Description:
This stunning new recording, taken from live performances in Berlin, features symphonies composed by Shostakovich early and late in his life. The 14th, a cycle of 11 songs, is a series of meditations of one sort or another on death(or immortality, dissent or loss of some sort), for solo bass and soprano voices, and scored for strings and percussion (made up of castanets, woodblock, three tom toms, whip, bells, vibraphone, xylophone, celesta). The songs are potent indeed, each being a microcosm of some type of pain, and Sir Simon Rattle has chosen superb soloists: Karita Mattila, at her most lyrical, refuses to shout, scaling her
This stunning new recording, taken from live performances in Berlin, features symphonies composed by Shostakovich early and late in his life. The 14th, a cycle of 11 songs, is a series of meditations of one sort or another on death(or immortality, dissent or loss of some sort), for solo bass and soprano voices, and scored for strings and percussion (made up of castanets, woodblock, three tom toms, whip, bells, vibraphone, xylophone, celesta). The songs are potent indeed, each being a microcosm of some type of pain, and Sir Simon Rattle has chosen superb soloists: Karita Mattila, at her most lyrical, refuses to shout, scaling her voice back to a point of intimacy when required, but of course with reserves of power; and Thomas Quasthoff, whose voice is more ravishing with each passing year, wrings all the feeling out of his texts. Rattle gets great playing from the orchestra, with the percussion startling with each of its aggressive entrances. The 1st Symphony is a huge contrast---very classical and bright, but also with surprising depth of feeling in the slow movement---a hint of what was to come in the composer's career. The performance is excellent, with particularly gorgeous, expressive playing from the oboes. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine
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Manufacturer: EMI Classics
Release date: 6 June 2006
EAN: 0094635807721 UPC: 094635807721
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