Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8
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Music CD Cover
Composer: Dmitry ShostakovichConductor: Valery Gergiev
Orchestra: St.Petersburg Kirov Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1996-03-12
Music Label: Philips
Soundtracks:
- Sym No.8 in c, Op.65: 1. Adagio
- Sym No.8 in c, Op.65: 2. Allegretto
- Sym No.8 in c, Op.65: 3. Allegro non troppo
- Sym No.8 in c, Op.65: 4. Largo
- Sym No.8 in c, Op.65: 5. Allegretto
Free Music Notes for Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8
Free Music Review: Harrowing, haunting ...
Hit: 5 Stars
I must warn the reader that I am quite a 'newbie' to Shostakovich's symphonies, and have not heard all of them as completely and as intensely as, for example, Mahler's works, so I am quite unable to compare the many different recordings. For (mostly my own) convenience I would like to compare this recording by the Kirov Orchestra under Valery Gergiev with the one by the WDR Sinfonieorchester under Rudolf Barshai.
In fact, I have come into 'first close contact' so to say with Shostakovich' symphonies only a few years ago through the (to my ears) magnificent Brilliant Classics budget-box of all the symphonies by the WDR Sinfonieorchester directed by Rudolf Barshai. So actually, these Barshai recordings have formed my first impression, and they will to me - at least for the time being, and for better or for worse (?) - be a benchmark from which to appreciate other recordings of these works.
But my affections especially lie with the Eighth and Thirteenth Symphonies. And since I find Maestro Gergiev's recording of Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony with the same orchestra (also on Philips) astounding, I was keenly interested in his recording of Shostakovich' Eighth Symphony, which is given such a harrowing and suspenseful interpretation (also helped by the wonderfully deep and clear sound-picture, the wide hall-acoustics providing a nice reverberation to the sound, providing the music with extra 'gravity') by Maestro Barshai.
But Valery Gergiev seems to invoke just that little extra bit of suspense, even if the sound-picture isn't as 'soaringly wide' as for Rudolf Barshai. As usual, maestro Gergiev coaxes the orchestra to give their all in colors and emotions, finely nuanced but with shattering power and conviction. At least, this is what I feel. The playing of the WDR Sinfonieorchester under Barshai sounds more 'soaring', especially the flutes and high violins (mainly the result of the recording venue?) but at the same time somewhat more 'relaxed'. The genius Valery Gergiev invokes just that little extra energy (which also characterizes his magnificent 'Tchaikovsky Six' with the same orchestra), with a certain 'rawness' of tone that lays bare all of the nerves. The orchestral sound is massive. I truly love the piercing, crisply articulated trumpet in the Allegro non troppo third movement. All of the playing is at a same level of acuteness and crispness. Under Valery Gergiev, this recording has come out as one of pure, unadorned beauty and often white hot intensity.
Just a little remark on the music itself, to get that off my chest. I think I have seldomly heard such haunting, harrowing music as by Dmitry Shostakovich - the suppression, loathing, fear and horror often truly leap from the music -, and especially this Eighth Symphony. I believe that Valery Gergiev is a master in laying bare all the angst and nervous energy of this flabbergastingly intense music. This album is not to be missed by anyone who loves Shostakovich' music (including, still more and more, I myself).
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