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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93 - I Moderato |
| 2. II Allegro |
| 3. III Allegretto |
| 4. IV Andante; Allegro |
| 5. Tormis: Overture No. 2 |
Product Description
CD Description
Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 is a work Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra know well. Following a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2003, The New York Times wrote, "the blistering performance of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10...showed the potential that Mr. Järvi and [the CSO] have, and suggest a powerful chemistry between them....The orchestra played with a transfixing ferocity." The piece was also featured prominently on a hugely successful CSO tour of Europe in April of 2008 that included sold-out performances in Vienna, Amsterdam and Paris. It was premiered in 1953 following the death of Stalin, and paints a bleak portrait of life under the dictator's rule. Many commentators believe that the whirlwind-like second movement is a musical representation of Stalin the man, and the havoc and destruction that followed in his wake.
Although Veljo Tormis is mostly recognized for his prolific choral works, his Overture No. 2, which was premiered in 1959, is an early, purely orchestral piece. Paavo Järvi, who is himself originally from Estonia believes that Tormis is one of the more important Estonian composers and that this Overture is something truly unique. He also suggests that between the epic statement of Shostakovich's tenth symphony and the sheer drama of the Tormis piece, we can hear the response of two different and distinct voices to the Stalinist era. On this disc the two pieces appear together as works emerging from two countries at a common point in their history, both sharing the same conviction, urgency and strength.
Personnel:
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4.5 stars... epic symphony brought beautifully, 28 Mar 2009
By Paul Allaer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10; Veljo Tormis: Overture No. 2 (Audio CD)
Since Paavo Jarvi became the Cincinnati Symphony's Music Director in September, 2001, the Telearc label has issued 2 albums a year of the CSO directed by Maestro Jarvi, pretty much like clockwork, one in the Fall, and one in the Spring. This is the 15th in the series.
This CD (68 min.) brings first and foremost Shostakovich's massive Symphony No. 10, which came with a lot of political overtones (written just after Stalin died in 1953). Shoshtakovich acknowledged as such in his memoirs (which is documented in the liner notes of this CD), saying that the second movement is a "musical portrait" of Stalin. The first movement is a gigantic 24 min. piece that plays out great, and Maestro Jarvi brings out the best in the orchestra, swimmingly moving it from the dark and quiet opening, to the climaxing sounds in between, only to exit again on the quiter notes, wow. The last movement is a great finish to this sometimes difficult, but always intruiging symphony. The added piece to this CD is Veljo Tormis' beautiful "Overture No. 2", which is a nice and logical addition (Tormis was a pupil of sorts of Shostakovich in his young years). To boot, Tormis wrote liner notes specifically for this release, thanking Maestro Jarvi (they are both from Estonia). In all, a great collection of music, and highly recommended!
As usual, courtesy the folks at Telearc, the recording/audio quality of this CD is nothing short of spectacular. Maestro Jarvi and the CSO went on a highly successful tour of Europe last year (I saw them in Paris and Amsterdam, what a delight that was), and this recording simply confirms the great work that Maestro Jarvi continues to do with the CSO.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Relentless Shostakovich, Energetic Tormis, 13 April 2009
By Dick Doc - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10; Veljo Tormis: Overture No. 2 (Audio CD)
The 10th is absolutely new to me. Heavy, oppressive, relentless in overtone, with scant relief throughout. I think the issue is the composition and not the performance, which meets its usual high standards, including the recording technique and Jarvi's exploration of inner voices. It's probably more me than the piece, but I can't see this joining my "Top 40" list. The Tormis (I had never before heard of him) was a pleasant surprise. Energetic, up-beat, well-played. A positive attitude that, following the 10th on the CD, lifted considerably its depressing effects on me.
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