I picked this up a few weeks ago and it has become one of those CDs that I keep returning to often.  I don't know what it is about the Russians, but they seem to perform music with such passion.  Maybe it is all of the suffering they, as a nation, endured for so long, but for whatever reason I notice such expressiveness in their performance.  This is one of those performances.  Especially the finale and presto. 

Haydn's symphony is nicknamed "Farewell" because of the way the instruments drop out one by one at the end.  In the premier performance, the musicians physically left the stage as each part ended.

There is not so much information available about Rudolf Barshai.  If anyone is knowledgable about this conductor, I am interested in learning more.

The recording is on the Russian Melodiya label (SUCD 10-00225), recorded in 1967 and 1976.  I have no idea about its availability.