Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 14, released on Challenge Classics in 2014, is a profound and introspective journey through the human condition, set against a backdrop of poetic and literary inspirations. This chamber symphony, lasting approximately 55 minutes, is a departure from the traditional symphonic form, instead offering a deeply personal and reflective exploration of themes such as death, suffering, and resilience.
Composed in 1969, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 14 is a setting of poems by Federico García Lorca, Guillaume Apollinaire, Wilhelm Küchelbecker, and the Russian folk poem "The Suicide." Each of the eleven movements is dedicated to a different poem, creating a narrative that is both poignant and powerful. The symphony is scored for soprano and bass voices, accompanied by a chamber orchestra, giving it an intimate and haunting quality.
The album opens with "De profundis," a slow and mournful adagio that sets the tone for the rest of the symphony. The second movement, "Malagen’ya," is a more lively allegretto, while the third movement, "Loreleya," is a fast-paced and dramatic allegro molto. The fourth movement, "Samoubi’ytsa (The Suicide)," is a slow and somber adagio, while the fifth movement, "Nacheku (On the Alert)," is a lively allegretto that builds to a powerful climax.
The sixth movement, "Madam, posmotrite (Look here, Madam)," is a slow and mournful adagio, while the seventh movement, "V tyur’me Sante (At the Santé Jail)," is a slow and haunting adagio. The eighth movement, "Otvet zaporozjckikh kazakov konstantinopelskomu sultanu (Reply to the Sultan of Konstantinopel)," is a lively and dramatic allegro, while the ninth movement, "O Delvig, Delvig!" is a slow and mournful andante.
The tenth movement, "Smert’ poeta (The Poet’s Death)," is a slow and somber largo, while the final movement, "Zaklyucheniye (Conclusion)," is a moderate tempo that brings the symphony to a close. Throughout the album, Shostakovich's mastery of composition and his ability to convey deep emotion through music are on full display, making Symphony No. 14 a truly unforgettable listening experience.
This 2LP set is pressed on White vinyl.
