KHCD-2012-081 (STEREO) - Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphony No. 2 ("Antar"); Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 21 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Morton Gould

KHCD-2012-081DL (STEREO) - Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphony No. 2 ("Antar"); Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 21 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Morton Gould - Rimsky-Korsakov's early Symphony No. 2 exhibits his overall compositional approach  to music with programmatic themes in both his early and late periods; robust "Russian" theme for the male protagonist (Antar), and a more sinuous "Eastern" theme for  the female Gul-Nazar, along with the "primary color" feeling of a grand mosaic in the orchestration. Miaskovsky's best-known orchestral work was commissioned by Frederick Stock for the Chicago Symphony's fiftieth anniversary, although it was given its first performance in Moscow in November 1940. Its inspiration is purely abstract, the fast and slow sections sharing the same thematic material. Both works receive muscular readings in excellent sonics, derived from an "unshaded dog" RCA Dynagroove® recording from 1968. Thanks to Glen Gill for suggesting this reissue.