“Santtu conducts Shostakovich” is the fourth album from Philharmonia Records, featuring Shostakovich’s colourful Sixth Symphony alongside his subversive and sardonic Ninth Symphony. Conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali, these performances were recorded at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in 2023.
★★★★★ “Rouvali (superbly abetted by some outstanding orchestral playing) controls the evolving emotive power…utterly convincingly…Rouvali fully understands the myriad expression of this rare masterpiece: he is splendidly followed by the great Philharmonia Orchestra on top form, which is beautifully balanced throughout…The recordings are exceptionally good” – Musical Opinion
“Santtu-Matias Rouvali proves himself a persuasive Shostakovich conductor on this live recording…both symphonies here are thoughtfully and often imaginatively realised” – Gramophone
“The two symphonies conducted by Rouvali are two attractive versions of this imperishable music.” – Sonograma
“Fine performances of two idiosyncratic, even eccentric, Shostakovich symphonies”– Musicweb International