SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7 in C, Op. 60 "Leningrad."
Royal Concertgebouw Orch/Mariss Jansons, cond.
RCO LIVE SACD 06002 TT: 74:37
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SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 2 in B, Op. 14 "To October." Symphony No. 12 in D minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917."
Giuseppe Verdi Milano Chorus and Orch/Oleg Caetani, cond.
ARTS SACD 47705 TT: 52:00
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SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 13 in B flat minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar."
Paval Kudinov, bass; Giuseppe Verdi Milano Chorus and Orch/Oleg Caetani, cond.
ARTS SACD 47708 TT: 55:48
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Here's another winner in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Live series, a stunning performance of Symphony No. 7 of Shostakovich recorded during performances in the Concertgebouw January 19 & 22, 2006. A touch slower than the conductor's 1988 Leningrad recording (just been reissued in a 10-CD EMI budget box containing all 15 symphonies, excerpts from The Gadfly, Tahiti Trot and the Jazz Suites, plus a 13-minute rehearsal with the Pittsburgh Symphony—a remarkable bargain!). The Concertgebouw resonance seems to somewhat diminish the highly percussive elements of the score, but the listener can luxuriate in the incredible richness of sound.

Oleg Caetani's Shostakovich series on Arts nears completion with these issues of Nos. 1, 12 and 13 (only 3 and 4 are yet to be released). Caetani (the son of famous conductor Igor Markevitch) is a compelling conductor and I found his treatment of the finale of Symphony No. 11 rather remarkable (see REVIEW). The problem with this series is orchestral playing that doesn't maintain a uniformly high standard and often sounds understaffed in the string department. There's no problem whatever with the sonics. Recorded live in July 2005 (Nos. 2 and 12) and May 2006 (No. 13), the sound is exceptionally wide in dynamic range. Balance of the chorus and bass Pavel Kudinov is outstanding as soloist in Babi Yar. Texts are provided in Russian and English.

R.E.B. (October 2006)

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