“…Storgärds offers a very good modern choice, with a sophisticated Chandos SACD surround-sound recording and a striking bass drum presence. There also is a valuable coupling, in Arvo Part’s De profundis, whose bell and bass drum sounds benefit from the truthful recording as much as those in the main work. Its seven minutes make a very attractive and appropriate curtain-raiser to the main item…”

Sound: 9     Booklet: 10      Repertoire: 10      Interpretation: 8.5

Performance ****      Recording *****

“… The BBC Philharmonic delivers superb and vividly characterised playing throughout. Solo passages are imaginatively projected … German bass Albert Dohemn has a beautifully lyrical voice … The Estonian national Male Choir … are ideal, their dark timbres and exemplary diction really hitting the target both in the Shostakovich and in Arvo Pärt’s profoundly moving De profundis …”

“…there’s a great deal to admire in John Storgårds’ performance … Storgårds conducts the work well and he’s excellently served by his choir and orchestra. Albert Dohmen sings intelligently and with a fine feeling for the words; he also observes a lot of the subtleties in the solo part …”

“The Shostakovich cycle by the BBC Philharmonic under John Storgårds is proving to be remarkably consistent, both in terms of committed and exhilarating performances and the characteristically widespread Chandos surround sound… the readings by Storgårds have come to be regarded as definitive. This is probably the finest complete set of the Shostakovich symphonies now on the market.”

“… John Storgårds has shown his affinity for the composer in every disc of this complete series of the Shostakovich symphonies (still in progress). Here, he does not strive after extremes or try out any special effects: the slow music does not drag and the climaxes are not harrowingly expressionistic…”

“... soloist, choir, orchestra and conductor provide a compelling account, and the sound is glorious.”