Shostakovich: Complete Concertos | Heinrich Schiff, Dmitry Shostakovich, ...

Shostakovich: Complete Concertos | Heinrich Schiff, Dmitry Shostakovich, ... | Fantastic!

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Shostakovich: Comp...

	Shostakovich: Complete Concertos Heinrich Schiff, Dmitry Shostakovich, ... Philips, 2004 average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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Wonderful collection

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.

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Fantastic!

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