Shostakovich: The Film Album / Chailly, Royal Concertgebouw

This is the third installment (after the "Dance" and "Jazz" Albums) in Ricardo Chailly's ongoing exploration of Dmitri Shostakovich's lighter side. One piece of advice that Shostakovich used to offer young composers was "Always keep working. If you aren't writing a big, serious piece, then write lighter music." No hypocrite regarding these suggestions, Shostakovich himself wrote a huge amount of lighter music, including some marvelous film scores. It's only in the past few years that most listeners have come to realize just how varied and interesting the great Russian composer's output actually is. With the gradual acceptance into the repertoire of his keyboard masterpiece, the 24 Preludes and Fugues, as well Read more and his film, incidental, and ballet scores, it's clear that the standard of sheer craftsmanship, to say nothing of inspiration, that Shostakovich maintained over his career was nothing less than astonishing. Chailly and his forces play the pants off the music, so if you like movie music, Russian music in general, or Shostakovich in particular, this disc is just what you've been waiting for.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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1. Counterplan, Op. 33: Presto by Dmitri Shostakovich

Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932; USSR

2. Counterplan, Op. 33: Andante by Dmitri Shostakovich

Performer: Alexander Kerr (Violin)
Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932; USSR

3. Counterplan, Op. 33: Song of the meeting by Dmitri Shostakovich

Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932; USSR

4. Alone, Op. 26: Suite by Dmitri Shostakovich

Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1930-1931; USSR

5. The Story of a Silly Little Mouse, Op. 56 by Dmitri Shostakovich

Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1939; USSR
Notes: Arranged: Andrew Cornall

6. Hamlet, Op. 116: Introduction by Dmitri Shostakovich