Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 11 (2010) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 11 (2010)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:16:04 minutes | 1,42 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Mariinsky

Shostakovich’s Second and Eleventh Symphonies are both inspired by Russian revolutions. The Eleventh Symphony, “The Year 1905”, marks the bloody revolution of its namesake year. It is an astonishingly atmospheric symphony, of cinematic breadth, especially the second movement which depicts the Bloody Sunday massacre in St Petersburg.

Symphony No 2 was written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution. Though it is a much shorter work than the Eleventh, clocking in at less than 20 minutes, it is by no means any less dramatic. Although dismissed as an experiment by the composer later in his career, it remains an important step in the development of one of history’s greatest symphonists. Here Valery Gergiev, along with the Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus, delivers definitive performances of both works.

‘Gergiev’s account is simply hair-raising [Symphony No 11]. Even by today’s high standard of orchestral playing, I suspect some orchestras would have trouble keeping up with Gergiev’s driving, intense approach: the Mariinsky players stick to him like glue. This is the best-recorded traversal of Symphony No 2’ –American Record Guide

‘Performed here with total conviction … Gergiev captures its brooding majesty in a tense and involving performance, distinguished by the terrifying sound of the St Petersburg winds’ –Financial Times

Tracklist:
01. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 2 in B major ‘To October’ Op 14 – I. Largo – Crotchet = 152 – Poco meno mosso – Allegro molto (07:18)
02. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 2 in B major ‘To October’ Op 14 – II. Crotchet = 152 – Meno mosso – Moderato (05:26)
03. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 2 in B major ‘To October’ Op 14 – III. Chorus ‘To October’ (06:40)
04. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 11 in G minor ‘The year 1905’ Op 103 – I. The Palace Square: Adagio (15:10)
05. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 11 in G minor ‘The year 1905’ Op 103 – II. The 9th of January: Allegro (17:17)
06. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 11 in G minor ‘The year 1905’ Op 103 – III. In memoriam: Adagio (10:28)
07. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky Orchestra, Mariinsky Chorus – Symphony No 11 in G minor ‘The year 1905’ Op 103 – IV. Tocsin: Allegro non troppo (13:43)

Personnel:
Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus
Valery Gergiev conductor

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