Amazing!!!!, January 18, 2007
Reviewer: Louie Bourland (On my way to Nashville)
Believe it or not, apart from the famous "Sabre Dance" my familiarness with Aram Khachaturian's music was fairly minimal until just recently when I heard his three concertos (piano, violin and cello respectively) for the very first time.
My Khachaturian discovery continues with the purchase of this rare out-of-print CD of his Second Symphony conducted by none other than Khachaturian himself. The quality of this 1962 recording is outstanding both sonically and musically. Khachaturian's trademark galloping rhythms come through in driving foreceful manner throughout the Symphony's nearly hour-long length. Getting to hear the composer conducting his own work allows the listener to hear the exact way he intended the music to be heard.
Filling out the disc is one of the suites from Khachaturian's famous ballet "Gayaneh" which includes a remarkable performance of the "Sabre Dance" among other excerpts from the ballet.
... Highly recommended!!!