Schubert: Death and the Maiden & Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

Roman Simovic has a tendency to launch phrases with a penetrating sniff but secures characterful and energetic results, the very occasional imprecision let through in the interests of emotional... — Gramophone Magazine, April 2016 More…

Release Date: 4th Mar 2016
Catalogue No: LSO0786
Label: LSO Live
Length: 66 minutes

In stock

Usually despatched within 1 working day

Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810 'Death and the Maiden'

Work length42:46

Album only

LSO String Ensemble, Roman Simovic

I. Allegro

Track length16:03

Album only

II. Andante con moto

Track length14:09

$1.60

$2.00

$2.35

III. Scherzo - Allegro molto

Track length3:44

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

IV. Presto

Track length8:50

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a (Arr. Barshai)

Work length23:39

$5.00

$6.25

$7.25

LSO String Ensemble, Roman Simovic

I. Largo

Track length5:14

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

II. Allegro molto

Track length2:57

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

III. Allegretto

Track length4:41

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

IV. Largo

Track length6:15

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

V. Largo

Track length4:32

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

About
Reviews
Explore

About

The LSO String Ensemble, led by LSO leader Roman Simovic, gives magnificent performances of Schubert (arr Mahler) and Shostakovich. This is the second LSO String Ensemble release on LSO Live, following the acclaimed recording of Tchaikovsky's 'Serenade for Strings' and Bartók's 'Divertimento'. Schubert s 'Death and the Maiden' Quartet, heard here in Mahler s stunning arrangement, is one of the most popular pieces in the repertoire. The original Quartet was written soon after Schubert had suffered from a significant period of illness, and some have speculated that it is the composer s testament to death. The piece gains its title from the second movement, which is a set of five variations based on the melody of one of Schubert s most poignant songs, Death and the Maiden, in which a girl struggles against the terror of impending death, that grisly man of bone , who casts himself as a welcome friend. The Chamber Symphony in C minor is an arrangement for string orchestra of Shostakovich s String Quartet No 8, prepared with the composer s approval by the violist, conductor, and founder of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Rudolf Barshai. Shostakovich s Eighth Quartet was written over just three days in 1960 and the composer, deeply depressed at that time, initially intended it to be his last work. The piece is full of quotations that hold a deeply personal significance, including a motif from Tchaikovsky s 'Pathétique' Symphony, and references to several of Shostakovich s own works. Most strikingly, Shostakovich s initials DSCH are embedded throughout the entire work, giving the piece an intensely personal musical fingerprint. This performance was recorded live at the Barbican on 26 April 2015 as part of the LSO International Violin Festival. The LSO String Ensemble were filmed in 360 VR during this performance and this footage will be used to support the release of this hybrid SACD.

Reviews

April 2016

Roman Simovic has a tendency to launch phrases with a penetrating sniff but secures characterful and energetic results, the very occasional imprecision let through in the interests of emotional electricity

Classical Music May 2016

The current performance is as fine as any, tense and detailed.

Herald Scotland 22nd April 2016

You cannot fault the impressive ensemble sound, the fabulous playing, or the unanimity of purpose...The LSO’s string playing with leader-violinist Roman Simovic is out of this world in almost every respect, from polish to immediacy of impact.

Schubert: Death and the Maiden & Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor

SACD

Downloads

Contents

Download queue