Shostakovich Rostropovich Nso - Symphony 11 (4 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Rostropovich is the best 11th

R. Kunath | Illinois, USA | 07/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another review of this recording states that the playing is too soft. I think this is a problem of the recording having been made at a rather low level. If you turn up the volume there is no problem, and Rostrpovich's 11th is the best that I have heard. Tempos are slower than usual (much slower than the 1950's Mravinsky), but the intensity and concentration of the playing are exceptionally gripping. I listen to other versions of this symphony, but no one that I have heard (Montgomery, Jansons, Mravinsky) makes it work as well as Rostropovich. If you like Shostakovich, you can't live without this."

11th too lowly ranked amongst Shostakovich's mighty 15

R. Kunath | 02/09/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dmitri Shostakovich, the brilliant 20th century Soviet composer is surely credited as a genius. Not all of his works, however, have fallen in that category. Thanks to Rostrapovich and the National Symphony this little known symphony (as compared to the 1st, 5th, 7th, & 10th) is brought to life. While the playing is a little soft at times it's ultimately an extremely satisyfying recording commemorating the suppression of the 1905 Revolution. The second mvmt. (The Ninth of January) will send a chill up your spine with its eerie martial beats and overwhelming power. The fourth mvmt quotes Polish freedom song "Warsawjanka" and is amazing. The ominous bells at the end surely allude to the oppressive fist that Shostakovich composed under. His work always carries such an interesting duality to it, and the mighty 11th sympony is no exception."

Critically Underrated

Bryan Catanzaro | Albany, CA United States | 12/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An amazing performance. I am captivated by its intense feelings, especially the thunderous finale of the fourth movement. I recently bought Stokowski's rendition, but it doesn't hold a candle to this recording. Very tight rhythmically, thoroughly enjoyable."

Stunning and Spine-Shivering

Mithridates VI of Pontus | United States | 11/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mstislav Rostropovich certainly delivers in this amazing recording of Dmitri Shostakovich's underrated and underperformed 11th Symphony. Ostensibly composed to commemorate the 1905 uprising against the Tsar that resulted in the massacre of the protesters, however, his hidden musical references have led many to believe that he was also depicting the brutality of Soviet conduct in Hungary. The National Symphony had bells especially made for this recording. The tolling at the stunning climax sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it. The volume (as many have said) does need to be turned up higher on the CD player however, this does not change the actually sound. Shostakovich uses substantial percussion in this piece, reminiscent of the second movement of the fourth symphony, but very unlike the spry sounds of the introverted 15th it is piercing and brutal (gunfire, soldiers marching etc). The first movement tends to put many listeners off since it is essentially 15 minutes of slowly setting up the atmosphere of the icy palace square (if you go by the official program) that is soon to be the scene of the massacre. The CD also has a very good pamphlet that explains the background and various interpretations of this symphony. This is an amazing recording by a brilliant interpreter of Shostakovich."

My favorite 11th

John F. Baker | New Hampshire | 03/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have owned this recording of Shostakovich's 11th symphony for seven years, and it remains my favorite. Played loud, it achieves a degree of intensity and terror - esp. in the slaughter scene in the second movement! - that surpasses anything I have heard on disc.

I, too, recently bought the legendary Stokowski recording, and it has a great deal going for it, mostly its queezy ambience, but it disappoints at key moments. This Rostropovich recording plays very quietly at times, but it offers huge dynamic range and comes through big time in the crescendos.

Surprizingly, this studio recording is more intense than the live recording Rostropovich did with the LSO. The Jansons recording is more sonorous but far less menacing.

I am still curious about a few other recordings of the 11th symphony I have read about, but for now this one remains my favorite."

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	Shostakovich, Rostropovich, Nso Symphony 11 Genre: Classical Track Listings (4) - Disc #1 Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: The Palace Square Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: The Ninth Of January Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: In Memoriam Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: The Tocsin
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