Search - Shostakovich, Stokowski :: Symphonies 5 & 6

Performance and history over sound.

Howard G Brown | Port St. Lucie, FL USA | 08/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings are from the late 1930s -- the first US recordings of these works by the conductor and orchestra that premiered them here.The monophonic sound will seem muted compared to modern recordings, so I don't recommend this issue to those looking for first recordings of these symphonies. This is for the collector, and he or she will not be dissappointed. Aside from really weak tympani in the 5th, the sound is very good -- comparable to mono lps c. 1950, in fact. The performances are authoritative -- an excellent orchestra, and a conductor totally commited to the music. Stokowski established the "norm" for tempo relationships and the "sound" of these works for listeners in the USA.The sound quality of the 6th is richer and the strings have more bloom than is the case for its more famous disc mate. Improvements in engineering during the few years between the two recordings? Hard to say; I doubt if even RCA, the original recording co., knows the answer. The Dutton remasterings are all one could ask for, and fully up to the high standards this company has brought to all its reissues.If you want to hear what was heard when this music was first played, get this recording. It will be an excellent addition to your primary recordings of these two symphonies."