Nikolai Sokoloff is a name many have forgotten, but that might be about to change with this monumental release curated and produced by Mark Obert-Thorn of his complete recordings with The Cleveland Orchestra, including the world première of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 in a version prepared by the composer that's not been heard since.
The orchestra was founded by Sokoloff 100 years ago, in 1918, and quickly rose to become one of the great American orchestras of the day. Performances in Carnegie Hall in 1922 were followed by the first recordings, made in 1924. By 1928 the orchestra and conductor had between them released three hours of recordings on the Brunskwick label - a lot in those days - spanning a great range of styles and composers.
This release has them all - and showcases a fabulous, forward-looking conductor who deserves to be heard and appreciated not only for what he did for the orchestra - but what he did WITH the orchestra. A major historic release.