Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but not perfect, 14 Jul 2003
Like the rest of Naxos' catalogue, this CD represents excellent value for money, working out at just over £3 per CD. However, unlike much of the catalogue, the 'bargain' price is unfortunately rather evident in the quality of the performance. Occasional tuning and intonation problems in the strings, and timing problems elsewhere, mar the perfomance somewhat and are rather frustrating. That said, however, the collection still provides a good overview of Shostakovich's work, and there are some wonderful moments (the end of the 15th Symphony is, of course, magical). In addition, the booklet contains very informative and detailed programme notes which place the music in its context and allow some insight into Shostakovich's creative processes, explaining some of the many symbolic references and patterns he placed in his music.
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7 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not a single note out of place, 26 Feb 2002
Lets face it, Shostakovich wrote a lot of symphonies. All 15 are available in one neat, petite and sweet box.
The Naxos "White Box" series is worth collecting just for the sheer look and feel of them, but when it comes to the music inside, you find it is second to none.
Inside the box is a booklet with extensive information on the context into which each of the symphonies was written. This is especially useful when coming to appreciate the best of the bunch, which in my opinion are the 7th and 11th. The second movement of the latter contains perhaps the most intense music ever composed, emerging as it does from the feelings engendered by the invasion of Hungary by Soviet tanks.
Always inventive, often satirical, Shostakovich would never shy away from the use of the banal to highlight the grotesque. This made him somewhat unpopular with the Soviet authorities in the Stalinist Russia in which he was composing - it can be argued that this virtual persecution added to the anger and bitterness that comes through in some of his works. This man had feelings that he could come to terms with only by writing it out in some of the most violent, savage and ironic music the world has ever seen.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but not perfect, 27 Jul 2003
Like the rest of Naxos' catalogue, this CD represents excellent value for money, working out at just over £3 per CD. However, unlike much of the catalogue, the 'bargain' price is unfortunately rather evident in the quality of the performance. Occasional tuning and intonation problems in the strings, and timing problems elsewhere, mar the perfomance somewhat and are rather frustrating. That said, however, the collection still provides a good overview of Shostakovich's work, and there are some wonderful moments (the end of the 15th Symphony is, of course, magical). In addition, the booklet contains very informative and detailed programme notes which place the music in its context and allow some insight into Shostakovich's creative processes, explaining some of the many symbolic references and patterns he placed in his music.
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