Shostakovich - Symphony 7 "Leningrad" / Gergiev (Multichannel Hybrid SACD) [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Dmitry Shostakovich (Composer), Valery Gergiev (Conductor), Mariinsky (Kirov) Theater Orchestra (Orchestra), Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Mariinsky (Kirov) Theater Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Valery Gergiev
• Composer: Dmitry Shostakovich
• Audio CD (August 12, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00008UAFX
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,641 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A performance so superb it makes a long symphony seem brief!, March 22, 2004

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shostakovich - Symphony 7 "Leningrad" / Gergiev (Multichannel Hybrid SACD) (Audio CD)

Valery Gergiev continues to grace the recording platform with exciting and meticulously crafted performances, especially of the Russian repertoire. This stunning interpretation of Shostakovich's SYMPHONY # 7, THE LENINGRAD is not only a near flawless live performance, it is unique in coupling the Kirov Orchestra with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. With such able forces at his beck and whim he is able to produce some of the grandest sound ever bestowed on this symphony. The big sounds are to be expected and when the visualization of war is the focus, the effect is overwhelming. Yet it is the way he makes the softest of sounds so pulsatile that is the mysterious merit of this CD. The entry of the strings introducing the infamous march tune that dominates the first movement is like a distant whisper of the cataclysm to come. All of the solo voices - the intrepid snare drum, the bass clarinet, bass bassoon, flutes, percussion, and indeed every section - glistens in technique. The inner slow movements of this symphony can be problematic in less facile conductors' hands, leaving the impression that perhaps this was not Shostakovich's best writing. But in Gergiev's concept these movements bloom with that 'echt' Russian sound that can bring any critic to his knees. Having just come from a performance of this work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing with luster and sheen under the baton of guest conductor Vassily Sinaisky (one of the already very fine concert season's more brilliant events), listening to this recording continues revelatory. Perhaps it takes a Russian conductor to find that special Russian sound: if that is so then we are much blessed with this very fine recording!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Gergiev Disc!, October 13, 2003

By 

Alan Craig (Grand Junction,CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shostakovich - Symphony 7 "Leningrad" / Gergiev (Multichannel Hybrid SACD) (Audio CD)

This recording of the Shostakovich Symphony no. 7 in C "Leningrad" is one where an event has been captured for posterity. As with many of Valery Gergiev's recordings there is a
sense of "occasion" here, it was recorded in September of 2001
in the Netherlands, but the occasion for the concert is not mentioned in the liner notes. The performance is quite stunning to say the least the first movement is one of the most frightening pieces of music I think I have ever heard. It is almost difficult to not listen to it and not feel like you are
waiting for something to happen to you. This is truly a "demonstration" SACD, I'm sure the CD also sounds quite good too. The liner notes tell the interesting story of how this work
found its way from what was then the Soviet Union, which was under siege from the Nazis to the West. The Sheet music was photographed and put on microfilm and flown to of all places Teheran, and then on to London and eventually New York where it was performed by Toscanini and the NBC Symphony. This disc can be called a "demonstration" SACD. It is a must for Gergiev fans and for those who appreciate the music of Dmitri Shostakovich.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even More SACD goodness, August 13, 2003

By 

Ken Bailey "mikoyan" (Ypsilanti, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shostakovich - Symphony 7 "Leningrad" / Gergiev (Multichannel Hybrid SACD) (Audio CD)

About a month ago, there was an interview of the Conductor on NPR for the release of this particular CD. They asked him the question of why did he use two orchestras, apparently the piece was meant to be played with two orchestras. They played some samples from it and I couldn't wait to get it. I was almost going to buy the standard format until I found out it was coming out on SACD, I'm glad I waited.
Of course I popped the CD in my car and it sounded pretty good. Then I popped the CD in my home unit and got to have my living room filled with the sounds of two symphonies. The repetitive music in the first movement really comes through clear. You can feel the impending doom that is about to befall Leningrad (or some people from Stalinism).
I hope they give the same treatment to the 8th at some point. I like that one a little better than this one.