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

Rudolf Barshai is an unmissable figure of the Russian musical life from after the War until 1977, when he migrated to the West and became director of various orchestras of international stature. He remains famous for his role as founder of the Borodin Quartet and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and performed with the greatest artists of the Soviet era: David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich… His friendship with Shostakovich was proverbial, and he premiered and arranged many of his works. Warner Classics brings you Shostakovich’s wonderful eighth symphony, with Barshai conducting the Bournemouth Symphony, the orchestra which he was principal conductor during the 1980s.