Evgeni Mravinsky, Shostakovich, Leningrad Philharmonic, 1954. It doesn't get much better than this!
I was fortunate to lay my hands on this MK release of what might be the first recorded performance of Shostakovich's epic masterpiece, the tenth symphony.Though I have the excellent early 80's Erato recording, nothing compares to Mravinsky in his prime (age 51) conducting what was probably one of the top five orchestras in the world at the time. This is Shostakovich with a full and exhausting emotional range, played by an orchestra of out of this world virtuosity.
No doubt Mravinsky was one of the greatest conductors of his age. Fiercely patriotic to mother Russia and commanding a presence that few challenged, he led scores of premieres, raised orchestral standards to new, unheard of heights and was considered by most to be the final arbitrar in interpretation of 19th and 20th century Russian composers. His legacy is well preserved on many recorded discs and live performances.
What strikes me most is that Mravinsky was an undemonstrative man yet exacted a level of excitement and intensity that many can only dream of. Reading about him reminds me of Fritz Reiner, very little physical movement but powerful, communicative eyes that had power of almost hypnotic ability. And, not to forget that Mravinsky had an apparent authority that no one would question or confront, and this includes even members of the Soviet leadership! Musicians feared him, politicians stayed clear, and composers were careful not to tread over the line. I read that one musician equated a Mravinsky rehearsal as a "bombing mission" saying the the members of the orchestra would whisper "incoming!" when Mravinsky appeared. Wow!
But the results?! Judge for yourself. Listen to Shostkovich played by one of that composer's greatest advocates, by an orchestra of immaculate precision playing in a sonority which has all but disappeared from the major Russian orchestras of today.
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