Yuri Honig

Yuri Temirkanov's Royal Philharmonic recording has been around for a long time; it was recorded in 1986 and has been in the catalog ever since – for good reason. Temirkanov is always sensitive to the exotic nature of these scores, particularly Spartacus, and he brings excitement to the varied colorful dances of both ballets. His recording is more full-bodied than the Bolshoi CD; no under-staffed orchestra here, and their rich sounds have been superbly captured by EMI's engineers.

Four years after their second album, the Swedish space rockers return with a new instrumental record of cinematic scope. Leaning heavily on the Space Ritual-era Hawkwind sound, Yuri Gagarin takes this ageless approach to hypnotic rock and brings it into the future.

This pair of single-movement viola concertos written for Yuri Bashmet justify his renown. In both, he is able to draw an impressive variety of expressions from his instrument with seeming ease. On the other hand, it's obvious there was a lot of thought and care put into his interpretations. The concertos need thoughtful interpretations by the soloist and the conductor, not because the pieces are necessarily complex in rhythm or harmony, but they are complex in tone and color.

The Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27, is a symphony by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, written in 1906–07. The premiere was conducted by the composer himself in Saint Petersburg on 8 February 1908. Its duration is approximately 60 minutes when performed uncut; cut performances can be as short as 35 minutes. The score is dedicated to Sergei Taneyev, a Russian composer, teacher, theorist, author, and pupil of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Alongside his Piano Concerto No. 2 and Piano Concerto No. 3, this symphony remains one of the composer's best known compositions.

Yuri Zhislin's upcoming album of music by Bartok is a celebration of musical universality. This collection, featuring Zhislin performing on both violin and viola, transcends boundaries, reflecting an unwavering commitment to sharing music across cultures. Recorded at Moscow's iconic Mosfilm Studios in June 2021, the album captures a moment of artistic unity before unforeseen global events unfolded. The repertoire includes Béla Bartók's Viola Concerto, a posthumous gem completed by Tibor Serly. This poignant work, born amid Bartók's struggles with illness and exile, explores the emotional spectrum with the solo viola's versatility, offering a profound reflection on the human spirit. Elsewhere, Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 showcases the composer's early fusion of folk influences and modernist innovation.