Dmitri Shostakovich

  Shostakovich:

  • Symphonies Nos. 4, 5, 6

Conductor Valery Gergiev continues his excellent Shostakovich symphony cycle with a recording of his sixth release, a 2-CD set of Dmitri Shostakovich’s symphonies numbers 4, 5, and 6. On this recording we hear the following:

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Shostakovich:

  • Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43
  • Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47
  • Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54

Performed by the Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev conducting.

Shostakovich’s symphonies are often very emotionally powerful; and the three symphonies performed here are a particularly compelling and riveting combination. The huge difficulty of having the Government dictate to a composer how to create new music shaped the evolution of Shostakovich’s music.

Yet there is no better illustration of Shostakovich’s ability to tread a fine line between acclaim and condemnation than the experience he faced during the 1930’s when these symphonies were composed.

Here is Shostakovich’s 4th Symphony:  

 

 

Tags: Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphonies, Valery Gergiev