DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975): 10 Poems on Texts by Revolutionary Poets, Op. 88, 10 Russian Folk Songs.

Description: Both these works date from 1951, the former being a useful means of rehabilitation after the composer's condemnation by Zhdanov (he won a Stalin Prize for it the following year, so that worked out well); its most interesting piece is its sixth - The Ninth of January - which is the source of the principal motto theme in the Eleventh Symphony (both pieces dealing with the 1905 Revolution). The smaller-scale, folk-music inspired Folk Songs carry on a humbler, but no less Russian tradition. Texts available on-line. Tatyana Kravchenko (piano), Chorus of the Moscow Academy of Choral Art; Victor Popov. Original 1999 Russian Season release.