This 2007 performance of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony is beautiful -- a word not often used to describe that work. The tone of the Philadelphia Orchestra hasn't been this rich and deep since the late years of Stokowski and the early years of Ormandy. Listen to the lushness of the strings in the Largo, or the brilliance of the winds in the Allegretto, or the strength of the brass in the finale. And listen to the polish of the ensemble, the blend of the instruments, and the clarity of the textures. Though reportedly leaving ...
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This 2007 performance of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony is beautiful -- a word not often used to describe that work. The tone of the Philadelphia Orchestra hasn't been this rich and deep since the late years of Stokowski and the early years of Ormandy. Listen to the lushness of the strings in the Largo, or the brilliance of the winds in the Allegretto, or the strength of the brass in the finale. And listen to the polish of the ensemble, the blend of the instruments, and the clarity of the textures. Though reportedly leaving the Philadelphia due to a strained relationship with the players, as demonstrated in his recordings, Eschenbach by whatever methods has, in fact, restored the orchestra's fabled sound.Some might question whether beauty is a quality one should associate with Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, a work full of fear, brutality, and violence. But as heard here the opening Moderato makes sense as a piece of musical architecture, and the Allegretto succeeds as a bittersweet dance. The Largo is a...
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