Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 11 - Symphony No. 13, "Babi Yar"
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DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Symphonies, Vol 11 - Symphony No. 13, "Babi Yar"
Alexander Vinogradov (bass), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko
[ Naxos / CD ]
Release Date: Wednesday 1 October 2014
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Shostakovich wrote his Symphony No. 13, Op. 113 in 1962. The climax of his 'Russian period' and, in its scoring for bass soloist, male chorus and orchestra, among the most Mussorgskian of his works, it attracted controversy through its settings of poems by Yevgeny Yevtushenko (the 'Russian Bob Dylan' of his day)-not least the first movement, where the poet underlines the plight of Jews in Soviet society. The other movements are no less pertinent in their observations on the relationship between society and the individual. This is the final release in Vasily Petrenko's internationally acclaimed symphonic cycle.
"Vasily Petrenko's generally sensational Shostakovich cycle concludes with this powerful and gripping performance of the Thirteenth Symphony. Naxos' sonics are also excellent, with particularly well-judged balances between the choir and the orchestra. Vinogradov's voice is well caught too, but not so close so as to sound as if he's shouting into your ear. I do wish the ominously tolling bell had been more prominent, especially in loud passages, but having heard this piece in concert numerous times I can attest that this is how it usually sounds. Naxos' booklet contains the transliterated text and English translation, not something to be counted on these days. A great ending to a great cycle." (10/9 ClassicsToday)
"The power this performance accumulates at the climaxes of the second and third movement is lacerating; the men's choruses may not sound totally Russian, but Alexander Vinogradov is a superb bass soloist, and Vasily Petrenko is as good at gloomy introspection as he is at brittle confrontation" (Observer)
"Petrenko's nose for characterisation and his often startling attention to the dynamics of the piece make it feel not counterfeit at all but rather something he made earlier in his home city of St Petersburg...[Vinogradov] deploys his haunting head voice to poignant, almost unearthly effect." (Gramophone)
