It’s true that Mark Wigglesworth and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales may not exactly be household names, and their earlier recording of the same composer’s “Leningrad” Symphony wasn’t all that earth-shaking, but these two discs are simply fantastic. Shostakovich isn’t the sort of composer who requires that an orchestra demonstrate the ultimate in tonal refinement; a little rawness and edge actually make the music come alive. But he does demand 100 percent commitment from everyone concerned, and that’s exactly what Wigglesworth and his orchestra offer: intensity, urgency, and a willingness to push themselves to their limits. What’s more, BIS has provided excellent sonics–far richer than on the previous release–and a huge dynamic range. While not eclipsing the many existing excellent performances of many of these symphonies (Berglund in No. 6, Karajan in No. 10, Sanderling in No. 5), this two-disc set offers both excellent value and performances that clearly belong with the very best.
