An audiophile-grade LP transfer of a 2006 hit from the Brilliant Classics catalogue: stylish and exuberant accounts of some of Shostakovich's most popular orchestral music.Shostakovich's fluency in light music, and the sharp profile of his personality in an unexpected context, can still come as a shock. Yet he always sounded like himself, no less than Prokofiev or Stravinsky did, whether writing for string quartet or jazz band. And even in these suites of sly foxtrots and waltzes, a double-edged quality emerges, at once smoochy and sinister, depending as much on the mood of the listener as the intrinsic nature of the music. From 1934, the First Jazz Suite vividly brings a smoky Soviet jazz club to the mind's eye, with it's wailing solo trumpet and parody mandolin. At the same time, the distilled invention of the three brief movements sheds light on Shostakovich's early experience as a pianist accompanying silent films - capturing a scene or at atmosphere in sound almost at will. The Second Jazz Suite - also confusingly known as the First Suite for Variety Orchestra - is a later concoction by Gerard McBurney after the score of the original, composed in 1938, was lost during the war.While the Festive Overture is well known as a riotous concert-opener, it's later companion is still a rarity, at least in concert. Shostakovich wrote the Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Songs in 1963, in honour of the centenary of Kirghizia's voluntary incorporation into the Russian State. As an occasional work, solemn and ceremonial, it has been overlooked alongside the Twelfth Symphony from two years earlier, but this Ukrainian recording colours it with an authentically sharp edge and steel gleam.Reviewing the Jazz Suites on their original release, Classics Today remarked that 'The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine achieves an authentic sound - lithe rather than lush - for this music and plays with excellent ensemble. Conductor Theodore Kuchar deserves credit for making the suite consistently entertaining. The listener at least gets to hear these chips from the master's workbench in friendly performances.'
Release date:
April 4, 2025
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Tame Impala Deadbeat [2xLP]
Columbia Records Group
October 17, 2025 -
The Lemonheads Love Chant
Fire Records
October 24, 2025 -
Sydney Sprague Peak Experience
Many Hats Dist
October 31, 2025 -
Michael Franks Time Together
Shanachie
October 10, 2025 -
Amber Mark Pretty Idea
Jasmine Music/PMR Records/Interscope
October 10, 2025 -
Solence Angels Calling (Red)
Better Noise Music
October 31, 2025 -
Coach Party Caramel (Light Yellow)
Chess Club
October 10, 2025 -
Helado Negro The Last Sound On Earth
Big Dada
November 7, 2025 -
Jay Som Belong
Universal UK
October 17, 2025 -
Demi Lovato It's Not That Deep (Lavender Daydream)
Island
October 24, 2025 -
Five Finger Death Punch Best of - Volume 2 [2xLP]
Better Noise Music
October 24, 2025 -
Walter Trout Battle Scars (Aquamarine) [2xLP]
Music On Vinyl
October 10, 2025 -
Gareth Quinn Redmond Múscailte (Ultra Clear)
sound as language
November 14, 2025 -
Billy Currington King Of The World (Ocean Blue)
Mercury Nashville
October 24, 2025