Shostakovich: Complete Concertos

Dmitry Shostakovich (Composer), André Previn (Conductor), Maxim Shostakovich (Conductor), Seiji Ozawa (Conductor), Vladimir Ashkenazy (Conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Orchestra), Cristina Ortiz (Performer), Peter Jablonski (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Cristina Ortiz, Peter Jablonski
• Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
• Conductor: André Previn, Maxim Shostakovich, Seiji Ozawa, Vladimir Ashkenazy
• Composer: Dmitry Shostakovich
• Audio CD (March 9, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000C6IW1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,632 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful collection, April 11, 2008

By 

Kyle S. Meyer, Jr. (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shostakovich: Complete Concertos (Audio CD)

This collection represents some of the finer recordings made of Shostakovich's concertos (that I have heard). They are by no means definitive, but the soloists' performances are superb (albeit, in places, idiosyncratic), the sound engineering is flawless, and each of the conductors displays a remarkable orchestral craftsmanship for some, at times, very irregular pieces.

Of particular merit are the first piano and violin concertos.

The composer himself set the standard for performance of the former, so, of course, it can't really be said that Peter Jablonsky does a "better" job of it, but he does an outstanding job, indeed. Raymond Simmons' trumpet performance is perfectly proportioned and wonderfully mixes with the piano and strings--it is at times lyrical and reserved, at times haunting (as uncommon an adjective that may be to describe a trumpet performance), at times lighthearted, but never overbearing, as the trumpet tends to be in performances in this piece.

The first violin concerto was dedicated to David Oistrakh, whose performance of it is widely considered paramount, but I actually prefer this one by Viktoria Mullova; Oistrakh's vibrato is too tremulous and his bowing too aggressive for my taste. Mullova is expressive without being melodramatic, articulate without being harsh. The immensity and sincerity of feeling in, particularly, the third movement passacaglia is of a degree not often achieved in music. Also--If one appreciates Mullova's interpretation of this piece, one ought also give Hilary Hahn's a try.

This two-CD set is an amazingly good purchase. The avid Shostakovich fan will appreciate the artful handling of these brilliant compositions, and it would serve, I imagine, as a wonderful introduction of his works to the new listener, as the concertos span the bulk of his career and reflect very well the evolution of his voice as a composer.

Fantastic buy. Very satisfied.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful addition to a CD collection!, June 14, 2009

By 

Sam M. (Slidell, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shostakovich: Complete Concertos (Audio CD)

I only want to add to Kyle Meyer's review, since he neglected to say anything of the cello concertos (the main reason why I bought the set).

Heinrich Schiff plays with precision, capturing the feel and energy of the work making this recording absolutely riveting. He can be extremely clean, a term often applied to Yo-Yo Ma's playing and usually negatively so, but I don't think this is a bad quality. Personally, I would prefer to hear a little more risk in the first movement of the First Concerto (a performance by Han-Na Chang comes to mind), but am grateful for his passion and command of both the instrument and Shostakovich's concertos. However, unlike Chang, he makes the third movement cadenza sound easy (as with everything else).

The Second Concerto is equally as powerful as the first, but in a different way. If the First Concerto is a war, then the Second Concerto is the consequences of a war. Overall, it is desolate, melancholic, and ironically beautiful at times. The third movement horns play a macabre fanfare that leaves a chilling aftertaste in the listener's ears. The work ends like lights being turned off in a bedroom, suddenly and quietly (the only concerto to end without a bang).

So far, Schiff's renderings are my favorite. This collection immediately became one of my more valued CD's.

Also of note, Maxim Shostakovich conducts the cello concertos with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Maxim is brilliant, making both orchestra and cello come together like one well-oiled machine.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, July 24, 2007

By 

Deborah L. Risberg (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shostakovich: Complete Concertos (Audio CD)

This 3-CD set is amazing! It is classic Shostakovich, and the quality of the playing is impeccable. I especially love the first cello concerto.