Permit me to recommend a lovely - and cheap - CD on the Regis label of three Soviet-era VCs. I think that friends may in particular enjoy the thoroughly Romantic VC1 by Rakov: it has an absolutely gorgeous slow movement. Apologies if you already know this CD...
Complete agreement by me . A Rakov Symphony (n.2, "for the -Soviet- youth"), conducted by the composer on a Melodya LP (oddly enough coupled to Prokofiev Third Piano Concerto) was on a lesser level, a rather average listening (and that is the only other Rakov work I know).
Rakov's brief symphony no.3 for strings is I think on YouTube? from a Soviet LP I think...- will have to listen again before commenting though.