Michael Sanderling deserves more attention from the public. His recent Brahms Symphonies cycle with Lucerne Symphony Orchestra is also a splendid one

So glad you reviewed this. Such a thoughtful set!

Great stuff and the perfect example how really strange this world can be. Grand review anew!

So glad to have you back 🫠 The last few days were tuff.

wow this video came out at a great time, I’ve been exploring the sanderling recordings this past week after only being familiar with his 7th

I have to thank you for this video. I did not even know these recordings existed. In the absence of available physical media, I downloaded all 15 symphonies and I am amazed at the quality of it all: conductor, orchestra, recording... and the audio from a low-tech source. It has no reason sounding as good as it does. I am a happy Shostakovich/Sanderling listener, thanks to you ! Another home run!

Great find, thanks! I'd have missed these without your discussion here… And yes, I'm hearing details of phrasing I do not remember hearing before.

Was able to hear Michael Sanderling's version of the 9th -- it's now one of my favorite versions. Really taken with the slower-than-usual first movement, and how he handles the brass choir in the fourth. Thanks for this discussion, very enlightening!

David, you are the only educator who could describe a complete symphony merely with the movement of your hands and shoulders and an occasional squawk and squeak to point out various nuances of the orchestra. Entertaining analyses.

Thank you for the review! better check them out! Actually Sanderling is comming to Korea. Cannot wait to go.

You briefly mentioned this set at the end of your top Shostakovich symphony cycles 2 years ago. You will eventually get around to talking about every Classical CD. TY

I miss the long videos where you explained a symphony or some other type of major work. I watched the Sibelius 7th one and it made my day and maybe my week. I watched the Shostakovich ones also. Hope you have the time to tackle the rest of them! Thanks

Great review here. My Shosty complete symphony cycles I own are Barshai (favorite), Petrenko and Rostropovich. If Sony gets it together and reissues this set (why oh why is it out of print), this will be my fourth I will own. Can't believe that the only Sanderling I knew before this vid was Kurt. Thx Dave.

I am so glad that you recommended this cycle. I was able to get digital downloads. It is quite superb though I feel, very often Michael is a little soft-edged compared to his dad.

I downloaded these performances from KZfaq when they appeared there and have enjoyed the complete cycle-the orchestra and Sanderling get inside these works in a perceptive way that makes for an enjoyable journey. Apple Classical has a cycle by Alexander Sladkovsky and Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, and I'm also finding that listenable. Melodiya, surprisingly, records them well, and the interpretations are also thoughtful, and in a very different direction than Sanderling. The orchestra has a more crude, brash, visceral sound that recalls some of the original Russian premiere recordings of these symphonies that I first collected on LP so many decades ago. For me this is definitely an interesting alternate cycle. And I plan to explore their recordings of Shostakovich concerti next.

You know, I’ve always loved the Sanderling (both Kurt and Micheal) recordings of the Shostakovich cycle. I enjoy the Micheal Sanderling for all but 7. It’s a good cycle. His 11 is fantastic.

Well I did get some months ago all of his symphonies except the ones with voices and to my untrained ears it sounded like good interpretation. I enjoy it more than the Petrenko cycle. This is now formally approved 🙂.

I am so glad I saw this review. I downloaded it from iTunes ($3.99 per most discs( and went on a binge. I've lost count of individual Shostakovich recordings, but this is my 3rd and new favorite set. *The other two aew Petrenko and Kondrashin) I especially enjoted the 11th & 12th symphonies. I've fely for a long time thar Shostakovich tried to give the government what it was asking for and did a bang-up job of tgat, FAE better than Khatchaturian did with his 3rd,

I lucked into picking up this box set. It's astounding, and is easily my favorite cycle. The sound quality is stunning, the performances are engaging and insightful and never meander or bore. It's just bizarre that Sony has let this die on the vine, and a real shame that more people can't pick it up easily. I wonder if there are rights issues for physical releases or something. Sanderling/Dresden's similar Beethoven cycle disappeared from print practically instantly as well.

In addition to streaming, Presto has this cycle available for digital download, which is my preferred format. It isn't available as a complete set, but each of the original CDs is available in this form (the physical releases are mostly unavailable), and there are different versions of these releases (with varying pairings), so it will be a bit of a pain to sort them out and avoid duplication. I have been in the market for another Shostakovich cycle. Surprisingly, I only have one - the Rostropovich cycle - and it is a little uneven. On top of that, I have various individual releases by various conductors. It would be nice to get at least two or three more complete cycles eventually, and Dave's review is making me think this might be the one to pick up next. I suppose Presto will be getting more of my money soon.

@DavesClassicalGuide I am wondering if any of the performances in the cycle would make it in your individual "Best recording" of Shostakovich symphonies? Several of Wiggleworth are in your recommendation for exemple.

I was collecting these as they were initially released as Beethoven/Shostakovich discs. Five were released that way (1/1, 5/5, 6/6, B3/S10, B9/S13) before Sony just stopped. Then suddenly the 2 cycles were released in boxes. It was a really annoying thing for Sony to do. I think the Shostakovich performances are generally more successful than the Beethoven, though I do think it's a pretty good Eroica. The highlight for me, from the ones I know, is Shostakovich 13 which has become my go to for that work.

Good evening from Augsburg! Will we get a review of the Wigglesworth cycle some day, too? Many thanks!

Has Dave done a review of CSO’s recording for Del Tredici’s Final Alice? It seems up his alley for Neo Romantic decadence with the massive orchestra paired with the folk band and the eventual bullhorn

Am I wrong to hear, at the beginning of the second movement of the 5th, the bickering of critics much like the ones in Richard Strauss's Heldenleben, later giving way to Mahlerian Klezmer?

trivia: I believe this is the orchestra that "represented" the Berlin Philharmonic for the movie "Tar." Unclear as to whether any of their sound made it into the film. I managed to get ahold of this set during the "import" phase from Japan--took three months to get it. Also got the box of Beethoven Symphonies that was out for a split second. great review--couldn't agree more on the quality of performance and sound.

Disappearing? I would rather say... a cycle that never appeared... Well, thanks for the information that it exists. Now the hunt may begin...

This is what happens when the labels don't know what they have, and don't put any promotion into their products. I've checked - there are no CD copies available anywhere. That includes Amazon, E-Bay, Presto Classical, Google Shopping, etc. Maybe they sent whatever remaining copies there were to Poland for Ukrainian immigrants (I'm not being terribly serious with that). I suppose downloading makes more sense, as you can skip whichever symphonies you don't care for. It just makes you wonder - what did they do with the remaining copies they didn't sell off!?!