This album was recorded in June 2019 at the Italian Institute in Budapest, with Andreas Spreer handling recording, editing, mixing, and production.
Performer Biography
András Keller, the conductor, is a world-renowned Hungarian violinist, pedagogue, and founder of the Keller Quartet.
Composer Biography
Dmitri Shostakovich, the composer, used the musical signature D-E flat-C-B natural (DSCH in German notation) to represent his individual identity in his works.
Historical Context
Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony was kept under lock and key for a quarter of a century due to fear of reprisals during the Stalin era.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Shostakovich's symphonies, even the 'official' ones, portray horror, war, terror, and the fears of people, rather than just battle scenes or optimistic victory tableaux.
Performer Biography
András Keller has received numerous awards, including the Premio Franco Abbiati, Liszt Prize, and Bartók-Pásztory Prize, and his recordings have won several international accolades.
Critical Reception
The Finale of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, despite its outwardly optimistic tone, was perceived by some, like writer Alexander Fadeev, as sounding like punishment and retribution.
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Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905"
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 1
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47 (Live)
