Search - Shostakovich, Weinberg, Raats :: Russian Archives: Rudolf Barshai

Rudolf Barshai's influence as a conductor of Russian music is hard to overstate. Combining an inexhaustible work ethic with a commitment to perfecting every detail of a performance, he broke new ground with his studied interpretations. His recordings - particularly of Russian music - were some of the 20th century's most successful, met with both critical acclaim and widespread popularity; this collection celebrates his achievements, bringing together the best of Russian music from the 19th and 20th centuries, including many of his own celebrated arrangements and transcriptions. Barshai is heard here conducting the orchestra that he established - the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, which Shostakovich described as 'the greatest chamber orchestra in the world'.