Repertoire: The BEST Shostakovich Eighth Symphony

Brooding, dark, vicious, lacerating, powerful, soulful, comical, lyrical, wistful, menacing, grotesque, desolate, mysterious--these are some of the adjectives that come to mind in listening to Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony. Without a doubt one of his very greatest works, it has been very well served on disc. Here is a select list of the best versions. Musical Examples courtesy of Naxos Records