Symphony No. 4 (Composer's arrangement for two pianos)

This recording, presented in the thirtieth anniversary year of the composer's death, is an important event. Shostakovich was in the process of composing the work when the damning indictment of his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk appeared in Pravda. Only too aware of artists who had 'disappeared' for producing politically unacceptable works, the composer had little option but to withdraw the work from rehearsal. This did not mean that work remained entirely unknown, however. At the time of its composition the composer made an arrangement of the work for two pianos. Its circulation was banned, but through this arrangement a specialist inner circle of devotees were able to familiarise themselves with the work.

This is the premiere recording of Shostakovich's own transcription, performed by Rustem Hayroudinoff and Colin Stone.