The tenth symphony is considered by many to be one of the key works of the Russian twentieth century composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s symphonic output. It was completed on the 27th of October 1953 and received its premiere performance under the legendary conductor Yevgeny Mravinsky in December of that year. The post Stalinist thaw under the new Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev was well under way, and it was now deemed acceptable to criticise the former tyrant. Even now, however, Shostakovich chose to do this largely through his music, and it is generally accepted that the second movement of this often highly personal musical statement is supposed to represent Stalin and the terror that he unleashed upon the Soviet people.  

 

Conductor Alexander Anissimov studied in St Petersburg and later in Moscow under Gennady Rozhdestvensky and is a specialist in Russian repertoire, including Shostakovich’s opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Musorgksy’s Boris Godunov and the Rachmaninov symphonies.

 

The Australian Youth Orchestra, celebrating its 50th season in 2007, is comprised of Australia’s best orchestral musicians under the age of 25. Working with leading conductors throughout the year, the orchestra tours extensively and recently won two prestigious Helpmann Awards.

 

Stunning original cover and label artwork by one of Australia’s leading graphic designers, ken cato. This is a live recording from the Sydney Opera House presented in SACD surround sound, SACD stereo and CD stereo (hybrid).