This Shostakovich Tenth is a bit of a disappointment, especially in light of the generally compelling releases so far from Moscow Studio Archives. Vladimir Fedoseyev leads the work effectively, with relatively swift tempos allied to taut, idiomatic phrasing throughout all four movements–but there’s nothing especially memorable about his interpretation. The first-movement climax doesn’t grip the way Ancerl’s, Järvi’s, or Karajan’s does, and Fedoseyev certainly doesn’t match Ancerl’s manic drive in the scherzo. Most problematic is the third movement, where Fedoseyev’s undifferentiated conducting dilutes the music’s harmonic and rhythmic contrasts, rendering the dramatic climax in a rather matter-of-fact fashion. Part of the fault must lie with the Ostankino orchestra, which plays dutifully and professionally but provides little in the way of color or excitement. Better choices for a Russian-sourced Tenth would be Rozhdestvensky or Mravinksy, both originally on Melodiya. Otherwise stick with the must-have Ancerl, along with the other recommended versions.
