Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The original and still the best!, 8 Aug 2001
By A Customer
Still the best recordings I have heard of both concertos. There is a rare, almost disturbing depth to the slow movements and virtuosity which does not detract from the music in the fast movements. In both concertos, the fiendishly difficult cadenzas wind up to an earth shattering climax of dazzling virtuosity. But what really sets these recordings apart is that the artists seemed to have a real understanding of what Shostakovich had to say. Definitely to be recommended!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Slava! Electrifying stuff!, 8 April 2003
These are absolutely gorgeous recordings of both pieces. Indeed, these are the first ever recordings of both pieces, both recorded just months after their world premieres in the USSR, in 1956 and 1959. Sony have done an excellent job with the remastering, and the sound is crisp and clean.As for the playing - Oistrakh and Rostropovich in their prime, with Shostakovich present and advising during both recordings - what more needs to be said. Shostakovich dedicated the First Cello Concerto to Rostropovich, his pupil and friend, and he almost seems to breathe the music. Oistrakh is magnificent in the Violin Conecrto, especially in the fast and furious finale. The New York Philharmonic under Mitropoulos and the Phildaelphia Orchestra under Ormandy are pretty damn good as well, and both pieces are fiendishly difficult in places. Sorry this is praise is a little over the top, but it is entirely deserved!
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oistrakh at his best, priceless., 20 Jan 2004
Oistrakh penetrates Shostakovich's first violin concerto in a way nobody else does, the sheer depth, the excitement, the desolation, and it's decoming a cliche with Oistrakh but THE DEMONIC INTENSITY, it could almost have been written for him, which of course it was. The only choice with Shostakovich's first is which of the many Oistrakh recordings do you go for. Well I know most people would say if you want authenticity you have to have Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic, but in a 20th century work, what is authenticity! I've listened to the 1957 Praga recording 'in Prague' which, as usual, is badly recorded, but also a little, well, and I know it's not a real word 'un-driven' by Mravinsky with the Czech Philharmonic; and I've still got the 1956 recording in Leningrad by Melodiya (on RCA 'The Essential')with the Leningrad Philharmonic; but I don't think you can beat this recording with Mitropoulos, it's in Mono but very well recorded, and again maybe something to do with the recording quality, this recording seems driven not only by Oistrakh but by the conductor as well. As for the the Cello Concerto, well I think you can do a lot better with Natalia Gutman on Live Classics with Kondrashin, but Rostropovich would be most peoples first choice, I just think Shostakovich can be pushed a lot further, so buy both.
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