Shostakovich Symphonies, Cycles & Otherwise

[Karl Henning]

The Kirov is the Mariinsky (I mean, the theatre/orchestra;  there may, or there may not, be two recordings).  The theatre was named after Tsar Aleksandr II's wife, Maria Aleksandrovna;  in the Soviet era it was renamed after Kirov, the leader of the Leningrad Communist Party whom Stalin had murdered early on in his power-securing days . . . .

Hey! Something useful on Wikipedia:  a chart of the succession of names for the theatre/company.

[aukhawk]

However guys- what about that Caetani going for the land speed record?

I like Caetani's recording of the 8th very much.  My main points of comparison being Previn (I still have the LP) who is very good, and Haitink, who I find just too 'un-Russian' for Shostakovich generally.  But my go-to now for the 8th would be Caetani.  The speed doesn't bother me, given that it is a feature of most of his recordings*, and given that the 8th is inclined to bombast, the speed lightens it up a little.

* his high-speed 1st is a riot!

[Karl Henning]

Dude, it was Haitink made me love the Op.65! Just sayin'.

[Sergeant Rock]

By far and away, I enjoy the Haitink/RCO over other interpretations of the 8th.

Haitink [is] particularly good in the Op.65.

I think so too. It's long been my favorite. Spectacular Decca sound. Haitink's Toccata chops greens as well as anyone's and it's the most terrifying I've ever heard.

I like Caetani's recording of the 8th very much.  My main points of comparison being Previn (I still have the LP) who is very good, and Haitink, who I find just too 'un-Russian' for Shostakovich generally.  But my go-to now for the 8th would be Caetani.

I disagree with you about Haitink but yeah, Caetani is special. His "fast" slow movements work well (especially the Largo) in integrating the whole. And like Haitink, he gets awesome sound from the engineers; the percussion really impressive.

I might have to order Previn EMI though. snyprrr has me interested.

Sarge

[snyprrr]

The Kirov is the Mariinsky (I mean, the theatre/orchestra;  there may, or there may not, be two recordings).  The theatre was named after Tsar Aleksandr II's wife, Maria Aleksandrovna;  in the Soviet era it was renamed after Kirov, the leader of the Leningrad Communist Party whom Stalin had murdered early on in his power-securing days . . . .

ok.... but.... there's still two...

This is a new one just being released NEXT WEEK? The samples definitely indicate two different performances. And so, everyone's all gaga over this OLD one, when the new one sounds like it's going to bring on a tidal wave of hysteria?

poor snyprrr, it's already been a long week... too... much... intellectual strain... for such... a ... small... m...m..mm.mmmm

[snyprrr]

Frankly, Ormandy's Allegro (2nd mvmvt) sample from the Op.10 was simply the freshest recording I've heard in quite a while. What IS up with this? Surely one of you have it and can spin it just to be sure- but my!- such a nice recording.

I've been sampling a lot of that fast movement- they always pick up around the piano slide- and really most everyone does a fine job. Again, Ormandy made a strong sonic impression, the old Haitink was quite zippy with delicious sonics, and Petrenko seemed fresh too. But, most everyone else was just as good, don't think anyone did any extreme tempo statements.

Op.10 is really only highlighted as a "single symphony" on that Ormandy disc? No- I think there's a couple of others too who just did a single Op.10. It's another one that I could handle any exciting performance, outre or not. (though I don't know of any Sleepers- though they say Caetani takes it real fast).

[kishnevi]

Just to unconfuse.
The Mariinsky inhouse label is releasing a double CD of Gergiev conducting 4, 5, and 6 on SACD hybrid.  It is already available in the UK, and will be released in the USA in another week or so.

[snyprrr]

Symphony No.5 op.47



Wigglesworth                   19:29     5:22      15:32     11:08
M.Shostakovitch/Supr.     19:19*     5:06     14:18     12:50
Haitink                             18:06     5:26      15:45     10:36
Petrenko                          17:58     5:08      15:30     12:47
Maazel                             17:58    4:58      14:28        9:21
Bernstein(Tokyo)              17:40     5:20      15:58     10:10
Ashkenazy2                      17:36     5:31      15:32     11:49

Previn(RCA)                     17:25    4:58      15:58        9:43

Levi                                 16:50     5:25      15:31      11:09
Mitropoulos                      16:49     5:15      14:32      8:47
Mravinsky1938                 16:45     5:38      14:18      11:01



Ashkenazy1/Decca           16:33     5:17      14:44      10:57
Jarvi                                16:23     5:22      14:20      10:50

