Title: one of the great ones -
Product review: Sounds like hyperbole but Eshpai's symphony #5 should be included as one of the great symphonies of the 20th century. This is what is written by a Russian muicologist in the notes to this CD. More unheard music from the old Soviet union. This music depicts sounds of the "Great War"; listen for the famous German panzer march, which Frankel used in Battle of the Bulge, with a Russian flavor, whistles and all. Dive bombing airplanes, artillary etc. The music makes lots of wonderful noise - lots of pounding brass, drums, and strings, and I mean a lot - and it leaves an unforgettable impression. The finale is something else. This version leaves out some cacophony at the end of the symphony, which Svetlanov did not leave out in his LP version. The Svetlanov is an incredible performance and will make your hair stand on end, if you can find it - not on CD. This performance is OK (one star off) just to hear the music tho. The symphony number 4 pales in comparison to this masterpiece.
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