Yakov Kreizberg - Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9 (2007) [SACD]

This is a fine addition to Pentatone's stable of Shostakovich symphonies. It is maestro Yakov Kreizberg's turn on the podium for this release. Interestingly, Pentatone have used different conductors for their Shosty syms releases thus far though all have recorded with the Russian National Orchestra. I listened to Sym 9 first as the appetizer for the main course. Kreizberg tends to take a more romantic approach with this work than some who have a tendancy to treat it similarly to Prokofiev's 1st symphony. The moderato and largo movements are both taken a bit slower than normal adding more gravitas than usual. In the context of his conception, this works nicely. While not one of Shosty's more profound works, the peformance here was a pleasure to hear.

Sym 5 is my second favorite Shosty sym (after No. 8). Here Kriezberg adopts a middle-of-the-road approach - nothing taken too swiftly nor too slowly. I did find it just a bit lackluster but others might hear it as heart-felt. I have heard many recordings of this work and my favorites are Haitink on Decca and Levi on Telarc (both are excellent rbcd recordings). On SACD, I have this same coupling from Gergiev who squeezes all of the juice from both works - he is exciting in the extreme. Nonetheless, I think the Pentatone has the more satisfying performances for the long term (with better sound too).

As to the sound, I find it mostly successful (stereo). The massed strings sound just a tad bit vague to me and the brass/winds lack the last degree of natural bite. The recordings were done in a Moscow studio and the sound is spacious - almost too much space for my tastes. I am being quite picky here but then again I have high expectations for recordings from Pentatone. Recommended.