The recording of the Shostakovich 5th with Howard Mitchell and the
Washington National Symphony Orchestra was first released on LP on RCA
"Living Stereo" (LSC-2261) in 1959. It had subsequent reissues on RCA
Camden Classics (UK) and Victrola (US). I don't believe it's been reissued
on CD. It's an excellent recording. Mitchell was a very good conductor of
the modern Russians as well as all modern music. His recording for
Westminster of the Shostakovich 1st and the Golden Age Ballet Suite with
the NSO is  considered a classic of its time. Also for Westminster in the
1950's, Mitchell and the NSO recorded an LP of Copland works, the Brahms
Violin Concerto with Julian Olevsky and Creston's 2nd and 3rd Symphonies,
which is a magnificent recording and has become a sought after LP
collectors item. For RCA, there are recordings of Morton Gould's Suite
from Declaration and the Jekyll and Hyde Variations and the Bruch Violin
Concerto No. 1 and Mozart Violin Concerto No.3 with a young Jaime Laredo.
Also, a series of about twelve LP sets of The Instruments of the Orchestra
and popular classics were recorded in "Living Stereo" in the early 1960's
by RCA for musical education programs.

Howard Mitchell was associated with the National Symphony Orchestra
for most of his career, first as Principal Cellist in 1933 at age 22,
then Assistant Conductor, Associate Conductor and in 1948 was appointed
Conductor and Music Director, following Hans Kindler. He held that position
until about 1975, a tenure of 27 years as Conductor and 42 years with the
Orchestra. During this time the NSO played in Washington's DAR Constitution
Hall, a huge "barn" of a building, but with suprisingly good acoustics. In
1975, the Kennedy Center opened with three performance halls including a
new Symphony Hall. The NSO moved to the Kennedy Center, but continued to
use Constitution Hall for recordings. Howard Mitchell became Conductor
Emeritus, relinquishing the Directorship to Antal Dorati. Mitchell
continued with the NSO and  other orchestras with guest appearances until
his retirement. He also took over the Directorship of the Montevideo,
Uruguay Symphony Orchestra.

Darrell Acree
Washington, DC