The legendary conductor Evgeny Svetlanov was fond of French music. We ought to note his deep interest for the French repertoire of different periods that he regulary introduced in his concert programmes (The Suite N°2 from Daphnis et Chloé was part of Svetlanov’s graduate examination at the Moscow Conservatory’s Department of operatic and symphonic conducting).  He gave the Soviet premiere of French masterpieces like Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au Bûcher and Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie. In 1975 he conducted a special event dedicated to the composer’s 100th anniversary at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. This concert is now published by the Russian label Melodyia.

For sure, this Ravel is not idiomatic! The sound of the Soviet orchestra is not the best for Ravel: especially in  Ma Mère l’Oye’ Suite but the charisma of the conductor and the energy of the orchestra are outstanding (Suite N°2 from Daphnis et Chloé / Rapsodie espagnole) !