Mieczysław Weinberg flourished as a composer despite working amidst political and personal setbacks. He gained the admiration of Shostakovich, and was championed by the leading Soviet musicians of the day. The suite Polish Melodies was given its first performance by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra with Karl Eliasberg in December 1950. The work consists of an introduction, waltz, polka then mazurka, and is exactly the kind of well-crafted light music that Soviet composers were producing in the ominous last years of Stalin’s reign. Polish Melodies was recorded during the sessions for Weinberg’s complete music for cello and orchestra with soloist Nikolay Shugaev and the Tyumen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yuri Medianik, available on CD (8.574679) and all streaming platforms.