Performer: Evgeny Kissin
Orchestra: Moscow Virtuosi
Conductor: Vladimir Spivakov
Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: RCA
Size: 207 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Concerto No.1, Op.35
01. Allegro Moderato
02. Lento
03. Moderato
04. Allegro Brio; Presto
Chamber Symphony, Op.110a
05. Largo
06. Allegro Molto
07. Allegretto
08. Largo
09. Largo
7 Preludes, Op.34
10. №X: Moderato Non Troppo
11. №XVII: Largo
12. №XXIV: Allegretto
13. №XIV: Adagio
14. №XIII: Moderato
15. №VI: Allegretto; Moderato
16. №V: Allegro Vivace
An Older but Still Important Recording: Kissin & Shostakovich
Evgeny Kissin was but a young firebrand when he made this recording of the Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 (in 1989) and yet it still remains one of the more satisfying performances on record of this jaunty, elegiac, charmer of a work. Kissin digs right in with technique to burn, but he also is able to lean into the Lento movement with the warmth and restrained passion that makes it one of Shostakovich’s loveliest movements. In every way this performance is strong and spunky, including the trumpet obbligato by Vassili Kan.
Kissin is well supported by the Moscow Virtuosi conducted by the brilliant violinist Vladimir Spivakov (Spivakov founded this ensemble). The tone is vibrant and sensitive and Spivakov makes the accompanying Chamber Symphony based on the Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 play like the extended tonal complexity it is. Strangely Spivakov also conducts seven of the orchestral transcriptions (by Viktor Poltoratsky) of Shostakovich Preludes for Piano Opus 34, works rarely performed and for some good reasons… Better to have chosen another of the Shostakovich chamber works. But in all this is a fine recording, especially of the Piano concerto, with superb sound and the chance to explore some aspects of Shostakovich unknown even to the avid collectors of the master’s works. Recommended. Grady Harp