Alert - romantic violin concerto recording discovered - help and ideas needed

[peter_conole]

Hi all

This is going to be a tough one, but I would really appreciate all the help and advice I can get re tracking down this recording. And extracting a copy of the recording - preferably in cd format, but whatever.

It is of a romantic violin concerto by a hopelessly obscure virtuoso composer. Thank the deity that Russian nationalism during the post-1917 traumas survived enough to allow resurrection of some 19th century oddities.

Details as follows:

Nicolai Yakovlevich Afanasyev (Afanasiev also). Dates 1820/1821 to 1898.

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra - no other details known (he composed nine).

Soloist: Eduard Grach (well known maestro - now aged 80).

USSR State Symphony Orchestra, conductor Ivanov.

Recording data: Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga DO 362.

Date of recording: possibly 1960s - certainly before 1971.

This is a project that will involve some pooling of knowledge bases and ideas. Who would hold a copy of the recording? What archives and where in Russia?

Any suggestions and initiatives would be helpful. There could be a couple of other 'finds' coming up. Discography research basically confirms what we already knew. Only a handful of 19th century violin concertos were recorded before the CD revolution. There has been a mini-explosion since, but very mini. That won't change much, so all the more reason to work hard tracking down 'lost' recordings of yesteryear.

regards
Peter 
 

[thalbergmad]

The person who I always ask on all matters Russian is me old mate Malcolm Ballan, who might be known to a couple of you.

You can contact him on malcolm.ballan@gmail.com

Really helpful chap.

Thal

[violinconcerto]

I have this recording, but to my knowledge the work is by *Leonid* Afanasiev:

http://www.violinconcerto.de/collection.php?action=composer&composer=Afanasiev&first_name=Leonid

Best,
Tobias

[Alan Howe]

Tobias is right, I think. Here's another reference to Leonid:

http://composers-classical-music.com/a/AfanasyevLeonid.htm

[Christopher]

Does anyone else have any follow up on this?  I love 19th century Russian composers so would be very keen to know! 

[Alan Howe]

This work was written in 1951; Leonid Afanasiev was born in 1921...

[eschiss1]

though with some music written in the 20th century a 19th century audience could tell that it wasn't written in the 19th century but not, i think, many 20th-century listeners...not restricted to Eastern bloc composers either.

[Amphissa]

Is this piece by the same composer? Translated titles is something like "Gazing Upon Blue Lakes". A lovely piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiBIjAPD9xI

And a vocal version with orchestra
http://sovmusic.ru/m/ozera2.mp3

What a beautiful song.

If he wrote that, I definitely want to hear more by him.

[jimmattt]

Afanasyev, Nikolai Yakovlevich (1821-1898)
Russian violinist, pianist, teacher and composer. Studied the violin with his father and became one of the greatest Russian violinists of the 19th century. Is known primarily for his important contribution to 19th-century Russian chamber music.
Concerto for cello and orchestra
The Feast of Peter the Great Cantata
Violin sonata in A major
Sixty Four Russian Folk Songs for voice and piano
String quartet No.1 The Volga
Double quartet for four violins, two violas and two cellos
Sixty Four Russian Folksongs for chorus
Children's Songs for voice and piano
Thirty Three Slav Songs for voice and piano

Also
Symphony No.1
Symphony No.2
Symphony No.3
Symphony No.4
Symphony No.5
Symphony No.6
Concerto for piano and orchestra in D flat major
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.1
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.2
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.3
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.4
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.5
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.6
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.7
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.8
Concerto for violin and orchestra No.9
Piano quintet
Piano trio
Piano sonata
Four Pieces for violin and piano
Suite for viola d'amore and piano
String quartet No.2
String quartet No.3
String quartet No.4
String quartet No.5
String quartet No.6
String quartet No.7
String quartet No.8
String quartet No.9
String quartet No.10
String quartet No.11
String quartet No.12
String quintet No.1
String quintet No.2
String quintet No.3
String quintet No.4
String Sextet
Pieces for piano
Choruses
1850
1860
1860
1864
1866
1875
   
   
1876
18