Igor Markevitch (* 1912, Kiev - + 1998, Antibes) began his musical career as a composer. He successfully worked for Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes, and after studying the score of "L'envol d'Icare", Béla Bartok wrote to him: "You are the most important personality in contemporary music". The earliest of his own works directed by himself, included in this 10 CD collection, are therefore of particular interest. The centerpiece, however, are the great successes of French and Russian composers, to which Markevitch owes his worldwide success as a conductor. Also in the recordings of the works of Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Berlioz, Debussy, Ravel and all others, the analytical view of the composer becomes obvious, which gives these Markevitch documents their distinctive value. Hermann Scherchen’s teaching created an essential foundation for the prospective conductor.Thus, in later years, especially with the Paris based Orchester Lamoureux, recordings could be made that still set standards and are collected in the CD set presented here.

• Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
• Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 1
• Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 2
• Bizet: Jeux d'enfants (Petite Suite), Op. 22
• Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1
• Bizet: L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2
• Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia
• Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances
• Chabrier: Fete polonaise (from Le Roi Malgré Lui)
• Debussy: Danses sacrée et profane
• Debussy: La Mer
• Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
• Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Glinka: Ivan Susanin (A Life for the Tsar): Overture
• Glinka: Ruslan & Lyudmila Overture
• Gounod: Symphony No. 2 in E flat
• Liadov: From the Apocalypse, Op. 66
• Liadov: Kikimora, Op. 63
• Markevitch: L’Envol d’Icare
• Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
• Prokofiev: Le Pas d'Acier Op. 41 (The Steel Step)
• Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 'Classical'
• Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé - Suite No. 2
• Rimsky Korsakov: Le Coq d'Or Suite
• Rimsky Korsakov: May Night Overture
• Rimsky Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36
• Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux
• Satie: Parade
• Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10
• Stravinsky: Divertimento (symphonic suite from Le Baiser de la Fée)
• Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
• Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32
• Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture
• Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 'Pathétique'
• Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a