Classical Music: Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1 & 3; Two Scherzos

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos 1 & 3; Two Scherzos

Symphony No. 1, Op. 10; Symphony No. 3, Op. 20 ‘The First of May’; Scherzo, Op. 1; Scherzo, Op. 7
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Zoë Beyers leader John Storgårds conductor
Hallé Choir* Matthew Hamilton choral director

Chandos CHAN 20398
chandos.net

The fifth instalment of John Storgårds's engaging cycle of Shostakovich symphonies ventures into the composer's earliest orchestral territory, presenting works largely written during his conservatoire years alongside the precocious First Symphony that established his reputation. These performances reveal both the young composer's developing voice and the maestro's consistent excellence in this distinguished series.

The two early scherzi showcase Shostakovich's emerging personality while adhering to traditional formal constraints. Storgårds and his BBC forces deliver convincing accounts of both works, particularly the second scherzo, which bristles with rhythmic energy. As David Fanning astutely observes in his accompanying notes, here we encounter for the first time the "malicious glee" that would later characterise Shostakovich's theatrical music. The prominent piano writing pays clear homage to Stravinsky's Pétrouchka, an acknowledged obsession of the young composer, while pointing forward to the First Symphony.

That work receives a performance with Chandos's engineers capturing the orchestral balance admirably. While some tempos occasionally lack consistency, there's an appealing spatial quality to the interpretation. The oboe solo in the slow movement is delivered with eloquent phrasing and tonal refinement.

The Third Symphony fares better, with all departments displaying consummate skill. The brief but telling contribution from the Hallé Choir in the finale demonstrates their customary excellence. Written four years after the First, this work evidences not only Shostakovich's rapid compositional development but also the equally swift changes in the Soviet world he inhabited.

This latest volume maintains the high standards established throughout Storgårds's cycle, offering illuminating insights into the formative period of one of the twentieth century's most significant symphonists.