Anton Rubinstein’s First Symphony was composed in 1850 shortly after his return to Russia. It is a highly cosmopolitan work, showing the influence of Mendelssohn. The symphony contains a wealth of memorable tunes, which are handed most skilfully, with vivid orchestral colours and dynamic rhythms. The Musical Portrait ‘Ivan the Terrible’ is a later work, written in 1869. Here the influence of both Liszt and the Russian nationalist composers may be glimpsed in the freer forms adopted by Rubinstein.