Dmitry Shostakovich: Complete Music for Piano Duo and Duet, Volume Two
Much of Shostakovich’s orchestral music was first heard in versions he prepared for piano four hands or two pianos – but most of these transcriptions have languished unheard since those early performances, usually given for friends and colleagues or for Party officials. This series, which uncovers all the transcriptions prepared by Shostakovich himself, continues with the first recordings of his two-piano versions of the Second Piano Concerto and the Fifteenth Symphony.
Pianists Min Kyung Kim and Hyung Jin Moon
Listen To This Recording:
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Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102 (1957)
- I. Allegro
- II. Andante —
- III. Allegro
- I. Allegretto
- II. Adagio — Largo — Adagio — Largo —
- III. Allegretto
- IV Adagio — Allegretto — Adagio — Allegretto
Symphony No. 15 in A major, Op. 141 (1971)
Neil Talbott :
Exciting new series. Hope we will get the Shostakovich arrangement of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. And it will he good to hear other versions of the 4th and 10th symphonies.
Lipatti Chen :
For Neil Tabott:
The label FHR(First Hand Records) had released their FHR37 in 2015 with Jeremy Menuhin and Mookie Lee-Menuhin playing the Shostakovich’s arrangement of Symphony of Psalms. Hope you could find it and enjoy. 🙂
MusicWeb International :
‘The two Korean-born pianists on this recording are powerful advocates of the music and clearly had a ball while playing the two-piano version of the concerto, however, steering a necessarily more thoughtful course through the symphony. Most of us who love music recognise the signal role Shostakovich played in twentieth century music and though there are a few works of his that fall somewhat short in terms of success (2nd and 3rd symphonies for example and arguably to some extent also his 9th and 12th) these two works are up there with the best of his output of works including orchestra, while his chamber works are, without doubt, among the greatest works in the genre written by any composer in the last hundred years. This series is a valuable addition to aid our further understanding and appreciation for this giant of composition in the twentieth century.’
—Steve Arloff, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘Vicky Yannoula, born in Corfu, and Jakob Fichert, a Londoner who hails from Germany, are new to me. They’re in demand on the solo-piano and chamber circuit in the UK and Europe, and minutes into the symphony it’s not difficult to see why. Their spring-heeled response to the opening Allegro strikes just the right note, that jaunty march both sparkling and spontaneous. The balance is very satisfying and the recording copes well with the challenging dynamics. The sound is also nicely detailed in quieter passages; […]
What I like most about this duo is their selfless playing, directed as it is towards purely musical ends. Pacing is ideal, rhythms are well judged and there’s plenty of feeling when required.’
—Dan Morgan, MusicWeb International