Search - The USSR MInistry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra :: Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.1, Op 77; Five Entr'actes from 'Katerina Izmailova'; Festive Overure in A, Op 96

Incredible performance of the Shostakovich violin concerto

Carlos Icaza Estrada | South America | 08/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD includes a superb, masterful performance of

the Shostakovich 1st violin concerto by Leonid

Kogan. The orchestra and conductor performs with

as much passion and mastery of the music as Kogan does.

The quality of the sound is also very good, the white

noise of the magnetic tape almost nonexistent; the sound

of every single instrument including of course the solo

violin is heard clearly, with no anomalies. Without

a doubt this recording of S.'s violin concerto should

be considered, together with Oistrakh's 1956 and 1957 performances, one of the gold standards against which all other performances of it should be judged. In fact, because of the better recording quality, and the fact that Kogan's playing is even more passionate than Oistrakh's in many parts, this performance should be, to me, THE one to beat."

Very rare CD, classic Kogan style

W. Tang | California | 12/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD used from an Amazon.com seller. It was not cheap, but I have been collecting different versions of Kogan playing Shostakovich. So far, this is one of the best that I have heard. There is a similar version on DVD, but it has to be ordered from Japan. Its called "Playing Lenoid Kogan", number IVCF-5153."