NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908): Fantasy on Russian Themes for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 33, SERGEI TANEYEV (1856-1915): Suite de Concert for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 28.

Description: This 17-minute work dates from 1887, in close proximity to his Sinfonietta on Russian Themes, Russian Easter Overture and the one-movement piano concerto which is also based on a single Russian folk theme. It's as exciting, evocative and colorful as you could want and ends in a gopak dance of abundant violinistic virtuosity. The Taneyev seems to have fallen into CD eclipse lately, only two other stereo versions being readily available. Dating from 1909, it starts out like a neo-baroque suite and moves into tone-poem Romanticism in its third movement Fairy-tale before the brilliant Theme and Variations offers some evidence of Taneyev's esteemed countrapuntal mastery and leads into the Tarantella finale, another example of Russian fascinataion with sunny Italy. 47 minutes of sheer fun which should be in every collection. Lydia Mordkovitch (violin), Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Neeme Järvi.