Firma Melodiya presents an album of orchestral and concert works by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by the Moscow Chamber Orchestra led by Rudolf Barshai.

The name of Rudolf Barshai signifies a new page in domestic music culture of the 20th century. A talented violist with a promising concert career, he managed to found the first ever Soviet chamber orchestra.

In the times of the Iron Curtain, Soviet listeners were almost unaware of that particular sphere of musical performance. Barshai’s concert programmes, the sound of his orchestra which collected talented musicians who sought new ways, were a true revelation to the public. The Moscow Chamber Orchestra became immensely popular during the first years of its existence.

The orchestra always played to capacity crowds, and its numerous records sold many thousands of copies. Some of the leading Soviet artists such as Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan, Mstislav Rostropovich and others collaborated with Barshai’s orchestra, taking part in its concerts and recordings.

Rudolf Barshai left the USSR in the 1970s and for many years performed with various chamber and symphony orchestras of the world. However, these recordings realized with his Moscow Chamber Orchestra are still the most legendary page in the history of Russian chamber music performance. Today, they still sound as lively and fresh.

The soloist in Bach’s violin concertos is David Oistrakh, one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.