Shostakovich: Symphonies; Concertos; Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District Yuja Wang, Baiba Skride, Yo-Yo Ma, Boston Symphony Orchestra & Andris Nelsons

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10:
• 1 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10: I. Allegretto - Allegro non troppo 09:28
• 2 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10: II. Allegro 04:51
• 3 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10: III. Lento 09:46
• 4 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10: IV. Lento - Allegro molto 11:07
• Symphony No. 2 in B Major, Op. 14 "To October":
• 5 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 2 in B Major, Op. 14 "To October": Ia. Largo 12:07
• 6 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 2 in B Major, Op. 14 "To October": Ib. Chorus: "My schli, my prossili raboty i chleba” 07:18
• 7 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 "1st of May": Ia. Allegretto - Allegro 10:49
• 8 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 "1st of May": Ib. Andante 06:07
• 9 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 "1st of May": Ic. Allegro – Largo 12:24
• 10 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 20 "1st of May": Id. Moderato "The First of May" 05:42
• Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43:
• 11 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43: I. Allegretto poco moderato (Live) 14:56
• 12 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43: II. Presto (Live) 11:47
• 13 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43: III. Moderato con moto (Live) 08:24
• 14 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43: IV. Largo (Live) 06:52
• 15 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43: V. Allegro (Live) 22:25
• Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47:
• 16 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47: I. Moderato (Live) 16:35
• 17 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47: II. Allegretto (Live) 05:36
• 18 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47: III. Largo (Live) 15:25
• 19 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47: IV. Allegro non troppo 12:13
• Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 54:
• 20 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 54: I. Largo (Live) 19:39
• 21 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 54: II. Allegro (Live) 06:24
• 22 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 54: III. Presto (Live) 07:11
• Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60 "Leningrad":
• 23 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60 "Leningrad": I. Allegretto (Live) 27:21
• 24 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60 "Leningrad": II. Moderato. Poco allegretto (Live) 11:39
• 25 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60 "Leningrad": III. Adagio (Live) 20:33
• 26 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60 "Leningrad": IV. Allegro non troppo (Live) 18:52
• Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65:
• 27 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65: I. Adagio (Live) 26:44
• 28 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65: II. Allegretto (Live) 06:32
• 29 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65: III. Allegro non troppo (Live) 06:38
• 30 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65: IV. Largo (Live) 10:34
• 31 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 65: V. Allegretto (Live) 16:12
• Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major , Op. 70:
• 32 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major , Op. 70: I. Allegro (Live) 05:25
• 33 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major , Op. 70: II. Moderato (Live) 08:08
• 34 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major , Op. 70: III. Presto - (Live) 02:53
• 35 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major , Op. 70: IV. Largo - (Live) 03:34
• 36 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major , Op. 70: V. Allegretto (Live) 06:43
• Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93:
• 37 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: I. Moderato (Live) 25:39
• 38 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: II. Allegro (Live) 04:22
• 39 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: III. Allegretto (Live) 12:44
• 40 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: IV. Andante - Allegro 13:41
• Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905":
• 41 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905": I. The Palace Square (Adagio) (Live) 17:15
• 42 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905": II. The Ninth of January (Allegro - Adagio - Allegro - Adagio) (Live) 18:46
• 43 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905": III. Eternal Memory (Adagio) (Live) 12:28
• 44 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905": IV. The Tocsin (Allegro non troppo) (Live) 14:10
• Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917":
• 45 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917": I. Revolutionary Petrograd (Moderato – Allegro) 15:08
• 46 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917": II. Razliv (Allegro – Adagio) 14:02
• 47 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917": III. Aurora (Allegro) 04:44
• 48 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112 "The Year 1917": IV. The Dawn of Humanity (L'istesso tempo) 11:08
• Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar":
• 49 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar": I. Babi Yar. Adagio 16:28
• 50 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar": II. Humour. Allegretto 08:48
• 51 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar": III. In the Store. Adagio 14:02
• 52 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar": IV. Fears. Largo 14:21
• 53 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 113 "Babi Yar": V. A Career. Allegretto 14:09
• Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135:
• 54 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: I. De Profundis 04:53
• 55 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: II. Malagueña 03:03
• 56 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: III. Loreley 08:43
• 57 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: IV. Le suicidé 06:26
• 58 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: V. Les attentives I 03:08
• 59 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: VI. Les attentives II 01:44
• 60 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: VII. A la santé 09:15
• 61 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: VIII. Réponse des Cosaques Zaporogues au Sultan de Constantinople 01:48
• 62 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: IX. O, Delvig, Delvig! 04:06
• 63 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: X. Der Tod des Dichters 04:49
• 64 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 14 in G Minor, Op. 135: XI. Schlussstück 01:20
• Symphony No. 15 in A Major, Op. 141:
• 65 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A Major, Op. 141: I. Allegretto 08:18
• 66 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A Major, Op. 141: II. Adagio - Largo - Adagio - Largo 17:27
• 67 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A Major, Op. 141: III. Allegretto 04:12
• 68 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A Major, Op. 141: IV. Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto 18:06
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29:
• 69 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29: Passacaglia (Live) 08:11
• Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a:
• 70 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: I. Introduction and Night Patrol (Live) 02:47
• 71 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: II. Funeral March (Live) 01:32
• 72 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: III. Flourish and Dance Music (Live) 02:22
• 73 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: IV. The Hunt (Live) 01:58
• 74 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: IX. Ophelia's Song (Live) 01:31
• 75 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: X. Cradle Song (Live) 01:24
• 76 Shostakovich: Hamlet, Suite to Incidental Music, Op. 32a: XI. Requiem (Live) 02:40
• King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a:
• 77 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Introduction and Ballad of Cordelia (Live) 04:34
• 78 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Fanfare No. 1 (Live) 00:21
• 79 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Return from the Hunt (Live) 00:54
• 80 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Fanfare No. 4 (Live) 00:13
• 81 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Approach of the Storm (Live) 01:27
• 82 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Scene on the Steppe (Live) 02:01
• 83 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Fanfare No. 2 (Live) 00:15
• 84 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: The Blinding of Gloucester (Live) 01:00
• 85 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: The Military Camp (Live) 01:38
• 86 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: Fanfare No. 5 (Live) 00:17
• 87 Shostakovich: King Lear, Incidental Music, Op. 58a: March (Live) 01:29
• Festive Overture, Op. 96 (Live):
• 88 Shostakovich: Festive Overture, Op. 96 (Live) 06:15
• Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a (Orch. Barshai):
• 89 Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a (Orch. Barshai): I. Largo - attacca 05:37
• 90 Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a (Orch. Barshai): II. Allegro molto - attacca 02:58
• 91 Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a (Orch. Barshai): III. Allegretto - attacca 04:34
• 92 Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a (Orch. Barshai): IV. Largo - attacca 06:41
• 93 Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a: V. Largo (Orch. Barshai) 05:02
• Piano Concerto No. 1 with Trumpet and Strings, Op. 35:
• 94 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 with Trumpet and Strings, Op. 35: I. Allegro moderato 06:04
• 95 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 with Trumpet and Strings, Op. 35: II. Lento 08:32
• 96 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 with Trumpet and Strings, Op. 35: III. Moderato 01:52
• 97 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 with Trumpet and Strings, Op. 35: IV. Allegro con brio 06:52
• Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102:
• 98 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102: I. Allegro 07:03
• 99 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102: II. Andante 06:06
• 100 Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102: III. Allegro 05:21
• Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99 (Formerly Op. 77):
