Mariss Jansons - Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies, Cello Concertos & Piano Concertos - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

One year after the successful of the 2nd and 3rd symphonies by Johannes Brahms, the present double CD now completes the full cycle of Brahms's symphonies, as performed by the Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under the direction of Mariss Janson's. Only a few weeks ago, Mariss Janson's finished the recording of the 4th symphony in Munich's Herkulessaal. Along with his 1st symphony (InchBeethoven's TenthInch), it puts the finishing touch on the complete performance of Johannes Brahms' symphonic works, compositions oriented around the creativity of his great role model, yet in many ways also forward-looking and innovative.

Limited 26 disc (21 CD + 5 DVD) edition. Over Mariss Jansons' long tenure as Music Director of the Oslo Philharmonic, from 1979 to 2002, the Latvian-born conductor rose to global pre-eminence and the Norwegian orchestra cemented it's international reputation. Trained in St Petersburg, and mentored by Yevgeny Mravinsky and Herbert von Karajan, Jansons took up his position in Oslo at the age of 36. InchThe artistic leader is responsible for the quality of the orchestra,Inch he said, InchHe must think of the orchestra constantlyInch. He praised the Oslo Philharmonic for it's Inchidentity and unique soundInch and Inchexceptionally strong work ethic and discipline... without a trace of arrogance, superficiality or routine thoughtInch. The 21CD set comprises all the Warner Classics recordings they made together and reflects Jansons' special mastery of music of the later Romantic era and the 20th century. Entirely new to the catalogue are 5 DVDs of concerts originally broadcast on Norwegian television and offering works by Sibelius, Mahler, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Strauss and Franck.

Composed over a period of nearly 50 years, Dmitri Shostakovich's 15 symphonies are astonishingly diverse in conception and expression, reflecting the composer's personal experiences, the history of the 20th century and the tensions and struggles of an artist under the Soviet regime. These recordings fulfil a promise that Mstislav Rostropovich made to the composer, a close and long-standing friend, before he left Russia as an exile in 1974. 'These symphonies mark fifteen stages in our lives,' he said. 'The emotional history of our country, my history, his history, our history.'