Bernstein2                       16:13     5:28      15:34        8:55




Solti'live'(the Decca)        15:29     5:19      12:27       10:17
Rostropovich/DG             15:25     5:33     12:48        11:48
Mravinsky1984                15:00     5:10     13:09        10:52
Sanderling                      14:59     5:28     13:31       10:22
Rostropovich/Teldec        14:55     5:27     12:49        12:04
Mravinsky1973                14:50     5:05     13:05       11:08
Mravinsky1978                14:45     5:05     12:25       10:15



Ancerl                            14:18     5:34     13:01        10:11
Kondrashin                     13:37     5:16      12:08      10:46

[Drasko]

Mravinsky '38  16:45  5:38  14:18  11:01
Mravinsky '73  14:50  5:05  13:05  11:08
Mravinsky '78  14:45  5:05  12:25  10:15
Bernstein '59  16:13  4:54   15:33   8:55
Mitropoulos     16:49  5:15  14:32   8:47
Kondrashin     13:37  5:16  12:08  10:46

[amw]

Ash/Philharmonia 14:59 / 5:28 / 13:31 / 10:22
Sandy/Berlin 17:36 / 5:31 / 15:32 / 11:49
Wiggles/Wales 19:29 / 5:22 / 15:32 / 11:08

I think these were the ones I thought most interesting last time I listened.

[Karl Henning]

Symphony No.5 op.47

M.Shostakovitch/Supr.     19:19*     5:06     14:18     12:50

I remember really enjoying this one (no surprise);  will revisit it today, and I can advise how much of that 12:50 for the last movement we should shave off for the applause.

[jlaurson]

Just to unconfuse.
The Mariinsky inhouse label is releasing a double CD of Gergiev conducting 4, 5, and 6 on SACD hybrid.  It is already available in the UK, and will be released in the USA in another week or so.

So far that I've listened to it, sadly not a great improvement... At least not with No.4. Some very nice bits, and then some less involving moments make for a very good performance, but not a stunner. More or less the same for Five. Six is excellent; witty.

[snyprrr]

Ash/Philharmonia 14:59 / 5:28 / 13:31 / 10:22
Sandy/Berlin 17:36 / 5:31 / 15:32 / 11:49
Wiggles/Wales 19:29 / 5:22 / 15:32 / 11:08

I think these were the ones I thought most interesting last time I listened.

Sandy Wiggles Ash????wtf??who are these... these... people?

[snyprrr]

Can you just give me the facts concerning the Slava 13 on Erato, please? Does it compete? I just can''t find a review...

[Karl Henning]

Sandy Wiggles Ash? ???wtf? ?who are these... these... people?

At a guess:

Sanderling
Ashkenazy
Piggly-Wiggly . . . .

[snyprrr]

At a guess:

Sanderling
Ashkenazy
Piggly-Wiggly . . . .

drrrrr  errrr duuuuh

wow!- need to up the caffeine intake this morning! haha! what a maroon!!




So- any objections to Kamu in the 13th? Well, too late- and only after I murdered the BuyItNow! button did I see that his speeds are ALL SLOWER THAN HAITINK!! haha1- but Grady Harp likes him, so,... uh,... right? I have a good feeling about it. (and frankly, it was either this or the Shallon with Shirley-Quirk (I may still have to try that- one of the few I like to hear sing).


ALSO- I'm seriously considering Mackerras in the 5th (Royal Phil.).- Say something NOOOW!! or it too will be too late. (though, seriously, I'm thinking of also retrieving my Ashkenazy/Decca 5th- I know it's not the most mostest, but I always liked that presentation).


QUICKLY- I'M BLEEDING OUT AS WE SPEAK!!!!!!!!

[Karl Henning]

Can you just give me the facts concerning the Slava 13 on Erato, please? Does it compete?

Back when I did a survey of Thirteenths, I seem to remember liking Slava very well here . . . let's see if I cannot scare that up . . . .

[Karl Henning]

. . . or did I dream it? . . .

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm sure I've mentioned it being my favorite 13th.

Sarge

[snyprrr]

I'm sure I've mentioned it being my favorite 13th.

Sarge

Ahhh, now you know that's just the kind of language we don't allow around here!!

Seriously, 1) tempos + sound are decent?  2) the bass is awesome?  3) the choir can fake Russian well?



btw- I really sat down with Slava 5/Teldec (YT), and, mm, I don't know how well I handled that Finale. Perhaps the DG is just a little tighter there, but this one, and don't get me wrong- I WAS going along with the tempo drop, but it seemed to go on for a bit more than I anticipated. If this is what he wanted to do he should have totally dragged it out like I'm guessing Petrenko does. I DO like the idea of Slava/DG with all the history blah blah, but some are saying Jarvi handles the slow down fabulously. Anyhow- you think the Mackerras raves will pan out? (it's only a flippin penny after all) I'm almost pushing buttons...


Son, put the DSCH 5 down and step away from the computer... I won't warn you again!