Shostakovich & Britten / Symphonies 4 & 5 / Four Sea Interludes

Shostakovich (Artist), Britten (Artist), Previn (Artist), Cso (Artist), Lso (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000009OQT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,289 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!!, March 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Shostakovich & Britten / Symphonies 4 & 5 / Four Sea Interludes (Audio CD)

This is one incredible CD! Both orchestras are at the top of their game and the pieces are outstanding. Probably the "eye-catcher" on this album is Shostakovich's 5th symphony and this is one of my favorite performances, even though their are a couple tempos I would like to hear differently. The whole Chicago Symphony Orchestra, however, plays to their fullest and the brass climaxes are the best I've heard.

The Britten pieces are very beautiful compositions and are well worth listening to, but for me the most brilliant thing on this CD is Shostakovich's 4th symphony. This piece was written at the height of his political fury with Stalinist Russia and the music certainly tells all. This is one of the angriest pieces I've ever heard, and one of the most exciting. This performance, too is absolutely incredible. The string (and then tutti) fugue in the middle of the first movements is one of the most intense musical experiences I've had. The whole work is a true masterpiece and will leave you floored. Buy this CD. Of my 250 classical orchestral CDs, it's one of my favorites.

Note: to any brass player thinking about this CD, it's a must have. A MUST HAVE!!!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, March 27, 2007

By 

sam1858 "Sam" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shostakovich & Britten / Symphonies 4 & 5 / Four Sea Interludes (Audio CD)

This CD is a must have on one's shelf. The clarity and precision of the performers is formidable. Both the CSO and LSO deliver and make this CD duo a terrific buy. I highly recommend it. Totally worth it.
Shostakovich 4 & 5 are simply and utterly outstanding! The CSO is superb in their playing and truly convey the ironic sarcasm that both the 4th and 5th need. The CSO brass, simply amazing; the 1st movement of the Fourth, carries on with great power and vigor just as it should be.
Britten, performed by the LSO, is also incredible, though I am not a great fan of Britten, I still listen to Britten simply for the sake that the LSO gives it all.
There is power, precision, utter clarity, outstanding balance, and dynamics from both orchestras. Yet for my taste, and I know SOME will agree, is that Previn's tempi are a bit on the conservative side, which in my opinion does not allow for much excitement to happen. That would be my only "but." Yet, I totally, 100% recommend this recording to anyone and ENJOY!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, terrific, excellent, August 15, 2004

By 

Sungu Okan "Can Okan" (Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shostakovich & Britten / Symphonies 4 & 5 / Four Sea Interludes (Audio CD)

This is very good collection of two giant composers of 20th century. Already, Shostakovich and Britten were both very close friends. I think, sometimes in Britten's music, there are influences from Shostakovich. The performances of all works are very good. Shostakovich symphonies played with Chicago Symphony, Brittens played with London Symphony Orchestra.

Shostakovich's 4th is a lesser-known work. Because, in the years of 4th Symphony, still there is arguements of Lady Macbeth disaster premiere. But later, he answered to these with his ever-famous "The answer of a Russian artist to critics" 5th Symphony, and the premiere of it was a great success. He forgived by critics and he became the grandest symphony composer of Russia (U.S.S.R.).

In this set, there is the excerpts from Britten's most famous opera "Peter Grimes". It's 4 Sea Interludes are ever-famous. Especially, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th are very amazing. The 1st Interlude, "Dawn" is the games of wawes. 2nd interlude is "Sunday Morning". There is a brigth sunny sunday morning, and the bells of morning to be hear. Also, the flute solo plays a bird, who chirped sweetly. The 3rd Interlude is "Moonlight". It is a very romantic, touching music, and comparable with Beethoven's and Debussy's (Clair de lune) moonlight musics. The 4th Interlude is a terrible "Storm". It is very fantastic. All the interludes (also, the opera) are impressive, effective, orchestration are excellent.

Highly recommended.