Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (recorded 2017)

 
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AVSHALOMOV / TCHAIKOVSKY / SHOSTAKOVICH
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (recorded 2017)
Maxim Vengerov (violin) Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Long Yu

[ Accentus DVD / DVD ]

Release Date: Saturday 25 January 2020

This item is currently out of stock. It may take 6 or more weeks to obtain from when you place your order as this is a specialist product.

Rated: G - Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993Suitable for General Audiences

For the first time ever, a Chinese symphony orchestra performed at LUCERNE FESTIVAL. If yet more evidence that classical music has long since become a global language were needed, it would be this appearance by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under music director Long Yu. These musicians from Asia played a program of three Russian composers. Aaron Avshalomov, who was born in 1894, served as a professor at the Shanghai Conservatory, where he taught from 1919 on; he was one of the founders of Chinas Western musical tradition. His tone poem Hutongs of Peking captures the sounds and voices that once echoed through the narrow alleys of the Chinese capital.

Tchaikovskys immortal Violin Concerto was performed by one of the leading virtuosos of our time, Maxim Vengerov. And the orchestra demonstrated the degree to which a composer under Stalin had to wrestle with his own identity with Shostakovichs Fifth Symphony. Here the composer reacts to the political demand to be popular and monumental which leads to an absurdly overstated 'jubilant' conclusion.

"With first desk players of exceptional ability, the orchestra plays with exemplary polish and a fine sense of ensemble under their conductor Long Yu…Vengerov brings lustrous singing tone to Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto…Produced by Paul Smaczny, the filming is helpful without being over-fussy and gives a good idea of how the colourful effects of Avshalmov's Beijing work are achieved." BBC Music

"This is a fine orchestra…Their playing is taut, disciplined, with a sophisticated sound and excellent individual players. They know their strengths and this musical menu played to them…You can sense the orchestra's feeling for Shostakovich's Fifth from the firm, bass-hewn foundations of this performance…this is a touching record of a special evening" Gramophone

Tracks:

Avshalomov, A: Hutungs of Peking

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47