Shostakovich - Symphony No. 9 in E flat major | Constantinos Carydis | WDR Symphony Orchestra

Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 in E flat major op. 70, played by the WDR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Constantinos Carydis. Recorded live on 22.09.2023 in the Kölner Philharmonie.
Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 9 in E flat major op. 70
00:00:00 I. Allegro
00:05:23 II. Moderato
00:12:40 III. presto
00:15:23 IV. Largo
00:19:20 V. Allegretto - Allegro
WDR Symphony Orchestra
Constantinos Carydis, conductor
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Introduction to the work:
What to do as one of the Soviet Union's leading composers when the "Great Patriotic War" against Hitler's Germany is won? - Compose the great heroic symphony and pay homage to the dictator Stalin? And what should a symphony composer do when his own Ninth is due? - Try to outdo Beethoven?
In 1945, Dmitri Shostakovich bravely, if not death-defyingly, rejected all expectations of Soviet power. He did compose his Ninth and even chose the key of E flat major for it - the heroic key par excellence, at least since Beethoven's Third. However, Shostakovich thumbs his nose at everyone with a bold musical language that borrows from Viennese classical music. And he peppered the work with cheeky jokes to boot. In the first movement, for example, where he spices up the almost Haydn-like opening with lots of 'wrong' notes and soon has the trombone playing fanfares. Or at the beginning of the fourth movement: Is the quasi-quote from the final section of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" a parody of the inhuman ruler Stalin? Today, this quotation has a topical reference, given the title chosen by Mussorgsky: "The Great Gate of Kiev".
The final movement then sounds like a so-called "Freilach" dance of Jewish klezmer music - the celebration of victory in sound expected by the Soviet apparatchiks is thus downright defiantly absent. In short, Shostakovich's Ninth is nothing less than a dangerous defiance of Stalin's murderous regime. And the reaction comes - albeit with a delay of almost three years, but all the more devastating for it. Shostakovich and other artists were publicly accused of formalism - the aesthetic death sentence in the Soviet state. As a composer, he was effectively condemned to silence. Only years later, after Stalin's death in 1953, was Shostakovich freed and able to present his tenth symphony to the public.
(Text: Otto Hagedorn)

[@alicepasson6432]

The bassoon's solo is majestic and breath-taking. It made me hang on the edge of my seat. His sound is so beautiful and pure, I truly never heard anything like it. I'm absolutely amazed. Complimenti to Augusto, the new Principal Bassoon!!!🎶

[@WDRKlassik]

We are happy you enjoyed it so much!

[@mariagabel4800]

Еndloses Bravo❤

[@hannahklar2158]

Do you know the time stamp

[@rolandmeyer3729]

Compare the bassoon duet at the beginning of Carl Nielsen's fifth symphony.

[@basta6714]

The bassoon solo is absolutely mesmerizing 👏👏👏 Bravo!!!!

[@WDRKlassik]

It's Augusto Velio Palumbo 🤗

[@1lavrentiberia]

bravo....what an orchestra....excellent clarinet in Presto...bassoon.....every single musician....toll toll toll einfach!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you very much!

[@bobcochran2890]

Wonderful bassoon performance. Great recording sound and a fine orchestra, too. Love this symphony.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you!

[@V8Tomek]

B I G applause to the bassoon player Augusto Velio Palumbo. His tone is perfection!!!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 😊

[@aunimjoarder]

This is the first time I’ve watched an orchestral performance! Nice job everyone

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you and welcome! 🤗

[@user-vg7mw7mp3o]

Mujer del octavín genial!!Flautista de anteojos es Sr.Spock,graaande!!Saludos desde las Pampas.

[@LucienMarine]

Symphony No. 9 in E flat major op. 70: The Ninth Symphony expected of Shostakovich was very different from the eighth Symphony he delivered. His previous two symphonies were grand affairs of over an hour in length, and each required a massive orchestra. These symphonies were also thematically tied to the ongoing war: His Seventh Symphony appeared to chronicle the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, while his Eighth portrayed the turning of the war as the Russians drove the Nazis back into Germany. It was subsequently expected by all that, for his Ninth Symphony, Shostakovich would deliver a grand apotheosis to Stalin that celebrated the end of the war, and ultimately completed his epic « war trilogy » of symphonies. In spite of these expectations and, in fact, likely because of them Shostakovich instead delivered a short, small-scale neoclassical work that had more in common with Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony than with the Ninth Symphonies of Beethoven or Mahler. This symphony also has a number of solos, there are big solos for all the woodwind instruments, the trumpet, the trombones, and the violin. These solos should be free, expressive, and light. This is especially true of the bassoon, which is heard throughout the entire fourth movement and fifth movement. The « Largo » is the necessary turning point in the development, the solitary peak from which there opens before us that wide perspective so necessary for understanding the inner meaning of the whole work. It is a return to the past which is impossible to forget, even amidst the joys of peaceful life. The true meaning of the bassoon solo, however, will likely never be known Shostakovich left no written program, and the accuracy of remarks made in his memoirs remains questionable. We will do with! *Lucien*

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you for your insight!

