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Introduction:

• Composed just after Stalin’s death, between July and October 1953, it premiered by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra under Yevgeny Mravinsky on 17 December 1953.
• It is a powerful, autobiographical reflection on surviving Joseph Stalin’s totalitarian regime; navigating the psychological terror and state censorship and violence, ultimately asserting the triumph of the human spirit.

Recordings:

• Symphonies.
  WDR Sinfonieorchester.
  Rudolf Barshai.
  Brilliant Classics.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2008): Budget Choice.

• Symphonies Nos. 3 & 10.
  Mariinsky Orchestra.
  Valery Gergiev.
  Mariinsky.
  Gramophone Magazine (2011): Editor’s Choice.

• Symphonie Nr. 10.
  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
  Mariss Jansons.
  BR Klassik.
  BBC Music Magazine (2020): Recording of the Month.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2020): Mominee Conductor of the Year.

• Symphonie No. 10.
  Berliner Philharmoniker.
  Herbert von Karajan.
  Deutsche Grammophon.

• Under Stalin’s Shadow Symphony No.10.
  Boston Symphony Orchestra.
  Andris Nelsons.
  Deutsche Grammophon.
  BBC Music Magazine (2015): Orchestral Choice.
  Grammy Awards (2015): Best Orchestral Performance.
  Gramophone Magazine (2015): Disc of the Month.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2015).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2015): Winner.
  Gramophone Awards (2016): Winner Orchestral.

• Symphonies Nos. 1 – 15.
  London Symphony Orchestra.
  Gianandrea Noseda.
  LSO Live.
  International Classical Music Awards (2022): Nominated Symphonic Music.

• Symphony No. 10.
  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
  Vasily Petrenko.
  NAXOS.
  BBC Music Magazine (2010): Orchestral Choice.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2011): Finalist Orchestral.
  Gramophone Awards (2011): Winner Orchestral.
  Gramophone Magazine (2011): Editor’s Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2025): Recommended Recording.

• The Symphonies.
  BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
  Mark Wigglesworth.
  BIS.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.