The 1948 Cello Concerto by Mieczyslaw Vainberg (1919-96) is a soulful and communicative piece, stylistically rooted somewhere between Bloch and Shostakovich. Mark Drobinsky is a passionate soloist, though there exists a rival account from his own teacher at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, namely Mstislav Rostropovich (EMI, 5/97). Similarly, Vainberg’s Op. 52 Fantasy contains much attractive, often poignant invention, especially in its sweetly lyrical opening Adagio. The Concertino of Yuri Levitin (1912-96) is another striking achievement. An enterprising, likeable issue.

AA
(From: Gramophone, August 1998)