[@SilvioNobre]

Always an indescribable pleasure. Thank you very much for this beauty! ❤️🙏✨

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you 💖

[@giovannaacosta3501]

El trompetista en su solo en Presto, fue tan limpio👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Bravo

[@WDRKlassik]

😊🎺

[@giovannaacosta3501]

Increíble Interpretación!! Excelente el clarinetista!

[@WDRKlassik]

Gracias! 🤗

[@MisterwanwaLP]

Ich finde die 9. Sinfonie von Schostakowitsch ein Meisterwerk. Die Holzbläser sind da ganz besonders hervorzuheben. Im Kopfsatz, in ganz klassischer Sonatensatzform , spielen die Holzbläser eine zentrale Rolle der Exposition. Sie stellen das Hauptthema vor, das sich durch das gesamte Werk zieht. Das Thema ist so schön lyrisch und melancholisch, die Holzbläser spielen mit großer Kraft. Insgesamt finde ich die 9. Sinfonie ein unverzichtbares Klangbild. Es ist so eine emotionale Wirkung und die Sinfonie ist ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Bravo!

[@WDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank!

[@qoyyum4125]

1:56 my favourite!1!1!

[@barney6888]

Double that piccolo and brass section's salaries.

[@qoyyum4125]

1:50 my favourite part!!

[@Bleakhouse7]

Superb performance with breath-taking tempi and beautiful solos - bravo!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you very much!

[@billsezame4132]

Quelle merveilleuse version de la 9. La prise de son rend justice à l'ensemble des instruments et la direction d'orchestre est d'une précision et d'une sensibilité réellement émouvantes. Merci à vous tous pour ce moment qui relève de la grâce. On imagine Mozart, de son ciel, écoutant la neuvième de Shostakovich, et pleurant dans les bras de son épouse adorée.

[@WDRKlassik]

Merci beaucoup! 🤗

[@stephendraper500]

What a fantastic performance especially the winds. Excellent interpretation and playing of the solo Bassoon passages. BRAVO! 👏👏👏

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you very much!

[@terrylimache1088]

Augustuuuss the best🔥🔥🔥

[@WDRKlassik]

Yeees!

[@nicolobiemmi5089]

Augustoooooo 😍😍👏👏🔥🔥🔥

[@WDRKlassik]

Yeah! 💯

[@ivetabachmannova6382]

Grandios! Fantastische Interpretation Schostakowitsch 9. Bravoo!

[@WDRKlassik]

Vielen Dank! 🤗

[@edithbuttler6933]

Grandissimoly. 🎉💯🙏👌🤲💫🙌🧚‍♀️💫💫💫🤝. Et Dirigent within perfektionally. All' Orchestrapeople are be fantastically.🎉.👌🙏💯

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 😊

[@user-mr6zu6is1f]

A piccolós nagyon jó ❤

[@jensschauerte5447]

bravo l’orchestre…une performance magnifique❤

[@WDRKlassik]

Merci beaucoup 🥰

[@rosalba1125]

Maravilloso !! 🎻🎻👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@WDRKlassik]

Gracias 🥰

[@mimilazar2002]

Simply beautiful!♥

[@WDRKlassik]

🤗

[@allacross3858]

Incredible performance!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 🤗

[@peterwhyte-zl1kv]

Thank you! Fine performance, audio and visuals. More fun than my CD!

[@WDRKlassik]

You are welcome! 🤗

[@michelelamonaca1458]

Mirabolante esecuzione. Accipicchia

[@WDRKlassik]

Grazie 😊

[@davidpanton3192]

You can see why Stalin wasn't altogher pleased with this. In other words, it's great.

[@irekmichal2005]

Oh yeah❤

[@WDRKlassik]

🤗

[@liuboviza1ify]

Добрый всем вечер ❤

[@bryannguyen8440]

Good performance. Such a shame that this symphony was censored.

[@WDRKlassik]

Yes, definitely not what Stalin had expected ...

[@dogukancelik9512]

WDR’ın yaylıları ne zaman dinlesem aynı hırçınlıkta 🥰

[@WDRKlassik]

🎻💖

[@umitozusta6610]

Ne emek, nefesinizi kuvvet.

[@mor6587]

...❤

[@paytporik]

Shostakovich 4, 5, 8, 9,10, 13, 14,15 !!!

[@serendrixsan9191]

Alle reden nur über Solofagott aber keiner redet über Lewin (klarinette) das Affenzahn Tempo im Presto und halt klarer als man es je gehört hat

[@WDRKlassik]

💕

[@pibbles-a-plenty1105]

The subtlety of this magnificent symphony is ruined by being played too fast.