Ippolitov-Ivanov studied with Rimsky-Korsakov and, especially during his time as conductor, teacher and musical organizer in Tbilisi, did much to champion Tchaikovsky (who cordially returned his friendship). These two composers provided the chief influences on his music, which never changed throughout his long musical career: he died in Moscow in 1935 at the age of 75. From Rimsky-Korsakov in particular he derived his interest in the 'oriental' vein which he had the chance to explore during his years in the Caucasus, as can be heard in the pleasant, fresh Armenian Rhapsody: this takes some agreeable folk material through quasi-symphonic motions. Yar-khmel', his Op. 1, is a well-fashioned overture, excellently scored and falling easily upon the ear, even if it does rather go in one and out of the other: Ivanov was a fine craftsman and an able musician, but he did not really possess the gift of inventing memorable material or handling it with great originality. The most unusual piece here is his Episode from the Life of Schubert, which takes the second subject of the C major Quintet's first movement and develops this as introduction to a poem about Schubert following Beethoven's funeral cortege unaware that death is hovering over him, too.
The three Ossian tableaux of 1925 are oddly belated: the European fascination for that semi-mythical bard had died out well over a century previously. But then Ivanov was completely uninterested in fashion. The performances are lively and well recorded.'