“… Ferociously articulate, Petrenko’s objective, unglamorised view won’t spoil you for more radical alternatives. This is a Tenth to live with.”

Want List

“… Vasily Petrenko’s Shostakovich symphony cycle is fast becoming something special. This 10th Symphony is not quite as formidable as his Eighth (interpretively or sonically), but it is certainly one of the best. No one rivals Petrenko’s intensity in the second movement, and the critically important pounding timpani at the end are more clearly articulated than on any other recording.”

Editor’s Choice

“… If there has been a finer account of the Tenth in recent years, I confess I must have missed it; and I would be surprised …”

“ This performance will not disappoint …”

Recording of the Year

“Just released, and an instant classic. The deep, rich, vibrant, clear sound quality is enough to make this reading a must-have, but Vasily Petrenko’s ingenious direction and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s world-class playing forced me to make this Tenth a last-second addition to my Recordings of the Year. Listen for special moments like the swooping violin portamenti at 00:26 in the scherzo, the spunkily klezmer-influenced clarinet solo at the start of the allegretto, or Petrenko’s superb balancing of orchestral sections in the last four bars. Perfect!”

Orchestral Choice

“The whirlwind scherzo is hair-raising. But it’s in Petrenko’s Finale that all lines meet: the arching, painful lyricism of the first movement crystallised in the opening oboe solo, the perky Allegro light and airy at first to point up its contrast to the second movement, which duly breaks in as storm clouds gather. The ending is genuinely exultant. Recorded sound is brilliant.”

Artistic Quality 10     Sound Quality 10

“…Thrilling, perfect, essential—a magnificent achievement and hands down the modern reference recording.”