Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos.1-15

A Standard Set - Many of the recordings on these discs I first knew on LP. Kirill Kondrashin was always among my favorite Russian conductors and it is wonderful to have his Shostakovich symphonies on CD. Compared to many of the recordings made today Maestro Kondrashin s tempi are fast and the recordings (like those from conductors Mravinsky, Svetlanov and Rhodesvetsky) have a visceral feel. More recently, conductors like Valery Gergiev and Mistislav Rostropovich have adopted slower tempi that seek to probe the drama of the music. This approach rewarding but it is interesting to listen to the work of conductors who worked with Shostakovich. Disc 1: The First Symphony is very well played and exuberant. It certainly is among the best recordings of the symphony. The Twelfth received a rousing performance. Disc 2: The Second Symphony comes in at a fast 16:45 as compared to Haitinck at 20:26 but the symphony looses nothing in the way of sharpness of detail. The Second is paired with the Fourteenth, which is nicely played but does not approach the performance of Rudolf Barshai (who conducted the premiere). The recording of the Fourteenth by Benjamin Britten (the Western premiere) is also very fine and has Galina Vishnevskaya, who performed at the Russian premiere. The bass Evgeny Nesterenko is very dramatic and wonderful in the symphony while Evgenya Tselovalnik sings well but is not quite in the caliber of Vishnevskaya. The Kondrashin performance is very good but not a first choice.Disc 3: This Third Symphony is nicely performed, well recorded and played at a fast tempo. This recording ranks alongside Haitinck s acclaimed reading as one of the best of this symphony. The Fifth is characterized by quick tempos that severing to increase the tension in the first movement. At times, there seems to be some strain in the playing. But quiet passages are nicely played and the third movement has all of the depth one would want. The final movement comes off nicely with Kondrashin using the slower tempo for the conclusion as a forced triumph but somehow it does not seem as convincing as other Fifths I have heard. The quicker tempos increase the intensity in this movement at the expense of making it more superficial. This is a reading with some beautiful moments but ultimately it is not among the best.Disc 4: The Fourth Symphony is the premiere recording of this music, on that I had when it was on LP. Maestro Kondrashin plumbs the depths of this emotional symphony in a performance that has stood the test of time. Certainly, this recording has not been surpassed for conveying the triumph and dark anger underlying the music. It is a please to have it again. Disc 5: The Sixth Symphony is conducted with a fast tempo sounding more angry than bleak. The Allegro and Presto, the dual opposites of the first movement, are played with precision and charm. The Tenth Symphony is given a solid reading with close attention being paid to the dynamics of the score. Disc 6: The Seventh Symphony is beautifully performed with an expansive first movement that captures the essence of the struggle against evil. The Moderato movement is a nicely played respite from the somber atmosphere and the final two movements are magnificently played presenting a real struggle as opposed to a showpiece. Disc 7: This is a powerful reading of the Eight Symphony that ranks among the very best. The anger of the first movement is astonishing, the difficult Allegretto and Allegro non troppo movements show the fantastic playing of the Moscow Philharmonic at their best. The gray mood of the Largo is superbly captured as is the renewed conflict in the final movement. Disc 8: I had the Ninth on an LP and grew up with this vibrant recording. Kondrashin takes an energetic and thoughtful approach to the music, bubbling with enthusiasm and introspection in the Moderato. The Fifteenth Symphony may have been better served by Maxim Shostakovich (who premiered it in 1972) but I find Kondrashin s performance a delight. This recording has been criticized for lacking in quality but I think it is a great performance played with attention to detail and enthusiasm. Disc 9: The Eleventh Symphony is played fast with a lot of power and is equal to Mravinsky s premiere recording (on Russian Disc) in expression. Disc 10: The Thirteenth was premiered by Kondrashin under the disapproving eye of the Soviet government. This is a studio recording from 1967 but retains all of the anger of the very first recording (on Russian Disc). This is a symphony that was close to Kondrashin and nobody conducts it as he did.The CDs are packaged in a hard box with each in a paper sleeve. There is a booklet that discusses the life of Kirill Kondrashin but does not include the texts. The sound is good and the re-mastering process excellent but there is some occasional distortion. Still, this is a rare opportunity to have all of the Kondrashin Shostakovich symphonies and should not be missed.