GEORGY SVIRIDOV (1915-1998): Snowstorm (Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra;  Vladimir Fedoseyev. rec. 1975), Pushkin Garland (Moscow Chamber Choir, Chamber Ensemble of the Moscow RSO; Vladimir Minin. rec. 1981).

Description: The 28-minute, nine-number "music illustrations to Pushkin's novel" The Blizzard (often called Snowstorm in the West) is almost filmic, nostalgic, romantic, melancholy - and for good reason: Sviridov used a score he'd written for a film of the novel as a basis. The often declamatory nature of the choral concerto to Pushkin texts may be rather off-putting to a non-Russian but some numbers, when instruments become involved, are much more immediately attractive. No texts.