Kurt Sanderling -

Dimitri Schostakowitsch Symphony No.5 In D Minor Op.47

Berlin Symphony Orchestra

The conductor Kurt Sanderling (1912-2011) first met Dmitri Shostakovich during WW2. Colleagues first, the men went on to forge a strong personal friendship that affords a unique insight into both the music and character of this most conflicted composer. Sanderling recorded most of the symphonies with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, which he led from 1960 to 1977, but it’s his dark, deeply moving account of the Fifteenth with the Berlin Philharmonic that I’d want for my desert island. Originally issued on the BP’s own label, it’s well worth scouring the internet for a used copy of that recording – coupled with a genial performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. 82 ‘The Bear’.

read more

A fresh, unaffected Fifth, chock-full of insight and character; not to be missed.
Dan Morgan

Label: Eterna