Russian Harpsichord Music Of The Late 18th-Early 19th Centuries = Русская Клавирная Музыка Конца XVIII-Начала XIX Веков

Released by the state-owned Soviet label Melodiya in 1987, this recording is part of a broader mid-to-late Soviet effort to document and canonize overlooked works from the Russian musical canon. At the time of its release, the Soviet cultural establishment was increasingly interested in reviving the heritage of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, moving beyond the standard Romantic repertoire to explore the transition from harpsichord and clavichord to the fortepiano.

The album features performances by the renowned pianist and early-music specialist Alexei Lubimov, known for his commitment to historical performance practices and period instruments. Lubimov’s approach was focused on authenticity and stylistic nuance, providing a thoughtful interpretation of these rare keyboard compositions. The release was received as a scholarly contribution to musicology, offering Western and Soviet listeners alike access to the domestic and parlor music traditions that predated the dominance of Russian symphonic nationalist movements.