Since records from Russia are about as rare as obbligatos for flügelhorn, U.S. music lovers have little chance to judge the quality of Russian orchestras and virtuosos. Last week, for a change, a few fresh pressings of made-in-Russia recordings were on sale. None of the recordings (issued by Collosseum Records) is brandnew, but all are interesting. Outstanding items :
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto (David Oistrakh, violinist, with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, A. V. Gauk conducting; 2 sides LP). Surely one of the great among modern violinists, 42-year-old Oistrakh combines in his playing the suavity...