Karel Ancerl was an exceptional Shostakovich conductor. His recording of the Tenth remains unsurpassed, and this coupling of Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5, while not quite on such an exalted level, is very fine as well. As usual with this conductor, the slow movements are exceptionally "raw" and intense, as the music demands, while the fast music has thrilling rhythmic precision. Listen to Ancerl's biting attack in both scherzos and you will hear conducting to the manner born. At this stage in its existence the Czech Philharmonic really was better than any of the Russian bands, and that included both Leningrad (under Mravinsky) and Moscow (under Kondrashin). However, Ancerl does not take the Fifth's coda as slowly as some did (and do), emphasizing its heaviness and false optimism. He plays it straight, which is fine with me. Similarly, he omits the snare drum transition between the Lento and the Finale of the First Symphony. I didn't miss it much, but it does sound odd. The remastered sonics are bright and vivid--good quality stereo for the period (1962-65), and they hold up well. --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
