[78-L] Question 1812 Overture

[Michael Biel]

On 3/31/2011 9:21 PM, Gene Baron wrote:
> I have a Melodiya LP (C-0959-60) by the USSR Symphony Orchestra conducted by
> K. Ivanov that also has the "substitute" music -- even after many listens
> it's still a bit of a surprise when that music shows up -- in both the 1812
> Overture and March Slav.

Is your copy with the gatefold cover with gold and black printing with 
color paintings on the back and inside?  This was the original packaging 
for export.  Since you mention the English title, your disc probably has 
(a) after the number on the label.  That denotes an English language 
label.   My copy has blue labels from the Aprelvsk pressing plant, and 
none of the markings required for domestic sale, and is further notable 
as an export copy by the added crash-printed "Made in USSR" in the lower 
right rear.  The liner notes end with "This is a recording of the 
overture as edited by the Soviet composer V. Ya. Shebalin."  I got my 
copy at the Ukranian bookstore in Toronto.


>    Interestingly, the 1812 Overture is called 'Year
> 1812' -- is this common with the Russian versions, or is this the original
> title?  Gene   gene.baron at gmail.com

Dates in Russian are always written at least with the cyrillic letter G 
for got, meaning "year", before it, looking like  "r. 1812".  In this 
case the jacket shows the title in Russian as "1812 God" (the final d is 
pronounced as a soft t), and "L'An 1812" in French.  I also have an East 
German Eterna pressing with the original Soviet stampers, and it is 
titled "Das Jahr 1812".

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com