I must admit that, with the exception of a few pieces, Shostakovich has never been among my favorite composers. These two concertos, played with consummate virtuosity and gorgeously captured in one of the best examples I've heard of Peter McGrath's rninimalist recording technique. now join the select few of die lace Russian composer's works that I truly admire. Mr. DeRosa's renowned skill on the cello is in foil display here. as is the remarkable talent of young Russian pianist Valentina Lisitsa, whose rendition of Schnittke's Gogol Suite, also captured by McGrath and Audiofon (CD-72054), knocked me out during an audition of Audio Artistry's new Beethoven speaker at last year's CES.

"The Ekatherinburg Philharmonic is one of those outstanding Russian orchestras long closed off to the outside world (the group hails from Boris Yeltsin's hometown). Sarah Caldwell, artistic director of die Opera Company of Boston, here shows off the close relationship she's developed with this orchestra in recent years.

The natural perspective, realistic dynamic range, and musical clarity on this recording are simply superb. Listen to the beautiful tonal character of the massed strings (a sore point with so many classical recordings), and the incredible dynamic interplay between Ms. Lisitsa's firey piano and the horns during the latter part of the piano concerto. This CD, combined with the earlier Lisitsa recordings by Audiofon, prove that McGrath really knows how to capture a piano!

No noise reduction, limiting, or signal processing were used in the mastering process, and while such purist steps don't always work out as planned, they do so here. This is a recording that really demonstrates the refined virtues of a high-resolution playback system.