Shostakovich: Cello Concertos Dmitry Kouzov

• 1 I. Allegretto 05:54
• 2 II. Moderato 10:32
• 3 III. Cadenza 05:08
• 4 IV. Allegro con moto 04:42
• 5 I. Largo 12:54
• 6 II. Allegretto 04:21
• 7 III. Finale - Allegretto 14:39
• Total Runtime 58:10

Info for Shostakovich: Cello Concertos

No faint praise, coming as it does from Russia’s greatest-ever cellist and all-round musical icon, to whom Shostakovich dedicated both of the wonderful concertos recorded here. To boot, Kouzov was privileged to study the first concerto with Rostropovich.

Among Dmitri Shostakovich’s six concertos, the two for cello are especially prominent – thanks both to Rostropovich’s advocacy as well as the fact that they are both fairly late works. The first of them (1959) is the more famous; also the more vibrant and directly autobiographical in nature, employing a theme similar to his hallmark “DSCH” signature tune through much of the work’s course. The haunting second concerto (1966) is a more introspective and elusive work that spreads a broader array of varied themes across its course.

Dmitry Kouzov – like Shostakovich, a native of St. Petersburg – is one of his generation’s leading cello virtuosos, in constant international demand as both a soloist and teacher. From his earliest years, he was surrounded by musicians with direct personal connections to Shostakovich. The composer’s life and work were almost sacred to them, and their contagious love made the master’s music an inseparable part of Dmitry’s musical being. His masterly and insightful interpretations are made all the more authoritative by his collaboration with Maestro Vladimir Lande, who deftly leads the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra.

"...this one from cellist Dmitry Kouzov…and the St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra…is well worth consideration. Kouzov has a dark, burnished tone that fits well with the gloomy slow movements of both concertos, and he is positively electrifying in the finale of the Cello Concerto No 2, Op 126, where the cello, at often blistering speeds in the passagework, seemingly goes into battle with military fanfares and snare drums. It is a striking portrayal of the role of the classical composer in a militarized state, as relevant today as it was in 1966. The first concerto is one of Shostakovich’s towering statements of individuality in the face of the history’s strongest collectivist impulse, based throughout on the theme D-S-C-H (D, E flat, C, B), and Kouzov catches even the small gestures in which this theme is present. ...this release provides strong competition to the leading Shostakovich cello concerto versions." (James Manheim, Allmusic.com)

"Dmitry Kouzov’s husky, sonorous cello tone adds extra Slavic gravitas to this pair of highly contrasted works.Kousov wisely accentuates each concerto’s emotional mood.Meaning that Shostakovich’s brasher Concerto no 1 is especially raucous, pungent and witty...Kousov and Lande also tap into the ambivalence of the more elusive Concerto no 2. This is another very good reading ... The all-important percussion writing is exquisitely played, with deafening whipcracks in the last movement. And Kousov’s playing in the closing minutes is masterly. He vanishes into the mist, accompanied by ticking woodblocks and xylophone - an extraordinary, spectral passage." (Graham Rickson, TheArtsDesk.com)

Dmitry Kouzov, cello
St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
Vladimir Lande, conductor

Dmitry Kouzov
A versatile performer, cellist Dmitry Kouzov has performed on five continents with orchestras, in solo and duo recitals, and in chamber music performances. He has appeared with such orchestras as the St. Petersburg Symphony (Russia), as well as National Symphony of Ukraine, and the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic (Czech Republic), and the Symphony Orchestra “Classica” (Russia), to name a few. He has awarded First Prize at the International Beethoven Competition in the Czech Republic and he is a two-time laureate of the International Festival-Competition “Virtuosi of the Year 2000” in Russia and is winner of the New York Cello Society Rising Star Award. His credits include numerous performances at many prominent concert venues throughout his native Russia, including both St. Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, the conservatoire halls of Moscow and St. Petersburg, respectively, and the Mariinsky Theater. Mr. Kouzov made his New York orchestral debut at Alice Tully Hall in 2005, under the baton of Maestro Raymond Leppard. Since that time, he has also made recital appearances in New York at 92nd Street Y and Bargemusic.

Highlights of Mr. Kouzov recent seasons include his debuts with the the Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic, solo appearances with the chamber orchestra “Soloists of St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society”, duo recitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg with all Brahms and Beethoven Sonatas with the prominent Russian pianist Peter Laul, and chamber music appearances at the Ravinia and Caramoor Festivals Rising Stars Series. Most recently, Mr. Kouzov made his recording debut on Naxos with three C.P.E. Bach Gamba Sonatas and a recital CD “Two Hundred Years of Cello Masterpieces” on Marquis Classics.

Mr. Kouzov has appeared in command performances before Mikhail Gorbachev and Prince Andrew, Duke of York. In 2005 and 2006, he was a guest artist at the Verbier Festival, International Bach Festival (Switzerland) and Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (Germany). Additionally, he has performed at the “May of Janacek” International Festival (Czech Republic), and at the “Art-November” International Festival (Russia), and the “Kiev Summer Music Nights” International Festival, amongst others.

A consummate chamber musician, Mr. Kouzov has collaborated with Joshua Bell, Yuri Bashmet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Donald Weilerstein, Ilya Gringolts, and Pacifica Quartet among others. Mr. Kouzov is a founding and active member of the Manhattan Piano Trio, with whom he has toured extensively throughout United States and captured First Prizes at the Plowman and Yellow Springs National Chamber Music Competitions.

In addition to his concert activities, Mr. Kouzov is a devoted teacher. Currently Mr. Kouzov is an Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Illinois. Prior to this appointment he was on faculty at the Juilliard School and Oberlin Conservatory. Mr. Kouzov holds Bachelors & Masters of Music degrees from the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, and Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School in New York. His principal teachers have included Professors Mark Reizenshtock, Victoria Yagling, Joel Krosnick, and Darrett Adkins.

Booklet for Shostakovich: Cello Concertos