Leonard Slatkin recorded only a handful of Shostakovich symphonies for RCA, of which this Fourth is the finest. Indeed, it’s one of the best performances of this work on disc. Slatkin’s highly idiomatic reading emphasizes musical values–propulsive rhythms, piercing accents, bold colors, fully fleshed-out textures, and perfectly gauged tempos–over exaggerated emotion, and the result is a powerfully affecting performance. The opening movement launches boldly: right away the first climax, with brazen brass, generates terrific energy, and it’s all captured by RCA’s vivid and detailed recording (which needs to be played at high volume to get its full impact). Even more impressive is the string fugato near the end of the development, which the St. Louis strings negotiate magnificently despite Slatkin’s frantic pace.
In the sardonic scherzo Shostakovich’s myriad instrumental effects express themselves with uncommon clarity; the woodwinds sound especially perky here, and also in the finale’s rollicking dance episodes. Indeed, the entire St. Louis Symphony turns in a virtuoso performance, equaling if not surpassing the Chicago Symphony with Previn. Of course, such perfection and polish are not the only ways to do the Shostakovich Fourth–some listeners may prefer the raw, edgy playing style of Järvi and the Scottish National Orchestra, or the near-militaristic virtuosity of the USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony for Rozhdestvensky. But for an experience of sheer orchestral opulence Slatkin’s version can’t be beat. Available through Arkivmusic.com’s on-demand service. [5/16/2008]
