To coincide with their return to Salzburg since last appearing there in 2000 under the baton of Mariss Jansons, the Oslo Philharmonic are today releasing an album of Shostakovich’s Symphonies Nos 4, 5 and 6. It is conducted by their Chief Conductor Klaus Mäkelä. In Salzburg they will perform Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony (August 21), the occasion also marking Mäkelä’s debut at the Festival. (They will also perform the Fifth in Germany at the Musikfest Berlin on September 1.)

To mark Decca’s release of the Shostakovich album, the first since orchestra and conductor collaborated on the complete Sibelius symphonies, Gramophone’s James Jolly sat down with Klaus Mäkelä in Oslo this summer to talk about Shostakovich, the conductor’s relationship with this music and also about the Oslo Shostakovich tradition, one nurtured by Mariss Jansons.

Produced in association with Decca and the Oslo Philharmonic.

Listen to the new recording in lossless audio on Apple Music below, or via: https://klausmakela.lnk.to/Shostakovich