As Rudolf Barshai knew Shostakovich's music on a very intimate level, he rarely puts a foot wrong in the works of his teacher and compatriot. He studied with the great composer who became his mentor, and often performed Shostakovich's music with the composer himself at the piano. They became close personal friends. Barshai was asked by Shostakovich to premiere the 14th Symphony, and he came to fame as a master of orchestration when the composer trusted to arrange his quartets into "Chamber symphonies". From the start of this 7th symphony, the tone is set with a tight, taut opening to what will be a smoothly flowing rendition that’s high on feeling which is served by a truly excellent orchestra. There are some stage noises but if there is an audience present they are pretty quiet.
Recorded September 1992, Philharmonie, Cologne, by Cologne Radio (Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln)