A lot has been said of these recordings elsewhere, and all the praise is justified. These recordings are marvellous, both in the recording quality and in the interpretations of Bernard Haitink, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

I think buying box-sets with one conductor is the best way to get a feel for the progression in the composer's life, and more than anyone, I think Shostakovich is more necessary for this than anyone else, given the different stages of his life.

The seventh symphony is an absolute gem. It runs to 79min, 24sec of pure musical delight, the first and last movements particularly amazing in their breadth and depth of feeling -- this is a comment both about the music and the recording.

The, final, 15th is very moving to listen to, given the circumstances (Shostakovich knew he was dying) of its composition. One cannot fail to be moved by the closing phrases of the fourth movement.

Equally deserving of praise are the rest of this 11-CD collection. If you want to immerse yourself in Shostakovich, then this is the only collection that will allow you to get a feel for his great music, allowing yourself to be swept along in the giant landscapes that he portrays.

Highly recommended.

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark recordings of the 20th Century's most important symphonic cycle, 6 Sep 2006

By	John David Charles Hilton "Creative spark...." (Redcliffe, Bristol United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Given the scope and complexities of many of these symphonies, not to mention their variety and various, perceived agendas that may or may not be present, it's no surprise that there's so little agreement as to which recordings are 'best'.

There isn't, and probably never will be, a truly 'definitive' cycle of these symphonies. Haitink, however, provides a useful benchmark, and is arguably the most consistently brilliant currently available. Only Nos. 4, 5, 7 & 10 are not among the finest available, with only No.4 being in any way a disappointing account, lacking as it does the fiery abandon of the finest versions.

The two additional works are no make-weights. Both are vital parts of Shostakovich's vocal output.

The recording quality is excellent throughout, with all but the 4th, 10th & 15th symphonies being good digital, the exceptions being very good, late analogue recordings.

The documentation is excellent, with copious notes, as well as full texts with English translations. And all of this in just an inch of shelf space.
Highly recommended to Shostakovich lovers, especially those looking for a basis to build their Shostakovich symphony collections around. Equally highly recommended for lovers of grand symphonies.

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