Shostakovich:
- Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 ‘Leningrad’
Performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons
Andris Nelsons has been familiar with the Russian musical tradition practically since he began his training as a conductor; after all, he studied in St. Petersburg with Alexander Titov and also with Mariss Jansons.
Now the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under its music director, Andris Nelsons, gives us a terrific reading of this symphony, with musical depth, and with strong contrasts between the rhythmic strength and the lyrical tenderness of this music.
The quiet opening of the first movement, and the disruption of that mood by the sudden sounds of a series of timpani rolls remain etched in the memory in spite of the final frenzy associated with the idea of victory.
Here is the Shostakovich 7th symphony, as performed by the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, with P. González, conducting:
And here is another performance of the Shostakovich Symphony No 7, first movement:
Tags: Shostakovich, Symphony #7 (Leningrad), Andris Nelsons