Description
Valery Gergiev continues his Shostakovich symphony cycle with an emotionally-charged performance of the Seventh Symphony. Shostakovich dedicated his Symphony No 7 to the defiance shown by the citizens of Leningrad in the face of Nazi totalitarianism. Despite the widespread reassessment that has since taken place regarding the inspirations for his symphonies, the Leningrad symphony remains a highly-potent symbol for the residents of modern-day St Petersburg. Previous releases in Gergiev s Shostakovich cycle have included Symphonies Nos 1 & 15, 2 & 11 and 3 & 10. Between them they have received two Grammy Award nominations, as well as Chocs from Classica (France) and Editor s Choices from Gramophone. Gergiev will conduct Shostakovich symphonies with the Rotterdam Philharmonic in December, and complete the Brahms & Szymanowsky cycles with the LSO in London. In January the Mariinsky orchestra will perform a number of Shostakovich symphonies with Gergiev in France and in February they return to Russia for performances of Shchedrin s ‘Dead Souls’ and Strauss ‘Elektra’.
Gergiev holds the heroic aspect (comparison with Orfeo recording) but one also suffused with tragedy … Gergiev is … magnificently controlled at all stages, and he draws eloquent playing from his orchestra … very well and intelligently recording –John Warrack, Gramophone February 2013