This week at Pristine we continue our celebration of Shostakovich’s legacy, fifty years after his death, with two electrifying 1952 recordings by Dimitri Mitropoulos and the New York Philharmonic. Zino Francescatti brings effortless brilliance to Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, his luminous tone and poetic phrasing perfectly complemented by Mitropoulos’s alert, colourful accompaniment. Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, born amid danger and political repression yet acclaimed as a triumphant act of survival, receives a performance of striking power, intensity and conviction.
Both sessions, captured at Columbia’s legendary 30th Street Studio, show Mitropoulos and his orchestra at their incandescent best. Newly restored in glorious Ambient Stereo XR sound, these performances leap vividly back to life — thrilling documents of artistry, courage and sheer musical brilliance.
We also celebrate Chopin with a 10% discount on all our recordings of his music this week.
