Album insights
In collaboration with the talented young Latvian maestro and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the first release will feature a complete Shostakovich cycle. The initial installment will include Symphonies No. 5, 8, and 9 along with "Hamlet," followed by Symphonies No. 6 and 7 in subsequent releases. Nelsons, deeply influenced by the Soviet-Russian musical tradition in his early days, sees the Boston Symphony Orchestra as an ideal partner due to its rich history with Shostakovich, including premiering his works in America. This album delves into Shostakovich's complex relationship with Stalin, who passed away the same year the 10th Symphony was completed. Following a critical reception from the regime, "Lady Macbeth" marked a significant transformation in Shostakovich's compositions.