Shostakovich: Symphony No.13; Prokofiev: October

This recording is an echo of the second performance of Shostakovich's Symphony No.13 in December of 1962. It still features the original text by Yevtushenko in spite of Khrushchev's order to modify it so as not to pay homage only to the Jews assassinated in the Ukrainian ravine at Babi Yar. Kyrill Kondrashin succeeded in making this a heroic, impassioned ballad - tinged with humor but vengeful and funereal. Also featured here are excerpts from October - Prokofiev's sole patriotic cantata, written in the same titanic, specifically Russian vein.