Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 & Sinfonietta

Every year since 2011, the Estonian-born conductor Paavo Järvi has formed the Estonian Festival Orchestra, inviting orchestral players from all over the world to join young Estonians at his festival in the seaside town of Pärnu. Shostakovich, like many Soviet musicians during the 20th century, spent time in the summer months. This superb album coincides with the 100th anniversary of Estonian independence and brings Shostakovich’s 1939 brooding Symphony No. 6 together with an arrangement for string orchestra and timpani of the String Quartet No. 8 (given the title “Sinfonietta”). Järvi coaxes alert, virtuosic playing from his players (the Symphony’s “Presto” finale has a frenetic yet utterly thrilling energy), and everything is recorded in superb sound.