Classical Music Discoveries

Restored from the original Melodiya recordings. Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his Symphony No. 2 in B major, Op. 14 and subtitled “To October,” for the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was first performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy Capella Choir under Nikolai Malko, on 5 November 1927. After the premiere, Shostakovich made some revisions to the score, and this final version was first played in Moscow later in 1927 under the baton of Konstantin Saradzhev. It was also the first time any version of the work had been played in Moscow. This performance, recorded by Melodiya on Jan 5, 1927 is conducted by Konstantin Saradzhev and is performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. The Symphony No. 3 in E flat major by Dmitri Shostakovich was first performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra and Academy Capella Choir under Aleksandr Gauk on January 21, 1930. Similar to the Second Symphony, it is an experimental choral symphony in four continuous sections. The symphony lasts around 25 to 30 minutes. The finale sets a text praising May Day and the revolution. However, exact interpretation of the symphony is difficult as penned in a letter to Boleslav Yavorsky, Shostakovich said that the work "expresses the spirit of peaceful reconstruction"; on the other hand, most of the material preceding the finale is dark and sometimes sardonic in tone. This performance was recorded by Melodiya on January 22, 1930 and is performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra and is conducted by Aleksandr Gauk. Purchase now at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p419/Shostakovich%3A_Symphonies_2_and_3.html