• 101 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99 (Formerly Op. 77): I. Nocturne. Moderato 14:46
• 102 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99 (Formerly Op. 77): II. Scherzo. Allegro 06:58
• 103 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99 (Formerly Op. 77): III. Passacaglia. Andante 16:03
• 104 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99 (Formerly Op. 77): IV. Burlesque. Allegro con brio – Presto 05:18
• Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 129:
• 105 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 129: I. Moderato 15:53
• 106 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 129: II. Adagio 12:15
• 107 Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 129: III. Adagio – Allegro 09:33
• Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107:
• 108 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107: I. Allegretto 06:35
• 109 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107: II. Moderato 12:13
• 110 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107: III. Cadenza – 05:36
• 111 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107: IV. Finale. Allegro con moto 04:47
• Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126:
• 112 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126: I. Largo 13:20
• 113 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126: II. Scherzo. Allegretto – 04:43
• 114 Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 126: III. Finale. Allegretto 16:10
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 1:
• 115 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 1: Akh, ne spítsya ból’še, popróbuyu 05:52
• 116 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 1: Gribkí segódnya búdut? 05:54
• 117 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 1: Govorí! ... Začém že tï uyezžáyes’, khozyáin 07:28
• 118 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 1: Interlude 03:14
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 2:
• 119 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 2: Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay, besstïžiy, oy, ne ščípli ... Otpustíte, bábu 03:04
• 120 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 2: Mnógo vï, mužikí, o sebé vozmečtáli ... Čto ėto? 06:33
• 121 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 2: Interlude 01:59
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 3:
• 122 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 3: Spat’ porá. Den’ prošól 05:05
• 123 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 3: Žerebyónok k kobïlke torópitsya 06:26
• 124 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act I Scene 3: Kto ėto, kto, kto stučít? ... Proščáy ... Uydí tï, rádi bóga, ya múžnyaya žená 09:37
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 4:
• 125 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 4: Čto znáčit stárost’: Ne spítsya 05:38
• 126 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 4: Proščáy, Kátya, proščáy! ... Stoy! Gde bïl? ... Smotrí, Katerína, zanyátnoye zrélišče 04:44
• 127 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 4: Ustál – Prikážete mne postegát’? ... Progolodálsya ya 06:33
• 128 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 4: Vídno, skóro už zaryá. Ėkh! ... Gde tut umiráyut? ... Bátya, ispovédat’sya ... Akh, Borís Timoféyevič, začém tï ot nas ušól? 07:06
• 129 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 4: Interlude 08:06
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 5:
• 130 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 5: Sergéy, Seryóža! Vsyo spit 07:11
• 131 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 5: Opyát’ usnúl ... Katerína L’vóvna, ubíyca! ... Nu? Čegó tebé? 06:17
• 132 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act II Scene 5: Slúšay, Sergéy, Sergéy! ... Katerína! – Kto tam? ... Tepér’ šabáš 09:47
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 6:
• 133 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 6: Čto tï tut stoíš’? ... U menyá bïlá kumá ... Interlude 07:23
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 7:
• 134 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 7: Sózdan policéyskiy bïl vo vrémya onó ... U Izmáylovoy seyčás pir goróy ... Váše blagoródiye! ... Skóro, skóro, čtóbï ne bïlo ukóra 07:38
• 135 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 7: Interlude 02:47
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 8:
• 136 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act III Scene 8: Sláva suprúgam, Kateríne L’vóvne i Sergéyu Filíppïču, sláva! ... Nikogó net kráše sólnca v nébe? ... Čto takóye? Pózdno! 10:31
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9:
• 137 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9: Vyórstï odná za drugóy dlínnoy polzút verenícey 06:50
• 138 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9: Stepánïč! Propustí menyá 03:38
• 139 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9: Ne legkó pósle počóta da poklónov péred sudóm stoyát’! 03:42
• 140 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9: Moyó počtén’ye! ... Dostánu! Kátya! ... Iš’, zver’! 08:02
• 141 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9: V lesú, v sámoy čášče, yest’ ózero ... Znáyeš’ li, Sonétka, na kogó s tobóy mï pokhóži? 06:30
• 142 Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, Op. 29, Act IV Scene 9: Vstaváy! Po mestám! Žívo! 08:01
• Total Runtime 19:27:24

