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Review by Luukas April 30, 2014 (1 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Dmitri Shostakovich's (1906-1975) Fifth Symphony (1937) is composer's most famous symphony, and it appears from this Christopher Eschenbach's thrilling live recording. My first introduction of this work was Valery Gergiev's breathtaking recording on Philips. I heard it only stereo. But when I heard this, I was amazed: orchestra's sound is very powerful, and finale's triumphant coda sounds very cool!
The first movement (17'41) is good here. Eschenbach's tempi are slower than Gergiev's, but he brings new twists. The Philadelphia Orchestra plays sovereignly. The second movement (5:53) is peaceful, but it isn't dragging. The beautiful third movement (16:27) is very good. The first flute's sensitive solo is touching, and movement's dramatic middle part is strongly and frightening. Shostakovich fights against the Soviet Union. And the last movement (12'33) is the performance's most thrilling part: the timpani's angry rhythms and horn's dreamy solo sounds very effectively. The victoriously end (in D major) is huge, and audience's wild applause crowned the great performance.
The Seven Romance's aren't so interesting, but I like them. By the way, spectacular performance and outstanding recording!!!!
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