BORIS TISHCHENKO (b.1939): Symphony No. 6 for Soprano, Contralto and Orchestra.

Description: A big, epic work - nearly an hour, with the first movement occupying almost half that. Setting texts of five prominent Russian poets, all on themes related to death, loss, war and destruction, the piece is serious and predominantly dark-hued. Despite the usual strenuous attempt in the notes to insist on Tishchenko's independence from Shostakovich, his great mentor's influence is abundantly apparent, especially the Eleventh to Thirteenth symphonies, and not only in the obvious vocal legacy of the last of these. Nevertheless, Tishchenko's flair for the dramatic, and his bold, predominantly tonal orchestral palette carry the work effectively, and it unquestionably makes a powerful impact. Texts and translations included. Russian (Cyrillic)-English texts. Recorded live April 27, 1989. Valentina Yuzvenko (soprano), Elena Rubin (contralto), USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra; Gennadi Rozhdetvensky.