Evgeny Svetlanov conducts Rachmaninov & Bernstein

Rachmaninov was, by Svetlanov’s own account, his favourite composer, and this previously unpublished live recording of Symphony No.2 offers a vivid example of his unique relationship with the Russian repertoire. Recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the performance captures Svetlanov at his most intense and spontaneous — qualities often associated with his live appearances.

The recording reveals a deeply emotional interpretation, combining dramatic momentum with expansive lyricism. Critics have frequently noted that Svetlanov’s live performances possessed an urgency and expressive freedom rarely encountered in studio recordings. This release, issued ten years after the conductor’s death, also includes a rare live performance of Bernstein’s Candide Overture with the London Symphony Orchestra, another work never recorded by Svetlanov in the studio and published here for the first time.

The album forms part of ICA Classics’ tribute to Evgeny Svetlanov and remains an important testimony to his artistry beyond the Russian symphonic canon.