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Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9, Violin Concerto No. 1 - Kavakos / Gergiev

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9, Violin Concerto No. 1 - Kavakos / Gergiev

Mariinsky  MAR0524

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9; Violin Concerto No. 1

Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Mariinsky Orchestra
Valery Gergiev


The Mariinsky’s Shostakovich cycle has been an internationally acclaimed project, conducted by the foremost interpreter of our time.

Symphony No 9 is a deeply powerful composition in which Shostakovich delivered a work that was ‘Haydn-like in its proportions and Rossini-like in its wit.’ (Timothy Day). Through the symphony Shostakovich unmasked the truth behind the ideology and pomp of the officials. The people in power saw this symphony as a calculated provocation and made the composer’s life almost unbearable, and Shostakovich would not premiere another symphony until the death of his oppressor, Stalin, in 1953.

This symphony is coupled with the late, dark and introspective Violin Concerto No 1, performed here by Leonidas Kavakos, who was awarded Gramophone’s Artist of the Year 2014. Kavakos is recognised throughout the world as an artist of rare quality, known at the highest level for his virtuoso skills, superb musicianship and the integrity of his playing.

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Review by Graham Williams - May 2, 2015

In a departure from the pattern of the earlier issues of Valery Gergiev's on-going cycle of Shostakovich's Symphonies with the Mariinsky Orchestra, this latest release couples the 9th Symphony not with another symphony but with the composer's Violin Concerto No.1 in an utterly compelling performance from the Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos.

This is the second time Gergiev has recorded the 9th Symphony with the Mariinsky Orchestra (formerly called the Kirov Orchestra). His previous recording of it appeared 13 years ago on the Philips label coupled with the 5th Symphony Shostakovich: Symphonies 5 & 9 - Gergiev .
This new account is more purposeful and confident than the earlier one. It opens with a suitably brisk first movement, and Gergiev finds greater depth of feeling in the wistful Moderato that follows. The scherzo is brilliantly executed by the Mariinsky players and the gradual change of mood into the mock solemnity of the Largo with its sepulchral brass fanfares and long bassoon recitative is convincingly handled. Gergiev opens the humorous finale at a steady pace, allowing for some characterful wind playing from his fine orchestra. He gradually racks up the tension to reach a tremendous hammering climax before speeding to the final pages with thrilling panache.

Shostakovich began composition of his 1st Violin Concerto in 1947-8 though it was a further seven years before its premier took place. The concerto is dedicated to David Oistrakh who gave the first performance with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Evgeny Mavrinsky in October 1955.
The concerto is in four contrasting movements (slow-fast-slow-fast) each of which has a title that provides an indication of its character – Nocturne, Scherzo, Passacaglia, and Burlesque.
The technical and interpretative challenges of this work for the soloist, who hardly has a break in the concerto's 37 minute duration, are immense but all are met magnificently by Kavakos. He brings a mesmerising inwardness to the austere Nocturne and a searing lyricism to both the Passacaglia and the formidable cadenza that follows. The Scherzo and Burlesque are delivered with a blistering energy and panache that is matched by Gergiev's coruscating accompaniment and the fiercely incisive playing that he elicits from the Mariinsky Orchestra.

The liner notes state that both works were recorded live in the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg (June 2011 and June 2012) in DSD. The recordings are free from applause or any audience presence and the sound is both vivid and atmospheric.

A splendid addition to Gergiev's emerging Shostakovich series.

Copyright © 2015 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

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