Dmitri Shostakovich

On this CD Yuri Temirkanov performs the Fifth Symphony with the orchestra that premiered it in 1937. It marked a decisive turning point in the career of a brilliant composer of operas (The Nose, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District) who was now condemned to silence.

The work resolved the dilemma of the symphonist who seeks to be at once innovative and accessible, and thus became, far beyond the borders of the Soviet Union, one of the 20th-century symphonies most frequently performed in the world. Recorded at the St Petersburg Philarmonia March 2012.

PHAIA MUSIC reissued Shostakovich's Trios for Piano and the both Sonatas for violin and viola respectively on this recording, brilliantly supported by Yakov Kasman (piano).

Continuing Ensemble Caprice’s critically acclaimed recordings, the Toronto Star said of this release:

“This is no ordinary recording of J.S. Bach’s six masterpieces of Baroque instrumental music. For starters, the pieces are interwoven with period-instrument transcriptions of piano music written in the early 1950s by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

It seems like a crazy mishmash, unless you happen to know that Shostakovich drew inspiration for his Op. 87 set of 24 preludes and fugues directly from Bach. With clever, colourful instrumentation and judicious transposition into different keys by Montreal-based Matthias Maute, old and newer compositions coexist as complements, shedding light back and forth on each other. This two-CD set is remarkable also for the vivid, richly textured, endearingly tousled performances by 25 members of Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice, led by conductor Maute. This is music one can savour over and over.”

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'.

The Ibuki Trio have unique experiences as performers and have appeared in major halls around the world, winning competitions and playing as soloists and chamber musicians.

Ben Wragg notably won the Making Music Young Concert Artist Award, the Countess of Munster Award, the Jerwood Foundation Scholarship and the Concordia Foundation. He has been described as "technically and musically out of the ordinary" by the legendary Ruggiero Ricci.

Kan Tomiat won the Kendall Taylor Beethoven Prize, the Hopkinson Gold Medal and the Florestano Rossomandi International Piano Competition in Italy (2004). He has been described by Japanese press thus: "superb technical accomplishment and poetry ...stunning".

Laura Anstee has an interest in world music genres, notably Jewish Klezmer, Gypsy, Balkan and Latin music, which has greatly enriched her approach to music today. She was awarded the Herbert Walenn prize, Douglas Cameron prize, McEwen prize and Gwyneth George prize.

The Ibuki Trio have unique experiences as performers and have appeared in major halls around the world, winning competitions and playing as soloists and chamber musicians.

Ben Wragg notably won the Making Music Young Concert Artist Award, the Countess of Munster Award, the Jerwood Foundation Scholarship and the Concordia Foundation. He has been described as "technically and musically out of the ordinary" by the legendary Ruggiero Ricci.

Kan Tomiat won the Kendall Taylor Beethoven Prize, the Hopkinson Gold Medal and the Florestano Rossomandi International Piano Competition in Italy (2004). He has been described by Japanese press thus: "superb technical accomplishment and poetry ...stunning".

Laura Anstee has an interest in world music genres, notably Jewish Klezmer, Gypsy, Balkan and Latin music, which has greatly enriched her approach to music today. She was awarded the Herbert Walenn prize, Douglas Cameron prize, McEwen prize and Gwyneth George prize.

Oleg Kargen and Sviatoslav Richter perform on this recording of Shostakovich sonatas.

Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducts this performance of Shostakovich’s fantastic 7th Symphony, The Lenningrad.