Concluding their Shostakovich Cycle, Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra explore the composer’s shifting identity and political convictions under the Soviet regime, tracing with Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 12 and 13 a 35-year span in the composer’s creative and personal evolution: from youthful idealism to mature disillusionment and resignation. Bass-baritone Matthias Goerne gives an impressive performance of the “Babi Yar” solos in Symphony No. 13, joined by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (also Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3) and the New England Conservatory Philharmonic Choir. “An ongoing Shostakovich survey that has rightly won [Andris Nelsons] three Grammy Awards.” (New York Times about the Shostakovich Cycle)

Tracklist:

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons
CD1
Symphony No. 2 in B major op. 14 “To October”
Largo – Allegro molto – [12:07]
Chorus: My shli, my prosily raboty i khlyeba [07:18]
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Chorus Master: James Burton

Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 20 “1st of May”
Allegretto – Più mosso – Allegro [10:49]
Andante [06:07] IG 1
Allegro – Andante – Largo – [12:24]
Moderato: V pervoye Pervoye maya [05:43]
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Chorus Master: James Burton

CD2
Symphony No. 12 in D minor op. 112 “The Year 1917”
1. Revolutionary Petrograd: Moderato – Allegro –  [15:08]
2. Razliv: Allegro – L'istesso tempo – Adagio – [14:03]
3. Aurora: L'istesso tempo – Allegro – [04:44]
4. The Dawn of Humanity: L'istesso tempo – Allegretto – Moderato [11:09]

CD3
Symphony No. 13 in B flat minor op. 113 “Babi Yar”
1. Babiy Yar (Babi Yar): Adagio [16:28]
2. Yumor (Humour): Allegretto [08:48] IG 2
3. V magazine (In the Store): Adagio – [14:02]
4. Strakhi (Fears): Largo [14:21]
5. Kar’year (Career): Allegretto [14:09]

Matthias Goerne, bass-baritone
Tenors and Basses of the
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Chorus Master: James Burton
New England Conservatory Symphonic Choir
Chorus Master: Erica J. Washburn