Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6 – Oslo Philharmonic & Klaus Mäkelä

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Oslo Philharmonic in fresh readings of three Shostakovich symphonies, demonstrating a level of insight into widely recorded music that makes this new release an indispensable addition to the catalogue.

The music of Shostakovich has been core to Klaus and the Oslo Philharmonic’s programming from the start of their relationship, and they first performed Symphony no. 5 in November 2019 – before Klaus took up his tenure as Chief Conductor. A special performance of the 5th symphony in Oslo on 14th August will celebrate the release of this album on Decca Classics. Mäkelä & the Philharmonic will go on to perform the symphonies on tour later this year, including concerts at Salzburg Festival and Musikfest, Berlin.

Reviews

Presto Music 16th August 2024

“Mäkelä has achieved something very special here, bringing freshness to music that has been recorded many times and by many of the conducting greats…The players of the Oslo Philharmonic respond with faultless technical and musical skill, and the Decca engineers have lived up to their reputation for achieving outstanding sound quality, with a dynamic range and soundstage that are essential to this music. – Matthew Ash

The Guardian 8th August 2024

“the sheer wildness of the Fourth always seems to be kept on a tight leash. But the account of the Sixth Symphony is beautifully controlled and paced, the Oslo strings radiant as the first movement steadily intensifies, the woodwind fabulously agile in the scherzo second, and the finale a joyous, witty romp. – 4 out of 5 stars

The Scotsman

“this mind-blowing Oslo Philharmonic performance…[is] as thrilling for its emotional contradictions as for its pulverising unity of purpose. – 5 out of 5 stars

The Arts Desk 17th August 2024

“Mäkelä’s Oslo Philharmonic strings play with an incredible depth of tone, especially the double basses…Should Shostakovich’s music sound this luxuriant? Vintage Soviet performances tend to be grittier, but bringing out the Mahlerian influences really works here… Impressive stuff.