LPO's Shostakovich shows serious class

Kurt Masur leds the London Philharmonic Orchestra on an emphatic performance of Shostakovich's Symphonies Nos 1 and 5

Composer: Shostakovich
Repertoire: Symphonies Nos 1 & 5
Artists: LPO/Kurt Masur
Rating:  4/5 
Genre: Orchestral
Label: LPO-0001 (SACD)

The first release on the LPO’s own CD label (a present-day trend) displays this orchestra’s excellence in emphatic style, with some superb soloists, serious class in every department, and an impressive refusal to over-egg things by playing too loudly. But Masur’s approach to both symphonies comes across as lacking the fierce intensity that’s needed; the finale of the First, especially, short-changes the music’s whiplash ferocity. Fortunately the voltage-level through the Fifth is a good deal higher.