Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 in Building a Library with Yshani Perinpanayagam and Andrew McGregor

Available for 28 days

Andrew McGregor with the best of the week's new classical releases. c2.10pm Harpsichordist and choral director Joseph McHardy joins Andrew with a batch of his favourite new releases. 3pm Building a Library: Pianist and composer Yshani Perinpanayagam surveys recordings of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 and makes a top recommendation. "Musicians will like to play it, and critics will delight in blasting it." That's what Shostakovich acurately predicted of his Symphony No. 9, premiered by the Leningrad Philharmonic in 1945. Initially intended as a celebration of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, the work is lighter in character than most of Shostakovich's other symphonies. Top choice: WDR Symphony Orchestra, Rudolph Barshai (cond.) Brilliant Classics 6324 c3.45pm Record of the Week. Andrew's top pick of the week's new releases.