"These are two of the most brilliant and insightful Shostakovich performances to come along in quite a while, and that’s saying a lot given the excellence of the recent competition. Certainly if you’re looking for this coupling, which is becoming a popular one, this is the disc to have. Yakov Kreizberg’s account of the Fifth Symphony is simply the most grimly intense since Sanderling’s…..What makes this disc even more special is the fact that the Ninth Symphony is every bit as good…..Throughout, the Russian National Orchestra plays with 100 percent conviction, and PentaTone’s sonics, whether in stereo or SACD surround, are extremely natural and well-balanced…..Do not miss this release”.
David Hurwitz
"Gergiev’s more conventionally rhetorical accounts have much to be said for them, while Haitink’s relative detachment is worth having at medium price, but as the first choice for this coupling, Kreizberg’s lucid performances will take some beating."
Richard Whitehouse
"The recording is a model of its kind and has extended Pentatone’s heights to further elevations. The sound-stage is vast and is so-well balanced that even with such large forces, the walls of one’s own home vanish completely – no mean feat!"
John Broggio
“The pairing of Shostakovich’s Fifth and Ninth symphonies is popular on CD, and this recent release from Pentatone Classics can hold its head very high among competition…. This is, all in all, a very fine disc.”
Dave Paxton
