Posted by Roy Orbison on May 14, 1999 at 10:45:24:
I saw you guys discussing recordings of the Shostakovich concerti further down...I would like to recommend a CD of the first concerto...
There is a series of old live recordings with Rostropovich on the Russian Disc label including one of him playing the first concerto and the Schumann as well. It dates from 1965 and the sound quality is not too great but the playing is phenomenal. It is actually a much better performance than the official one he made with the Philadelphia Orchestra at about the same time, which I find a bit boring. The intensity and passion are real and the music is raw and gripping in a way I have never heard again with this piece. The orchestra is Moscow Philharmonic with David Oistrakh; the horn solo sounds
like he is sight-reading on an unfamiliar instrument and the timpanist gets a bit lost but it is a great ride. I would advise all you who are interested to look for it. The CD number is RD CD 11 106.