Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink
Shostakovich Symphony 15
(RCO Live)
In 1971 Shostakovich was on his last legs. He had already suffered one heart attack, and that year would have a second. During this period he wrote his 15th and final symphony, which is utterly different to any of the others. It is taut and spare; in some respects it seems almost direct. It is in fact extremely complex and riddled with messages and enigmas. It’s peppered throughout with myriad quotations, some of which, like the five-times quotation of the “Lone Ranger” Theme from William Tell, chunks of Wagner’s Ring, a bit of Tristan and many self-quotations, have perplexed many listeners. But in this new, gripping performance by the fabulous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Bernard Haitink, recorded live, there is not a shred of doubt as to the meaning of all these bits and the symphony in total. It’s about death: Shostakovich’s own death. And it’s everywhere to be heard in Haitink’s forensic reading of the piece.
Michael Tumelty
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink: Shostakovich Symphony 15 (RCO Live)
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