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Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 - Wigglesworth

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 - Wigglesworth

BIS  BIS-1583

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 in G minor Op. 103 "The Year 1905"

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark Wigglesworth (conductor)


Described in the BBC Music Magazine as 'the finest Shostakovich interpreter of his generation', Mark Wigglesworth began his cycle of Shostakovich's symphonies with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, continuing since 2005 on the other side of the English Channel with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Previous volumes have all been warmly received by reviewers, who among the ten symphonies released so far have discovered a 'Fourth that makes a terrific impact' (Daily Telegraph), a Tenth 'to rival the very best' (Gramophone), a Twelfth which is 'simply masterly' (Scherzo, Spain), 'probably the most convincing Thirteenth to have appeared in the West' (International Record Review), and 'one red-hot Shostakovich Fourteen' (ClassicsTody.com). The cycle as a whole has been described as having the 'particular characteristics of high seriousness, fine detailing and a certain fierceness of articulation' (Gramophone) as well as benefiting from engineering which is 'outstanding in its naturalness, brilliance, and impact' (ClassicsToday.com).

On the latest instalment in this series, Wigglesworth and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra perform the composer's Symphony No.11 'The Year 1905', commissioned by the Soviet authorities in order to commemorate the events on the so-called Bloody Sunday, in January 1905. This massacre of peaceful demonstrators by the tsar's Imperial Guard inflamed popular feeling, thus contributing to the 1905 Revolution and laying the foundations for the Revolution of 1917.

In the symphony these historical aspects come to light through the movement titles ('The Palace Square' etc) and in Shostakovich's use of several revolutionary songs throughout it. It has nevertheless been suggested that the emotional impetus for the composer may actually have been the use of Soviet tanks to put down another, more recent popular uprising, that which took place in Budapest in 1956. In his own liner notes Mark Wigglesworth discusses this possibility, concluding that 'Shostakovich writes about emotions and states of mind, rather than specific dates . That is why his music remains both timeless and topical.'

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PCM recording

Recorded in March 2006 at the Music Centre for Dutch Radio & Television, Studio MCO5, Hilversum, the Netherlands, 24/44.1

Producer: Robert Suff

Sound engineer: Thore Brinkmann (Take5 Music Production)

Equipment: Neumann microphones; RME Octamic D microphone preamplifier and high-resolution A/D converter; MADI optical cabling; Yamaha DM1000 digital mixer; Sequoia Workstation; Pyramix DSD Workstation; B&W Nautilus 802 loudspeakers; STAX headphones

Post-production: Editing: Jeffrey Ginn
Mixing: Thore Brinkmann

Executive producer: Robert Suff
Reviews (1)
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Review by Mark Novak - March 17, 2010

Wow! This is an amazing recording. Wigglesworth is true to his approach in previously released symphonies in this series - he is deliberate and dramatic, milking every ounce of angst from the score. For me, this approach did not work at all in the mighty 8th which was simply too slow. The 11th however benefits greatly. What in other hands can become banal and bombastic, his deliberate conducting paints a vivid tone picture of the events that inspired this symphony (commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bloody 1905 Russian revolution). The other performances I have of this (including the Caetani SACD and Jarvi on RBCD) emphasize the bombast and as a result trivialize the music although Caetani has an even longer total timing by nearly 3 minutes (Wigglesworth clocks in at 63:41). Jarvi races through in 54:49 - it's exciting but fails to convey the inherent drama in the music.

The sound is also excellent. BIS have captured the low end foundation of the large orchestra realistically creating a very credible soundstage without too much hall sound. The dynamic range is HUGE - make sure you set the volume appropriately. Strings have a silky sheen and winds and brass are faithfully captured. Tympani and bass drum have realistic impact, too. It doesn't get much better than this. Highly recommended!

Copyright © 2010 Mark Novak and HRAudio.net

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Sonics (Stereo):

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Comments (4)
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Comment by Observer - November 23, 2016 (1 of 4)

This is highly recommendable SACD of Shostakovich's 11th and certainly the greatest achievement available.

Thanks to the efforts of Robert Suff (recording producer) and Thore Brinkmann (sound engineer) the multi-channel recording has a HUGE dynamic range. Listen to the sound of bass drum in the second movement! If your sub-woofer is switched on, however, the terrific power of the strokes will shake the walls of the rooms!

Wigglesworth's performance is idiomatic within the scope of tempi, articulation and atmosphere. The rear speakers are used for the ambience creating just the right amount of glow.
My desert island disc, absolutely.

Comment by hiredfox - December 2, 2016 (2 of 4)

Lazerev leads the field according to many professional critics and also in my opinion.

Comment by SteelyTom - December 7, 2016 (3 of 4)

It's the perpetually-underrated Bychkov for me: Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 - Bychkov

Comment by Graham Williams - December 9, 2016 (4 of 4)

Gergiev, Lazarev, Wigglesworth, Kitajenko all good, but like SteelyTom I find Bychkov the best in both performance and sonic terms. Absolutely stunning.