Shchedrin’s œuvre spans nearly every musical genre, and it is hardly surprising that an output of such versatility contains some rather remarkable instrumental combinations, for example “Music from afar” for 2 bass recorders, or “Balalaika” for a solo violin playing pizzicato throughout. This predilection for the unusual leads the composer in “Parabola concertante” with its basically subdued and contemplative mood to add a charcteristic counterpoint by contrasting the accompanying string orchest...