KIRILL KONDRASHIN: MILESTONES OF A CONDUCTOR LEGEND (10 CDS) DOCUMENT

Kirill Kondrashin is one of the few Russian conductors to celebrate an international
career, next to Eugen Mravinsky, Igor Markewisch and Jascha Horenstein. In 1943
he became principal conductor at the Bolshoi theatre, an institution so important for
Soviet musical life, to which he would belong for 13 years. In 1956 he was
appointed chief conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic. This position opened doors
for him internationally and Kondrashin was able to accept tour invitations from
western countries.

One of the milestones in his career certainly was the first international Tchaikovsky
piano competition in Moscow in 1958. Kondrashin conducted the competition
concert of American pianist Van Cliburn, who not only takes home the victory, but
also “his” conductor, with whom he is completing a triumphant tour. Kondrashin is
the first Russian conductor allowed to perform in the United States during the Cold
War, and in return for this musical understanding between the nations, the Russian
audience falls in love with the 23-year-old American Van Cliburn, from then on
nicknamed “Vanyushka” in the Soviet Union.

In addition to Van Cliburn, whose Tchaikovsky concert is one of the discographic
highlights of this 10 CD box set, Russian companions such as Mstislav
Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter and David Oistrakh are also documented here with
outstanding recordings. Kondrashin had a special friendship with Shostakovitch, for
whose works he campaigned throughout his career.

CD 1
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C
minor, Op. 43
Sinfonie No. 4 c-Moll (1962)

1. I. Allegretto poco moderato 25‘46
2. II. Moderato con moto 8‘22
3. III. Largo. Allegretto 26‘15

USSR State Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1962
Total Time 60‘15

CD 2
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in
B-Flat minor, Op. 23 (1958)

1. I. Allegro non troppo e molto
maestoso. Allegro con spirito 20‘56
2. II. Andantino semplice. Prestissimo
6‘54
3. III. Allegro con fuoco 6‘37

Van Cliburn piano / Klavier
Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1957

Bonus
■ Cesar Franck (1822 – 1890)
4. Les Djinns – Symphonic Poem for
Piano and Orchestra / 11‘52
Sinfonische Dichtung für Klavier und
Orchester

Sviatoslav Richter piano / Klavier
Moskow Youth Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1952
Total Time 46‘27

CD 3
■ Tchaikovsky & Rimsky-Korsakoff:
1. Capriccio italien, Op. 45 15‘52

Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34
2. I. Alborada 1‘14
3. II. Variazioni 5‘02
4. III. Alborada 1‘11
5. IV. Scena e canto gitano 4‘38
6. V. Fandango asturiano 3‘05

Oscar Shumsky violin / Violine
(Capriccio espagnol)

RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1958
Bonus

■ Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975)
Cello concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107 / Cellokonzert Nr. 1 Es-Dur
7. I. Allegretto 6‘09
8. II. Moderato 10‘33
9. III. Cadenza 4‘54
10. IV. Allegro con moto 5‘25

Mstislav Rostropovich cello / Cello
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1960 (live)
Total Time 58‘16

CD 4
■ Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 – 1943)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

1. I. Allegro ma non tanto 17‘28
2. II. Intermezzo: Adagio 10‘43
3. III. Finale alla breve 14‘55
Van Cliburn piano / Klavier
Symphony of the Air
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen Carnegie Hall
May 19, 1958
Total Time 43‘08

CD 5

■ Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 /
Violinkonzert D-Dur
1. I. Allegro moderato 19‘04
2. II. Canzonetta: Andante 6‘40
3. III. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo 9‘36
David Oistrakh violin / Violine
USSR State Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1957

■ Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975)
Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10 /
Sinfonie f-Moll
4. I. Allegretto. Allegro non troppo 9‘17
5. II. Allegro 4‘27
6. III. Lento 8‘14
7. IV. Allegro molto 8‘54
Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra conductor /
Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1951
Total Time 66‘18

CD 6

■ Edouard Lalo (1823 – 1892)
Symphonie espagnole d-Moll, Op. 21
1. I. Allegro non troppo 7‘20
2. II. Scherzando: Allegro molto 4‘04
3. III. Intermezzo: Allegro non troppo
5‘43
4. IV. Andante 6‘15
5. V. Rondo: Allegro 7‘40

■ Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
6. Serenade melancolique, op. 26 9‘14
Leonid Kogan violin / Violine
Philharmonia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1959

Bonus
■ Camille Saint-Saens (1835 – 1921)
Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 / Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 F-Dur
7. I. Allegro animato 11‘44
8. II. Andante 10‘44
9. III. Molto allegro 5‘45
Sviatoslav Richter piano / Klavier
Moskow Youth Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1952 (live)
Total Time 68‘36

CD 7

■ Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 /
Violinkonzert D-Dur
1. I. Allegro non troppo 20‘54
2. II. Adagio 8‘59
3. III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo
vivace 7‘38
Leonid Kogan violin / Violine
Philharmonia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1959

Bonus
■ Alexander Glasounov (1865 – 1936)
4. Chant du menestrel op. 71 4‘38
Mstislav Rostropovich cello / Cello
Moskow Youth Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1954
Total Time 42‘14

CD 8

■ Antonin Dvorak (1841 – 1904)
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53 /
Violinkonzert a-Moll
1. I. Allegro ma non troppo 9‘51
2. II. Adagio ma non troppo 12‘45
3. III. Allegro giocoso ma non troppo
9‘40

■ Alexander Glazounov (1865 – 1936)
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82 /
Violinkonzert a-Moll
4. I. Moderato. 4‘40
5. II. Andante sostenuto 10‘53
6. III. Allegro 5‘38

David Oistrakh violin / Violine
USSR State Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen c. 1949 (1-3)
1948 (4-6)

Total Time 53‘35

CD 9

■ Sergey Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
Violinkonzert g-Moll
1. I. Allegro moderato 10‘07
2. II. Andante assai 9‘40
3. III. Allegro ben marcato 6‘05
Leonid Kogan violin / Violine
USSR State Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1956

Bonus
■ Sergey Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 10
Klavierkonzert Des-Dur
4. Allegro brioso 6‘31
5. II. Andante assai 3‘26
6. III. Allegro scherzando 4‘25
Sviatoslav Richter piano / Klavier
Moskow Youth Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1952
Total Time 40‘26

CD 10
Chausson: Poeme / Ravel: Tzigane
(1959)
■ Ernest Chausson (1855 – 1899)
1. Poeme, op. 25 15‘49
■ Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
2. Tzigane – Rhapsody for Violin and
Orchestra / 9‘11
Rhapsodie für Violine und Orchester
David Oistrakh violin / Violine
USSR State Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1948

Bonus
■ Sergei Taneyev (1856 – 1915)
Suite de concert, Op. 28
3. I. Preludium: Grave 7‘12
4. II. Gavotte: Allegro moderato 5‘40
5. III. Merchen: Andantino 8‘15
6. IV. Tema con variazioni 14‘52
7. V. Tarantella: Presto 6‘27
David Oistrach violin / Violine
USSR State Smphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Kirill Kondrashin
recorded / aufgenommen 1958
Total Time 67‘38