GIYA KANCHELI (b.1935): Symphonies No. 4 "To the Memory of Michelangelo", No. 5 "To the Memory of my Parents" (both rec. 1978) and No. 6 (rec. 1981), Mourned by the Wind for Viola and Orchestra (rec. 1988).

Description: Known in the west primarily via the 1990 Olympia licensing of these symphony recordings and through various other licensing and new recordings on western labels of the viola elegy, these are primary examples of Georgian composer Kancheli's characteristic style alternating gentle, calm passages, often consolatory in nature, with sudden, violent explosions of anger. The 44-minute Mourned is, needless to say, predominantly elegiac and meditative but its finale has some shocking outbursts that will curl your hair and disturb the neighbors. 2 CDs. Yuri Bashmet (viola), State Symphony of Georgia; Jansug Kakhidze.