Shostakovich - Symphony No 8 - Mstislav Rostropovich - London Symphony Orchestra - LSO0527 (2005) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.24GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.12GB) (+3.76dB gain) | 2ch (1.04GB) DR18 (+3.76dB gain) | Classical DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording by Classic Sound :) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Although it was written at a time of great optimism in the Soviet Union with the Nazis in retreat, Shostakovich's 8th Symphony is imbued with a deep sense of sorrow & fear of the future. Whereas the authorities expected a victorius anthem, Shostakovich appeared too affected by the bloody cost of the war. Mstislav Rostropovich again proved that no other conductor is able to so intimately understand the feelings of his dear friend. Reviews: Musical content 100% Recording fidelity 100% 'Recordings like this don't come along very often. Buy it. When you throw in the fact that LSO Live has captured this in recorded sound that supersedes even their finest previous efforts, you are left with a disc which is among the finest of this - or any - year ... no devotee of great orchestral music will want to miss this valedictory performance ... a release that combines a great performance of 1 of the 20th century's most important pieces of music with a state-of-the-art recording. Bravo to everyone involved on this project: Rarely has the music lover been served so well by a commercial recording.' ~ High Fidelity Review 'Rostropovich really nails the meaning of the 8th so completely that this new release is easily recommendable as a 1st introduction to the music ... Rostropovich brings an intensity to the music ... The LSO plays magnificently, the brasses astounding in their power & accuracy. Woodwind solos are gorgeously realized.' ~ Fanfare 'All the searing intensity, perceptiveness & magnificent playing that made this such a memorable performance survives on this recording. No one has a more intimate knowledge of Shostakovich's musical psyche that his long-time friend Rostropovich & that insight exudes from every pore of his interpretation ... this must surely be the benchmark for this shattering work.' ~ Daily Telegraph 'The performance is 1 of the finest I have ever heard of anything. But take care, this CD should have a public health warning - don't listen unless you are in good heart & emotionally strong ... No one understands this political psychosis better than Mstislav Rostropovich. Shostakovich has an awesome ability to grasp a high concept & unfold it powerfully & Rostropovich's capacity to open it up & characterise it is astonishing ... I spilt coffee all over my shirt listening to that! The emotion is raw & real. Compared to others this is a recording that has all the difference between looking at a photo of Antarctica & actually walking out on the icepacks. Something tragically dangerous was given voice that night at the Barbican & is now bottled up, none too safely I imagine, on this LSO Live CD. I simply can't imagine how Rostropovich generates so much energy or indeed how the players cope.' ~ BBC Radio 3 CD Review 'A performance that grips at every moment, with orchestral playing to match. Composed in 1943, & an overwhelming human document of what such wartime suffering must feellike, this symphony may well be Shostakovich's greatest. An unmissable bargain.' ~ Classic FM Magazine ‘With Slava, there is no mistaking the sense of occasion, or the scale & stature of this symphony… this LSO Live release has its place, as an inexpensive, powerful introduction to some great music.’ ~ DSCH Journal Tracks: 01-Symphony No 8, Adagio - Allegro non troppo 02-Symphony No 8, Allegretto 03-Symphony No 8, Allegro non troppo 04-Symphony No 8, Largo 05-Symphony No 8, Allegretto Musicians: Mstislav Rostropovich London Symphony Orchestra Recording: Recorded November 2004, Barbican, London Neil Hutchinson for Classic Sound Ltd balance engineer http://www.filefactory.com/folder/f50e9ed4b9ae0ab0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checksum for iso: b5126a158681744a11b05c87fec2f829 *Mstislav Rostropovich - LSO - SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No 8.iso Checksum for flac tracks Mch: 0b211c87d6e2f2291a4c00a023ed6ca1 *01 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Adagio - Allegro non troppo.flac dc9839cd3d3e728a87ed84d21cfcd299 *02 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Allegretto.flac 356a8398401d94c4c6266292393d7e49 *03 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Allegro non troppo.flac aad251fea53581b949fc462ed66f8fd4 *04 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Largo.flac 3762bbea9b65d4cc257ae5dc48741f4f *05 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Allegretto.flac Checksum for flac tracks 2ch: bdc2b5bf80b6fda05ceee22548558e6c *01 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Adagio - Allegro non troppo.flac 8e7ff8d0d05e175a2b6ae0e930d82a04 *02 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Allegretto.flac ce716aedf6db799248a994b107f3f89e *03 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Allegro non troppo.flac f903ee99696c137ab1e65a747e38626c *04 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Largo.flac 9dc92fb43ca368049798f7085b4bde44 *05 - Mstislav Rostropovich, London Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No 8, Allegretto.flac