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This album brings together Mark Fitz-Gerald’s reconstructions of previously unheard music from two significant theatre works by Shostakovich – The Shot and The Human Comedy – and rarely heard cuts from his first serious opera The Nose. The original score of his choral and orchestral March of the Anarchists did not survive, hence the reconstruction by ear from the cinematic soundtrack especially for this recording. This release not only encapsulates how varied Shostakovich’s unique style was, but delivers a magnificent addition to our appreciation of his earlier days as a composer for theatre as the dark days of Soviet Stalinism gathered.
Mark Fitz-Gerald
Shostakovich was known for his fun-loving attitude during his early years as a composer. The colourful incidental music for The Shot – reconstructed by Mark Fitz-Gerald from the original piano scores – vividly evokes the raucous life of experimental youth theatre in Leningrad during the late 1920s. This carefree world had changed dramatically by 1934 when Shostakovich completed his music for The Human Comedy – a work that creates a charming atmosphere of Parisian escapism. Discarded movements from his first opera The Nose form an entire orchestral suite. The programme concludes with Mark Fitz-Gerald’s reconstruction of the March of the Anarchists, transcribed by ear from the film The Vyborg Side.
Episode 9: Allegro
Mark Fitz-Gerald has been described as ‘one of the indispensable Shostakovich interpreters of our time.’ (DSCH Journal) In collaboration with Mrs Irina Shostakovich and Krzystof Meyer he restored the complete score to the Trauberg/Shostakovich film, Odna, conducting the world premiere in Holland and the UK premiere at London’s Barbican centre in 2006; his restoration is now published in the new complete edition of the composer’s works. His career has featured guest conducting engagements with orchestras throughout Europe, Malaysia and Japan; in 2012 he also conducted the Swiss premiere of Debussy’s The Fall of the House of Usher with the Basel Sinfonietta.
Founded in 1991, the Malmö Opera Orchestra performs symphonic programmes, gala concerts and chamber recitals alongside its core work as an opera orchestra. The orchestra's recordings include programmes of symphonic music and operatic repertoire. From 2015 to 2024 Leif Segerstam (1944–2024) was the orchestra’s honorary conductor after previously serving as chief conductor. Patrik Ringborg has been the orchestra’s principal guest conductor since 2022; the director of the Malmö Opera Orchestra and Chorus is Tecwyn Evans.
The Malmö Opera Chorus is a professional ensemble of 36 singers who hail from all over the world. The chorus actively participates in a wide array of music projects, ranging from classical and contemporary opera productions to musicals, dance performances and concerts. The singers, many of them accomplished actors and dancers, are equally familiar with Les Misérables and Evita as they are with La traviata and Wozzeck. Alongside their work in the chorus, members also frequently appear in major solo roles.
– MusicWeb International
Odna (Alone)
Mataeva • Kiknadze • Voropaev
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Fitz-Gerald
– MusicWeb International
The Girlfriends (Complete) • Salute to Spain
Rule, Britannia! • Symphonic Movement (1945)
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Fitz-Gerald
– BBC Music Magazine
The Bedbug • Love and Hate
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
Mannheim Opera Choir
Juris • Fitz-Gerald
– MusicWeb International