Search - Dmitry Shostakovich, Yoel Levi, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra :: Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Symphony No. 9

Great disc overall.

Daniel R. Greenfield | 04/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As for the Fifth Symphony, Levi and the ASO do a wonderful job bringing out all the different moods and messages here. Captivating would be a good adjective. The solos are both intensely musical and executed with finesse. The tempos seem to fit the music just right and nothing is too flashy as is characteristic of some of Levi's recordings. Regarding the Ninth Symphony, this is just the kind of music that Levi is right at home with. Again, all the solos are excellent and the parody and sarcasm are portrayed wonderfully.Overall, this is a disc well worth your attention. The ASO has a great sound for Shostakovich, and while Levi isn't always up the task, here he makes a very convincing performance."

A great interpretation of the century's greatest symphony

Daniel R. Greenfield | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | 02/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Personally, I consider Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony to be the greatest symphony of the 20th Century. It is a heroic statement of the struggle of the individual to stand up with integrity against the ever-present dehumanising forces of policital and economic oppression. It is the anatomy of the human soul and its longing for integrity and creative freedom. DDS wrote this symphony as though his life depended on it (which in fact it did). If you have not read the story behind this work, then before you immerse yourself into it, you really must. When this symphony is performed as it is performed here by the ASO under Levi's baton, it will literally shake you to the very core of your soul. Levi wrings every ounce of emotional force out of this work. Listen to the very last bars of this symphony with the volume turned up on your audio system: that final THUD!! at the end of this masterpiece will send chills down your spine!"

Five Stars for Clarity and Pacing

Trevor Gillespie | San Jose, California United States | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a tendency by some conductors to rip through the beginning of the last movement of the fifth symphony (example, see Andre Previn's recording); however, listen to this recording and you will hear the tempo start a bit sluggishly and build to the faster tempo, which in my opinion is much more effective and exciting. Consistent with Telarc recordings, transparency and details are abundant throughout the fifth and ninth symphonies. For me, the highlight of the fifth symphony as recorded by Levi and the Atlanta Symphony is the haunting and eery third movement. Although quite lovely, there is not a sense of true peace, which I'm quite sure was the aim of Shostakovich. I'm reminded of a particular section in Holst's The Planets when I listen to the aural beauty of the strings. I must say that some Telarc recordings lack strength in the strings as the company tends to favor the brass and percussion more heavily, but in this recording, the strings are very strong, which is great. The ninth symphony, although less popular than the fifth, is a joy to listen to, however, I don't listen to it as much as the fifth."