The first volume in a projected cycle of Shostakovich's 15 symphonies, this disc begins the series with the Symphony No. 10 for no apparent reason. This is peculiar, but not the most serious problem with this CD. As a rule, MDG strives to preserve the natural acoustics of performances without boosting or other sound modifications. This audiophile disc has an extremely wide frequency range, so finding the right volume level is a challenge. At a middle setting, the music seems veiled and sometimes too distant, and the softest ...
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The first volume in a projected cycle of Shostakovich's 15 symphonies, this disc begins the series with the Symphony No. 10 for no apparent reason. This is peculiar, but not the most serious problem with this CD. As a rule, MDG strives to preserve the natural acoustics of performances without boosting or other sound modifications. This audiophile disc has an extremely wide frequency range, so finding the right volume level is a challenge. At a middle setting, the music seems veiled and sometimes too distant, and the softest passages often drop to inaudibility. Listeners may have to adjust the volume frequently, and be prepared for surprises. With that said, Roman Kofman and the Beethoven Orchester Bonn give a competent performance, precise in all details and often brilliant in execution. Yet Kofman's direction tends toward caution, and he pulls this foreboding symphony far back from the abyss. The elegiac Moderato seems dejected rather than genuinely tragic, and lacking the necessary intensity, this...
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