SHOSTAKOVICH

 

Jazz & Ballet Suites, Film Music

 

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/ Theodore Kuchar

 

Brilliant Classics seems to have a special affinity with Shostakovich. After the highly successful sets of symphonies (the award-winning cycle of Rudolf Barshai) and the string quartets (highly acclaimed performances of the Rubio Quartet) this set presents the Jazz Suites, Ballet Suites and Film Music.

 

Shostakovich lived a controversial life in the Stalin era. As a modernist he was reprimanded and as a sign of concession wrote music for mass audiences, in a popular style. The music has however an omnipresent sense of bitter irony and revolt.

 

New recordings. Excellent, idiomatic performances by the Ukrainian Orchestra under Theodore Kuchar, familiar because of their vast discography for Naxos.

 

Brilliant Classics 3cds 6735