Andris Nelsons is a star conductor, of this there is no doubt. This is an interesting set, part of a contemplated complete Shostakovich cycle by the Boston Symphony. So far, I've only listened to VIII, which strangely lacks the electricity of either Kondrashin or Mravinsky's live Western premiere. OTOH, The recording itself offsets that by having the best sound of contemporary versions (Haitink, Petrenko, etc.). Nelsons concentrates on the sound world of Shostakovich, but his American orchestra simply cannot capture the excitement of the two shorter movements. There is gorgeous playing here in all movements: the strings need to be singled out, and the woodwinds never screech. All in all, this is a winner with only minor complaints: 4 1/2 stars.
I've now heard IX & V. Nine is well done, again with great playing in the violins, and well-paced. Not Shostakovich's great work, but excitingly presented, with excellent transparent textures.
Five is a live concert recording, although you'd never know it until the end, when the well-deserved enthusiastic applause breaks out. Details matter in this symphony, and this is a great interpretation, with Shostakovich's original tempo observed in the final movement. This reading reminds me of Mravinsky/Leningrad in 1967, but with an even broader sound palette. Strings in the third movement offer a true pianissimo where it's called for, yet never sound thin as Gergiev's do. Nelsons offers subtle interpretive details in the winds in the Scherzo that I haven't heard before, such as a flip in the clarinet solo that works to heighten the ironic humor of the movement. All in all, this is as far from Bernstein as you can get, but very effective. Five stars, well-earned, for both symphonies.