The importance of Shostakovich's music means that it features regularly in CD Review's Building a Library feature.

This page presents a sequence of Building a Library Bach features dating back to 1995 - the recommendations are in date order, with the latest recommendations first.

Please note that recordings which are recommended may no longer be available, or may have been reissued in other collections with different catalogue numbers.

Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1 in E Flat

First Choice: 
Natalia Gutman (cello) The USSR Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra
KONDRASHIN, Kirill (conductor) 
LIVE CLASSICS LCL202
MID-PRICE
Coupled with: *Cello Concerto No. 2; **SCHNITTKE Dialogue for Cello and Seven Moscow State Philharmony, Dimitri KITAJENKO** Gnessin Chamber Orchestra, Yuri NIKOLAEVSKY

Second Choice: 
Mischa Maisky (Cello) 
TILSON THOMAS, Michael (conductor) 
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 445 821-2 (CD) 
FULL PRICE 
Coupled with : Concerto No.2 for Cello and Orchestra

Historic Choice:
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) 
ORMANDY, Eugene (conductor) 
SONY CLASSICAL MHK 63327 
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.1 in A Minor, Op.99: David Oistrakh (violin), New York Philharmonic, Dimitri Mitropoulos

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11, 'The Year 1905'

First Choice:
Washington National Symphony Orchestra
ROSTROPOVICH, Mstislav (conductor)
TELDEC 0630-17046-2 (12-CD)
MID-PRICE
Coupled with: Complete symphonies

Budget Price Choice:
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra 
BERGLUND, Paavo (conductor)
EMI CZS 5 73839-2 (2-CD)
BUDGET
Coupled with: Symphony No.7, 'Leningrad'

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 in c minor

First Choice:
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra 
RATTLE, Sir Simon (conductor)
EMI CDC 5 55476-2 (CD) 
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: BRITTEN Russian Funeral

Mid Price Choice
London Philharmonic Orchestra
HAITINK, Bernard (Conductor) 
DECCA 425 065-2 (CD) 
MID-PRICE 

Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 9

First Choice:
Eleonora String Quartet 
ETCETERA KTC 1182
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: String Quartet No.3 and 2 Pieces for String Quartet

Budget Price Choice
Eder Quartet 
NAXOS 8.550973
BUDGET
Coupled with: String Quartet No. 1 String Quartet No.8 

Budget Price Choice
Fitzwilliam String Quartet 
DECCA/LONDON 455 776-2 (6 CD) 
BUDGET
Coupled with: The String Quartets

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E minor

First Choice:
Scottish National Orchestra (recorded 1988)
Conductor: JÄRVI, Neeme
CHANDOS CHAN 8630 (CD) 
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: Ballet Suite No.4 

Mid Price and Historical Choice
New York Philharmonic (recorded 1954)
Conductor: MITROPOULOS, Dimitri 
SONY CLASSICAL MPK 45698 (CD) 
MID-PRICE
Coupled with: Symphony No.9 in E flat major 

Shostakovich: Symphony No 5 in D minor (Op47)

First Choice:
London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: PREVIN, André
RCA 74321 24212-2 (CD)
BUDGET
Coupled with: Music from the film 'Hamlet', Suite

Shostakovich: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57

First Choice:
Beaux Arts Trio, Eugene Drucker (violin), Lawrence Dutton (viola) 
PHILIPS 432 079-2 (CD)
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: Trio No.2 in E minor for piano, violin and cello

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15 in A (Op. 141)

First Choice:
London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: SHOSTAKOVICH, Maxim 
COLLINS CLASSICS 12062 (CD)
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: Incidental music to The Gadfly

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4

First Choice:
Scottish National Orchestra
Conductor: JÄRVI, Neeme 
CHANDOS CHAN 8640 (CD) ABTD 1328 (MC)
FULL PRICE

Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8

First Choice:
Borodin Quartet 
EMI CDC 7 47507-2 (CD)
FULL PRICE
Coupled with:Quartet No.7; Piano Quintet (with Sviatoslav Richter)

Also recommended
Duke Quartet 
FACTORY CLASSICAL FACD 246 (CD) FACT 246 C (MC) 
FULL PRICE
Coupled with:Tippett Quartet No.3

Arr. Barshai as Chamber Symphony Op.110a
Kreisler String Orchestra 
DOLPHIN CD 0001 (CD) 
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10

First Choice: 
Scottish National Orchestra 
Conductor: JÄRVI, Neeme 
CHANDOS CHAN 8411 (CD) ABTD 1148 (MC) ABRD 1148 (LP) 
FULL PRICE
Coupled with: Symphony No.6

Shostakovich: Cello Sonata

First Choice:
Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Emanuel Ax (piano) 
CBS CD 44664 (CD)
FULL PRICE

Back-Up - Recommended Version
Lynn Harrell (cello), Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) 
DECCA 421 774-2 (CD) 
FULL PRICE

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op.65

First Choice:
Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor: HAITINK, Bernard 
DECCA 411 616-2 (CD) SXDL 7621 (LP)
FULL PRICE

Back-Up Recommended Version
Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor: HAITINK, Bernard
DECCA 411 616-2 (CD) SXDL 7621 (LP)
FULL PRICE

Further information on building a library 

• Explore the Building a Library recommendations in downloadable documents
  
  
• Explore the Building a Library searchable database
  
  
• Building a Library features in every edition of CD Review. Visit the programme information page