It’s very good to have a performance of this symphony featuring the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. After all, it was Mravinsky’s cowardly refusal to conduct the premiere with this same orchestra that constituted perhaps the most painful artistic betrayal in Shostakovich’s career, so in a manner of speaking, they owe him one. More to the point, the orchestra still has unique timbral qualities that suit the music perfectly, from the ominous and always audible “clank” of the bell, to the rich and weighty strings, to brass that have great power and presence at all dynamic levels. Add to that the expected excellence of the combined choirs of basses and a first-class soloist in Serge Aleksashkin, and the total package is tempting indeed.
Happily, Yuri Temirkanov is in excellent form as well. He paces the first movement with an ideal combination of urgency and ominousness. “Humor” offers the only possible place to take issue with the interpretation: the tempo is very quick, perhaps a bit too much so for optimal coordination between the orchestra and vocalists. But the last three movements are magnificent, with “Fears” incomparably full of dread, and the serenely flowing “A Career” unforgettably eloquent. If you love this masterpiece, then you will certainly want to add this version to your collection. The sonics are a touch low-level but otherwise are of a very high standard, with plenty of range and (when you turn the volume up) impact. [4/12/2007]