Info for Shostakovich: Symphonies; Concertos; Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District

The Boston Symphony Orchestra and their music director Andris Nelsons announce their upcoming album, on which they present their acclaimed Shostakovich symphony cycle to mark the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death in 1975.

Since his death, Shostakovich’s stature has only continued to grow and he is now recognized as one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century. Moreover, his relationship to the Soviet regime continues to fascinate. Was he a loyal servant or an embittered closet-dissident? For Nelsons, who experienced the Soviet system firsthand growing up in Latvia and who has spent much of his career studying and conducting Shostakovich’s music, these questions are irrelevant: “The greatness of his music lies beyond politics. It speaks to people whether they know the times he lived in or not,” says Nelsons.

This Grammy-winning exceptional anthology contains brand-new recordings by pianist Yuja Wang, violinist Baiba Skride and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in the concertos, while the Lady Macbeth cast is headed by Kristine Opolais, Brenden Gunnell, Peter Hoare and Günther Groissböck.

Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor is a work brimming with youthful energy and sardonic wit. Composed in 1933, shortly after the completion of Lady Macbeth and during a period of relative personal tranquility, it represents a fascinating blend of styles and influences. Originally conceived as a trumpet concerto, it was eventually expanded by the composer into a double concerto for piano and trumpet, accompanied by a string orchestra. This unusual instrumentation, combined with Shostakovich’s characteristic humour and penchant for musical parody—here including sly references to Beethoven, Haydn, and even popular tunes—results in a work both virtuosic and playfully subversive.

The interplay between Yuja’s piano and BSO principal Thomas Rolfs’ characterful trumpet, backed by the vibrant BSO strings, is pure delight. As the pianist herself observes, “Every time I take it up, it feels like there’s another layer of dark humor to come out … there’s so much making fun of Beethoven, of Bach, of almost everything we know.”

“Yuja Wang is a truly extraordinary musician,” says Nelsons. “We are thrilled to share this recording as part of our complete Shostakovich box set with Deutsche Grammophon, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra and I are immensely grateful to Yuja for joining us on this landmark project. Her joyful interplay with the BSO’s brilliant principal trumpet, Tom Rolfs, brings out the humor and pathos of the First Concerto, while she masters the cinematic sweep of the Second Concerto with effortless elegance and bravura. Yuja’s technical brilliance and boundless musical energy are a perfect match for the genius of Shostakovich’s music, which contains the breadth of the human experience in the twentieth century and beyond.”

Almost a quarter of a century separates the First Concerto from its successor—a period of immense personal and political turmoil for Shostakovich, shaped by purges, war and the resurgence of Stalinist repression. Such darkness is not, however, reflected in the Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, composed in 1957 as a 19th-birthday gift for his son Maxim.

Yuja’s performance captures the light, often jokey mood of the outer movements—revealing, as she notes, Shostakovich’s “shy, kind of quiet, childish” nature—as well as the tender lyricism of the central slow movement. The BSO, under Nelsons’ assured direction, provides a rich and supportive backdrop that allows her nuanced playing to shine.

The album concludes with six works chosen from two sets of solo pieces: the 24 Preludes, Op. 34, influenced by Prokofiev and contemporaneous with the First Concerto, and the 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 of 1950–51—a highly original 20th-century tribute to Bach. Yuja’s technical command and expressive range are perfectly suited to the demands of this music, bringing out the intricate counterpoint and emotional weight of these often-overlooked gems.

Taken as a whole, this album is a testament to the deep connection felt by Yuja Wang, the BSO, and Andris Nelsons to this composer’s music, and a fitting culmination to a remarkable Shostakovich cycle.

“The music of Shostakovich has been a constant companion on my journey with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. We are incredibly proud to bring together all the symphonies, concertos, and the opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District into one, all-encompassing celebration of Dmitri Shostakovich’s genius. His music is a cross-section of what it means to be human, and sharing this exploration of his works over the past ten years with an orchestra as extraordinary and versatile as the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been a great privilege and a real joy. We have also been lucky to share the stage with some of the world’s most talented soloists, including Yuja Wang, Yo-Yo Ma, Baiba Skride, and the wonderful cast of our recording of Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. We are thrilled to present this box set as a tribute to Shostakovich’s great legacy and to the remarkable artistry and dedication of everyone who brought this project to life.” (Andris Nelsons)

Yuja Wang, piano
Baiba Skride, violin
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
New England Conservatory Symphonic Choir
Andris Nelsons, conductor

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Booklet for Shostakovich: Symphonies; Concertos; Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District