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Review by mwagner1962 June 19, 2005 (8 of 8 found this review helpful)
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Okay,
I am one of those bizarre classical lovers who buys multiple recordings of pieces I like, and Shostakovich's 7th Symphony is one of those pieces I love dearly!!
So, this new WaterLily was my third SACD title to become a member of my library. My other two SACDs are with Phillips/Gergiev/Kirov & Rotterdam and a Naxos with Yablonsky/Russian National Orchestra...
I will say right off that bat that the total timing of the Dmitriev (66:08) is by far the quickest by 8:12 over the Yablonsky/Naxos (75:20), and a whopping 12:26 over the Gergiev/Vienna (78:44!!). When I first saw the timing differences, I thought that the St. Petersburg was going to come off as a simple "let's get this over with and get to the bar"...not by any means!!! I will take the brisker temps of the WaterLily as it keeps the pace flowing, and does not let it almost die like some of the movements in the Phillips and the Naxos. This is especially true in the 3rd Movement, which is nearly painful to listen to on the Gergiev, and only okay on the Naxos.
Soundwise, the WaterLily once again tops the list as the most natural sounding of the three. Mr. Alexander's use of all digital recording aspects, finalized with the DSD mastering really makes for a superb sounding recording. The sound of the Phillips is also very nice (and far superior to Gergiev's other Shostakovich recordings done in the Mariinsky Theater. The Phillips SACD was done in De Doelen in Rotterdam).
However, one area where the Phillips trounces the Waterlily and Naxos is in the last movement. Gergiev has the brass sections of two orchestras on the left and right side of the stage, and in the last section of the 4th Movement, the two brass sections create a near orgasmic level of glorious sound that neither the St. Petersburg nor the Russian National can equal.
Sadly, there are some issues during the most quiet passages. Either St. Petersburg is a smoking hades, or it is the allergy capitol of the world as the coughing is totally awful. I sincerely hope that any future recording sessions that Kavi Alexander has with the St. Petersburg orchestras, that he can record the orchestras WITH NO PEOPLE in the hall!!!
This recording is another testament to Kavi Alexander's efforts. On his Mahler 5, Kavi had two nights to record. On this SACD (and the other WaterLily with Dmitriev and the Skryabin/Svetlanov) Kavi had one night and one night only to record this one performance!!!! No rehearsals, special sessions, etc...it was set up the mikes, check a few levels, and then hit the record button.
So, of the three SACDs of Shostakovich's 7th, the WaterLily reigns supreme in sound, and second in performance. Both the Phillips and the WaterLily simply top the Naxos, but the Naxos is another eventual review!!!
The WaterLily Shostakovich 7???? RECOMMENDED!!!!
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Review by Jonalogic August 12, 2010 (3 of 5 found this review helpful)
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Please check before you buy.
The performance here is decidedly sloppy from the Petersburg radio band (not to be confused with the REAL THING) and there are some very high-profile fluffs throughout. The emphysemic audience is also a fairly constant distraction.
The sound is startlingly clear and focussed, but rather lean, tonally, overly-distant and stage-compressed. All in all, I applaud the minimalist approach, but this works far better on Kavi's companion Scriabin/Svetlanov recording- although the music there is decidedly underwhelming.
I still have not found a good all-round Shostakovich 7 on SACD but -regretfully - I know this is not it!
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Sonics: 
