Shostakovich – Symphony No. 5 – BBC NOW / Otaka / 2013 recording

BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Tadaaki Otaka, conductor

(BBC Music Magazine Cover Disc May 2014 / BBCMM370)

https://mega.co.nz/#!wsYSGZgZ!Q0Cz5zaQnkpWG7RqhdGDoWnvzlwB1qeDTtn-WK3Le4Q

My rip at FLAC Level 8. Booklet "scans" included.

I’m sure everybody’s heard Shostakovich’s symphonies a thousand times and already has their favourite "set" – but it’s always worth listening to an alternative interpretation every now and again, if only to hear the music from a different perspective.

This performance is a recording of a BBC concert given in February of last year, in Cardiff. Japanese conductor Tadaaki Otaka helms the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in a very good, muscular performance, full of wry Shostakovich swagger and sardonic humour. The booklet provides a good potted history of the composer’s life and struggle to maintain artistic integrity whilst at the same time keeping the Communists happy. It tells the "behind the scenes" story of the fifth symphony, explaining how the meaning of the symphony was (thankfully) completely missed by the Soviet authorities.

A nice introduction to Shostakovich if you’re not familiar with his music, and even if you are, a worthy performance with much to enjoy.

Booklet is included although I am experiencing some scanner problems at the moment – so the "scans" are in fact photographs. They look good enough. If you look closely at the back cover you can see a reflection of me taking the photograph. It’s a Samsung Galaxy S4 if anybody wonders. 😛

Enjoy 🙂
TT