Mark Wigglesworth recorded his cycle of Shostakovich's symphonies between 1996 and 2010 in collaboration with two different orchestras, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Despite the long period and the change of orchestra halfway through, the cycle has been described as one that never "loses its distinctive characteristics of high seriousness, fine detail and a certain fierceness of articulation" (Gramophone). Even the first instalment -Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad" - lived up to expectations, for example with the Sunday Telegraph reviewer: "There's plenty of competition between Shostakovich cycles, but this one deserves serious consideration." And 17 years later, after the release of the latest SACD, The Guardian noted that "Wigglesworth's cycle emerges as one of the finest of recent times." What particularly impressed reviewers was Mark Wigglesworth's fidelity to the score and his keen ear for detail, as well as the structural clarity he achieved in even the most complex works - without neglecting their impact and emotional power. Throughout the series, the recordings themselves and their superior sound quality have also been celebrated - an aspect that further enhances this box set after the five symphonies, first released "only" on CD, have been remastered for surround sound and DSD to match the rest.