; and a fugue. In 1904 there appeared a very extensive work, Biographies of all Composers from the Fourth to the Twentieth Century, edited by Iljinsky."

There is known to be another recording of one of Ilyinsky's works: "Orgy of the Spirits" (which is another part of the Noure et Anitra Suite) was recorded by Universal Studios for use in some of their 1930s films, as I found on the following 2 websites:

http://flashgordon.homestead.com/files/fgnarratives.html  -

"One music selection used eight times in Mars was tracked directly from East of Java (1935). It is a rapid, turbulent and exciting bacchanal entitled Orgy of the Spirits. It was composed by the little-known Russian composer, Alexandre Iljinsky (1859-1920). He wrote it for his fourteen-part Oriental suite entitled, Noure et Anitra (Op. 13). Charles J. Roberts of Carl Fischer Music in New York published this arrangement that was recorded by a theater orchestra at Universal for the 1935 film. In East of Java, this brief bacchanal underscores a typhoon, but was rendered inaudible by the sound effects. This classical piece was later tracked in the Universal serial, Tim Tyler's Luck (1937). It bears a striking resemblance to the classic, A Night on Bald Mountain, that was written by Russian composer, Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839-1881)."

http://www.dilettantemusic.com/artist/3022 -

None of Ilyinsky's compositions retained popularity after his death -- not even enough to be recorded by the Soviet government-run Melodiya label) -- and none was extant in the repertory at the midpoint of the twentieth century. Through pure happenstance, however, a fragment of his Orgy of the Spirits became part of the Universal Studios music library during the mid-'30s; a minute-long musical excerpt from it was heard dozens of times throughout the background score of the 1937 jungle adventure serial Tim Tyler's Luck, and also two minutes before the end of Chapter 7 of Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938).
...In chapter two of the Mars, one section of it can be heard at the 8:57 mark as Flash gets into a fight with the Martian soldiers, and another section is used at the 9:16 mark in the serial. In chapter three at the 19:27 mark, another section is heard as the support beams that hold up the landing tower are being destroyed by Tarnak and Ming. This foils Flash and Zarkov from escaping with Azura. It is heard later at the 19:34 mark in chapter seven, as Flash engages in a savage fight with one of the tree-men, while trying to get into the Temple of Kalu.


From this description, it sounds like he could be a composer worthy of further exploration, especially as someone who is reportedly similar in style to Mussorgsky (one of my favourites).

One more titbit - apparently this "Orgy of the Spirits" was used as the theme tune for a WOR radio play in the USA called "The Witch's Tale" which ran from 1931 to 1938.

Would anyone have any suggestions as to how I might be able to get this recording from Universal Studios, or the producers of the radio play?

Does anyone have any recordings of his other works?

Life is not helped by the fact that Ilyinsky (Ильинский) can also be transliterated from the Cyrillic as Ilinsky, Ilinski, Ilynsky, Iljinsky, Iljinskiy, Iljinskij, Ilinskiy, Ilynskiy, Ilyinsky, Ilyinskiy, etc etc....making internet searches quite complex!