Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) wrote his Symphony No. 8 during the most dire time of the 20th century. As he composed this, the most bloody battles of World War II were taking place in Stalingrad, and history was in the balance. In response to the catastrophe happening all around him, he wrote this epic symphony. It is not a soaring call to arms, but a more grim reckoning with reality. The opening Adagio, which takes up half of the symphony is not sorrowful but feels more like a yearning for peace to return. This uncertainty continues through the entire symphony. The final notes drift away without any clear conclusion - much as the future must have looked at the time this was written.

As this is vinyl - there is one small distortion at 50:28 where there was a bad skip that I could not fix.

Tracks/Movements:
00:00 Adagio
25:49 Allegretto
32:00 Allegro Non Troppo
38:06 Largo
46:45. Allegretto (Finale)


Details:
Album Title: Shostakovich Symphony No.8
Released by: London Records LDR 71121
Year released: 1983
Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor: Bernard Haitink

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