London Symphony Orchestra / Noseda,Gianandrea - Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos.5 & 1 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

For Gianandrea Noseda, the Ninth is Shostakovich at his most 'classical', but a modern statement nonetheless. InchStalin wanted a celebration of the victory of Russia, and Shostakovich came out with a sort of opera buffa symphony,Inch the LSO's Principal Guest Conductor says. InchShort, witty, lots of sarcasm. I can really feel his wish to go against what was expected of him.Inch The Tenth Symphony was written after Stalin's death and allegedly portrays the tragedy, despair, terror and violence of his tenure. The second movement is a musical portrait of Stalin, a march of unremitting terror and frenzied violence, while the finale contains some of the slowest music of the whole symphony, a reminder of the desolation of the Gulag prisoners.

Alto returns Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra's critically acclaimed recordings of Jean Sibelius' Symphonies Nos 2 & 5 to international availability. Hailed as Gramophone Magazine and Classic FM discs of the month upon initial , Sir Colin Davis is a strong advocate for the music of Jean Sibelius. Davis was once quoted as saying, Inchconducting Sibelius is like looking at oneself in the mirror. I look in the mirror and see the pitilessness of life, yet I find the strength to go on. Sibelius was happy when he was in company, depressed when he was alone. I am the same'. Each of Sibelius's seven numbered symphonies possesses a quite different character, a fact that has led his followers to assert that he is the finest symphonist since Beethoven. These two renditions have been brought back to life in these newly remastered editions from Paul Arden-Taylor. InchDavis reminds us now just how great he is in Sibelius with a marvellous new recording of the Second... The strength of this performance, where a patient (and more involving) build-up leads to a shattering finale. Davis loves Sibelius, and the orchestra clearly love playing it for him. Listening to a Sibelius performance of this calibre, there's no other composer one would rather hear.Inch -Gramophone, Album of the Month (Symphony No. 2) Album of the Month, Classic FM (Symphony No. 5) Album Tracks 1. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 I. Allegretto 2. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 II. Tempo Andante, Ma Rubato 3. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 III. Vivacissimo 4. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 IV. Allegro Moderato 5. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82 (1919 Version) I. Tempo Molto Moderato 6. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82 (1919 Version) II. Andante Mosso 7. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82 (1919 Version) III. Allegro Molto

(Sym.1) Incha good performance, with a strong feeling of chamber music to it and a remarkable attention to (occasionally exaggeration of) the quieter dynamic markings (Sym.3) Incha much better recorded account of the Third Symphony, is brilliantly played and very vividly characterized. I was particularly struck by Rozhdestvensky's use of solo instead of tutti strings in the slow section (with what justification I have no idea, but it is poignantly effective) and by his powerful dramatization of those huge orchestral recitatives that prepare for the choral finale they are massively and balefully eloquent, qualities that rivals miss by taking them very fast.Inch (Gramophone). Album Tracks 1. I. Allegretto - Allegro Non Troppo 2. II. Allegro 3. III. Lento 4. IV. Lento - Allegro Molto - Largo - Presto 5. I. Allegretto - Allegro 6. II. Andante 7. III. Largo 8. IV. Moderato 'V Pérvoye, Pérvoye Máya'