The music of Andrei Golovin, born in Moscow in 1950, lies in the Russian symphonic tradition downstream from Shostakovich and Boris Tchaikovsky. His music employs a sombre lyricism to conjure up images of vast open spaces but can also flare up in outbursts of considerable power.

This CD presents a conspectus of almost four decades of his compositions, ranging from his first symphony to his most recent. This is the first appearance of any of Andrei Golovin’s music on any western label.

Mikhail Bereznitsky, an ‘Honoured Artist of Russia’ and Associate Professor at the Moscow State Conservatoire, was described by the composer Rodion Shchedrin as ‘one of the most brilliant violists in the world’.

As a cellist, Alexander Rudin is one of the few Russian musicians who have mastered the different styles of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. In his 25 years leading the Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra, he has shown himself to be a subtle interpreter of the music of different eras and an indefatigable research.

These recordings mark the first appearance of these distinguished musicians on Toccata Classics.