Marking the 120th anniversary of Shostakovich’s birth, Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra present all fifteen of the composer’s symphonies. A landmark of twentieth-century symphonic music, the cycle ranges from such classics as Symphonies No. 5 and No. 7 “Leningrad”, to rarely heard works including Symphony No. 3 “The First of May”, Symphony No. 13 “Babi Yar”, and Symphony No. 14. Bringing together a great conductor and a celebrated orchestra, these authentic readings open up the entirety of Shostakovich’s artistic world, not to mention a complete performance of all fifteen symphonies is itself a rare event on the international music scene.
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