Walking That Soviet Tightrope

I have read some extremely disparaging remarks about the Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin dismissing him as a party hack during the Soviet regime. To which the answer has to be "walk a mile in my shoes". I haven't heard enough of his music to make a judgement but this disk is engaging enough and he has been championed by the conductor here of the Russian national Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev. The main piece is the "Carmen" Suite, written for a commissioned ballet and orchestrating and sampling Bizet's music from the opera and also from Arlesienne. It uses many orchestral colours and is an enjoyable way to take in the tunes and moods of the work. The disk also has Shchedrin's Concertos For Orchestra Nos 1 and 2 ( subtitled Naughty Limericks and Chimes ) which are highly contrasting. Essentially light hearted, the first one has a jazzy feel akin to Bernstein and then evolves into almost a Carry On film soundtrack with braying brass part. I recall it being used to accompany a rampaging dog in a UK insurance commercial. The second suite is altogether more sober, playing with trends such as serialism. The orchestra gives spirited performances throughout.