This album includes early recordings of music from Tchaikovsky's ballet 'Sleeping Beauty', which Mravinsky recorded on April 27, 1948.
Performer Biography
Yevgeny Mravinsky held the position of principal conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic for 44 years, one of the longest conductor-orchestra relationships in history.
Interpretation
Mravinsky was known for his precise and technically perfect conducting, often achieving his desired sound without wild gesticulation or even a baton.
Critical Reception
Music commentator Norman Lebrecht described Yevgeny Mravinsky as 'the most capable of all Soviet conductors'.
Composition History
Dmitry Shostakovich, a prominent Soviet composer, entrusted Yevgeny Mravinsky with the premieres of six of his symphonies, including the Eighth, which he dedicated to Mravinsky.
Performer Biography
Yevgeny Mravinsky, the conductor on this album, was born in Saint Petersburg in 1903, the son of an aristocratic lawyer.
Historical Context
Mravinsky's aunt, Alexandra Kollontai, was the Soviet ambassador to Norway and likely the world's first female diplomat, who helped him gain admission to the Conservatory.
