Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 2 & 11
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 2 & 11
Overview
'performed here with total conviction ... Gergiev captures its brooding majesty in a tense and involving performance, distinguished by the terrifying sound of the St Petersburg winds' Financial Times (UK)
Valery Gergiev
Mariinsky Orchestra
£9.99
06 Dec 2010
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The Second and Eleventh symphonies are both inspired by Russian revolutions. The Eleventh Symphony, subtitled “The Year 1905” marks the bloody revolution of that year. It is an astonishingly atmospheric symphony, of cinematic breadth, especially in second movement which depicts the Bloody Sunday massacre in St Petersburg. Symphony No 2 was written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution. At less than 20 minutes, it is a much shorter work than the Eleventh symphony yet no less dramatic. Although dismissed by the composer later in his career as an experiment, it remains an important step in the development of one of the greatest symphonists and both works receive definitive performances from the Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus.
Artists
Valery Gergiev conductor
Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus
Recording Details
James Mallinson producer
Jonathan Stokes and Neil Hutchinons for Classic Sound Ltd*
John Newton and Dirk Sobotka** engineers
Recorded February 2009** and February 2010*, Mariinsky Concert Hall, St Petersburg
DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording
* Symphony No 2
** Symphony No 11
Notes in Russian (Cyrillic), English, French and German
Symphony No 2 sung in Russian
Catalogue number - MAR0507
UPC - 822231850724
Reviews
'performed here with total conviction ... Gergiev captures its brooding majesty in a tense and involving performance, distinguished by the terrifying sound of the St Petersburg winds' Financial Times (UK)
‘Gergiev’s account is simply hair-raising [Symphony No 11]. Even by today’s high standard of orchestral playing, I suspect some orchestras would have trouble keeping up with Gergiev’s driving, intense approach: the Mariinsky players stick to him like glue. This is the best-recorded traversal of Symphony No 2’ American Record Guide (US)
