Full marks for Wigglesworth’s Shostakovich Four
Tuesday 29 September 2009
The BBC Music Magazine awards performance and recording of the latest Shostakovich CD by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra both five stars: full marks. The orchestra is recording all the Shostakovich symphonies. They are released on the BIS label. For this series the orchestra collaborates with conductor Mark Wigglesworth. So far all recordings have met with great acclaim.
Raving
And so does the most recent issue of the series: the fourth symphony. In the BBC Music Magazine issue of October 2009 it has been announced one of the ‘Music choices’. Reviewer David Nice raves about this recording. In his review he refers to the recently released ‘top-notch discs from Gergiev, Jansons, Barshai and Haitink’ with the same work.
Final seal
According tot him ‘Wigglesworth…. goes even deeper…. there’s a clarity and an expressive care throughout…… Every instrumental colour comes over truthfully in the sand-blasting ensembles, with gunshot timpani and rattling woodblock…. like Abbado and Rattle, Wigglesworth dares genuine pianissimos…'. For Nice the recording’s dynamic range, both in standard and SACD formats, finally set ‘the seal on this as a top recommendation.’
Masterpiece
Nice’s enthusiasm continues until the final note: ...even the ‘circus ditties before the final storm have charm as well as nuance. The end is as mesmerising as it can be, raising unmistakeable parallels with the fading heartbeat of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique. Is Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony an equal masterpiece? Mark Wigglesworth and his Dutch players persuade me that it is.’
Klassieke Zaken
In Klassieke Zaken Willem Veldhuizen was also wildly enthousiastic about this CD. ‘This new recording of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra under Mark Wigglesworth is rock solid and measures up to the very top of this moment. The conductor inspires the orchestra to sublime ensemble playing, to enormous but always sophisticated explosions of sound and a crystal-clear rhythm. Next to these Mahlerian sound expansion there are numerous moments of chamber musical refinement….
Humor
He continues with: ... 'Once again this recording emphatically emphasizes the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra being first-rate wit hits excellent strings and winds, its full sound and high-quality musicality. A sense of sharp and oppressive humour essential for this repertoire does not lack either. A real asset!‘
BIS BISSA 1553
www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/music-choice/october-2009/orchestral
www.klassiekezaken.nl/reviews/index.php?id=2915
