Emil Tabakov and the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra reach Volume 6 in their series traversing Shostakovich's Symphonies.
On their new release they feature Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 and Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54.
Shostakovich's 6th Symphony is one of his least well known pieces. First performed in 1939, it has the unusual structure of a long opening slow movement (nearly eighteen minutes on this recording), followed by two short, sharp faster movements, while Shostakovich's 5th Symphony is probably his most celebrated work and one of the great classics of the last century.
Both works receive tremendous performances, which are recorded in the Highest of Fi.