The great Russian conductor Yevgeny Svetlanov was born in Moscow in 1928 and studied with Alexander Gauk at the Moscow Conservatory. From 1955 he conducted at the Bolshoi Theatre, becoming principal conductor (1962-1964). From 1965 he was principal conductor of the USSR State Symphony Orchestra (now the Russian State Symphony Orchestra). In 1979 he was appointed principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Residentie Orchestra (The Hague 1992-2000) and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1997-1999).

He frequently visited the UK, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, USA, and other countries. Svetlanov was a leading interpreter of Russian composers including Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Mussorgsky, Miaskovsky and Scriabin, but he also performed Bruckner, Mahler, Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky and others including Elgar. He died in Moscow aged 73, in 2002.

Svetlanov frequently conducted Debussy. His interpretation of Debussy’s Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune in the Philharmonia concert recorded here in 2001 has an almost operatically vocal style, coupled with spacious tempo. He achieves a most remarkable response from the Philharmonia both in this piece and La Mer, in which the dramatically assertive style of brass playing contributes to a particularly powerful approach to the French composer’s music.

Svetlanov’s conducting of Respighi’s orchestration of two of Rachmaninov’s Etudes-Tableaux, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in October 1999, is typically atmospheric in the first tableau – La Mer et les Mouettes (The Sea and the Gulls) following Debussy’s La Mer, while the second, La Foire (The Fair) demonstrates the conductor’s wonderful ear for colour.

Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes was composed for sextet in 1919 while in the USA, but was re-scored for orchestra in 1934. Svetlanov’s concert with the LSO from October 1979 is a rarity since his only recording dates back to an early Melodiya account.

Jon Tolansky’s booklet notes contain many anecdotes and insights about Svetlanov from both the Philharmonia and LSO players.

Superb remastering from Paul Baily, all broadcasts being ‘live’ and in stereo.