Symphony No. 3 (Shostakovich)

The Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (Opus 20; subtitled First of May) by Dmitri Shostakovich was first performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra and Academy Capella Choir under Aleksandr Gauk on 21 January 1930.

Similar to the Second Symphony, it is an experimental choral symphony in four continuous sections:

1. Allegretto – Allegro
2. Andante
3. Largo
4. Moderato: 'V pérvoye, Pérvoye máya'

The symphony lasts around 25 to 30 minutes. The finale sets a text by Semyon Isaakovich Kirsanov praising May Day and the revolution. Interpretation is difficult: in a letter to Boleslav Yavorsky, Shostakovich said that the work "expresses the spirit of peaceful reconstruction"; on the other hand, most of the material preceding the finale is dark and sometimes sardonic in tone.

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for mixed chorus and an orchestra of 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horn, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, snare drum, cymbals, bass drum, tam-tam, glockenspiel, xylophone, and strings.

Notable recordings

Notable recordings of this symphony include:

Chorus	Orchestra	Conductor	Record Company	Year of Recording	Format
	Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra	Kirill Kondrashin	Melodiya	1965–1975 (for complete symphonies)	CD
London Philharmonic Choir	London Philharmonic Orchestra	Bernard Haitink	Decca Records	1981	CD
	Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	Vladimir Ashkenazy	Decca Records	1992	CD
London Voices	London Symphony Orchestra	Mstislav Rostropovich	Teldec	1993	CD
Bavarian Radio Chorus	Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra	Mariss Jansons	EMI Classics	2005	CD
Prague Philharmonic Chorus	Prague Symphony Orchestra	Maxim Shostakovich	Supraphon		CD
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir	Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra	Vasily Petrenko	Naxos Records		CD

Source: arkivmusic.com (recommended recordings selected based on critics reviews)