Shostakovich 25th Anniversary Edition
The Gamblers, unfinished opera.
Andrey Chistiakov, Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Nicolai Kurpe (ten), Nikolai Rechetniak (bar), Alexander Arkhipov (ten), Mikhail Krutikov (bass), Viatcheslav Pochapski (bass), Pyotr Gluboky (bass).
Saison Russe RUS 7799115. DDD.

Suite for Variety Orchestra (mislabelled as Jazz Suite No. 2; extracts); Dance from The Limpid Stream; Spanish Dance from The Gadfly; The Young Lady and the Hooligan (extracts); Child's Notebook (extracts); Ballet Suite No. 1.
Mark Gorenstein, Symphonic Orchestra of Russia; Arnold Katz, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra; Rimma Bobritskaya (piano).
Saison Russe RUS 7788164. DDD.

These two discs were reviewed in their previous releases in DSCH No. 9 and No. 12, respectively, so will not be reappraised in depth here. The Chistiakov Gamblers remains a desirable acquisition despite the subsequent reappearance of Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's première recording on BMG/Melodiya.

The compilation disc of light music dredged from other LCdM releases is less appealing, for its programme is low in diversity, repeating the same music in different instrumentations and offering similar-sounding extracts from the suites. Much more variety would have been obtained using different selections. The seeker of Shostakovich's lighter side is better served by Riccardo Chailly's Jazz Music and Dance albums on Decca (433 702 and 452 597, respectively), and with Constantine Orbelian's new Shostakovich Waltzes compilation reviewed above.

W. Mark Roberts
Top