Search - Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai, Vladimir Fedoseyev, USSR Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra :: Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai: Symphonies 4 & 5

One of the great ones -

John C. Leopold | colorado springs, co United States | 04/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sounds like hyperbole but Eshpai's symphony #5 should be included as one of the great symphonies of the 20th century. This is what is written by a Russian muicologist in the notes to this CD. More unheard music from the old Soviet union. This music depicts sounds of the "Great War"; listen for the famous German panzer march, which Frankel used in Battle of the Bulge, with a Russian flavor, whistles and all. Dive bombing airplanes, artillary etc. The music makes lots of wonderful noise - lots of pounding brass, drums, and strings, and I mean a lot - and it leaves an unforgettable impression. The finale is something else. This version leaves out some cacophony at the end of the symphony, which Svetlanov did not leave out in his LP version. The Svetlanov is an incredible performance and will make your hair stand on end, if you can find it - not on CD. This performance is OK (one star off) just to hear the music tho. The symphony number 4 pales in comparison to this masterpiece."

Eshpai writes great movie/tv music

Duane E. Crawford | Rolette, ND USA | 08/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Symphony No. 5 struck me as being great music for TV and movie soundtracks. Sure it is endless cycling of high strung emotion. There are horns, drums, and all kinds of instruments beating out even what appeared to be an American song or two. The notes confirm he is widely perfomred in Russian and abroad and you can catch his music on radio, TV, and the movies. He is the most prolific composer still living in Russia. We shouldn't always be trying to find a composer reacting to Russian rule or misrule. He does just fine. Symphony No. 4 is very pleasing to me. I'd like to add RD CD 11 9054 as it contains his Viola Concerto, Piano Concerto No. 2, and Violin Concerto No. 2 plus the Concerto Grosso. Check him out."