Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 (bluray)

ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA NELSONS

In forthcoming years the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under rising star conductor Andris Nelsons will record the complete symphonies of the great 20th c. composer Dmitri Shostakovich for future release by C Major in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. The series commences with Shostakovich’s Fourth and Fifth Symphonies, both composed between 1936-38, during which time the composer fell from official favor, an event that, among other deleterious effects to be felt by the composer, resulted in delayed premiere of the Symphony No. 4 of nearly a quarter century, finally airing on 30 December 1961. Mr. Nelsons, who is familiar with both Soviet and Russian traditions, greatly impressed the critics with his account of Shostakovich’s Fifth: “A masterful start” (De Telegraf)

Price: $47.99