The Symphonies
) | Label: BIS Catalog: BIS-2593 Format: SACD BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra; Rootering, Jan-Hendrik; Rodgers, Joan; Netherlands Radio Choir; Tomlinson, John; Wigglesworth, MarkMark Wigglesworth recorded his cycle of Shostakovich’s symphonies between 1996 and 2010, collaborating with two different orchestras, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In spite of the long gestation and the change of orchestra midway, the cycle was described as one never ‘compromising its particular characteristics of high seriousness, fine detailing and a certain fierceness of articulation’ (Gramophone). Already the first instalment – Symphony No. 7, ‘Leningrad’ – raised expectations, for instance with the reviewer in The Sunday Telegraph: ‘There is plenty of competition among Shostakovich cycles, but this one will deserve serious consideration.’ And 17 years later, on the release of the final album, The Guardian could report that ‘Wigglesworth's cycle emerges as one of the finest of recent time’. What particularly impressed reviewers was Mark Wigglesworth’s faithfulness to the score and sharp ear for detail, and the structural clarity he achieved even with the most complex works – without sacrificing any of their impact and emotional power.Audio for this box set can be found at the following links:https://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-CD-1173&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1483&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1543&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1553&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1563&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1583&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1603&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-SACD-1643&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-CD-873&medium=phyhttps://b2b.naxosusa.com/Album.aspx?product=BIS-CD-973-74&medium=phy  Price: $121.98 |