Dmitri's Dacha

Started by karlhenning, April 09, 2007, 08:13:49 AM

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Mirror Image

#1220
Anyway, my favorite performance of Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 is Batiasvhili/Salonen. This performance trumps them all IMHO.

Mirror Image

Quote from: ChamberNut on February 12, 2014, 04:08:28 PM
Just can't stop listening to this set.  All I've listened to the past couple of days.  :)


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I'll add that in this Mullova/Previn performance of the VC No. 1, the Passacaglia is just too rushed. For me, this movement should be an anguished lament or a requiem of sorts where every note is considered and filled with emotion. Mullova is fine, but Previn's insistence on getting to the 'finish line' is not.

kishnevi

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 16, 2014, 09:05:54 AM
I'll add that in this Mullova/Previn performance of the VC No. 1, the Passacaglia is just too rushed. For me, this movement should be an anguished lament or a requiem of sorts where every note is considered and filled with emotion. Mullova is fine, but Previn's insistence on getting to the 'finish line' is not.

For me, the Passacaglia should be played as a sort of devil's dance,  frantic and fearful;  the pacing in the Previn/Mullova is almost perfect for me.   But we all seem to agree that chaconne a son gout...

Jay F


Mirror Image

Well, Jay F, what did you think of the Leningrad? Would be curious to read your impressions.

Jay F

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 16, 2014, 05:41:50 PM
Well, Jay F, what did you think of the Leningrad? Would be curious to read your impressions.

I like it. But I subsequently got drawn into Symphony No. 8, and its allegro non troppo movement is what's made the biggest impression on me tonight. I wonder where I've heard it before. It seems so familiar, as if I've always known it (Mahler's Sixth and Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" hit me the same way when I first encountered them in adulthood). I don't recall hearing it at home as a child, but it's so arresting, it might have stayed with me, stuck in my memory.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on February 16, 2014, 05:17:16 PM
For me, the Passacaglia should be played as a sort of devil's dance,  frantic and fearful;  the pacing in the Previn/Mullova is almost perfect for me.   But we all seem to agree that chaconne a son gout...

I've enjoyed the exchange.  I like it when the performers make the case for either interpretation.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Mirror Image

#1227
Quote from: Jay F on February 16, 2014, 06:04:56 PM
I like it. But I subsequently got drawn into Symphony No. 8, and its allegro non troppo movement is what's made the biggest impression on me tonight. I wonder where I've heard it before. It seems so familiar, as if I've always known it (Mahler's Sixth and Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" hit me the same way when I first encountered them in adulthood). I don't recall hearing it at home as a child, but it's so arresting, it might have stayed with me, stuck in my memory.

Symphony No. 8 is my favorite Shostakovich symphony. I don't listen to it that much because I find the whole experience to be so emotionally draining. I hope you continue to try and get more out of the Leningrad. It used to be one of my least favorite symphonies of his cycle until I heard that Bernstein/CSO performance on DG that I was telling you about earlier. That really opened my ears up.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on February 16, 2014, 05:17:16 PM
For me, the Passacaglia should be played as a sort of devil's dance,  frantic and fearful;  the pacing in the Previn/Mullova is almost perfect for me.   But we all seem to agree that chaconne a son gout...

I like the Passacaglia on slow simmer, but not so slow that the whole forward momentum seems lethargic.

Jay F

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 16, 2014, 06:10:53 PM
Symphony No. 8 is my favorite Shostakovich symphony. I don't listen to it that much because I find the whole experience to be so emotionally draining. I hope you continue to try and get more out of the Leningrad. It used to be one of my least favorite symphonies of his cycle until I heard that Bernstein/CSO performance on DG that I was telling you about earlier. That really opened my ears up.

Well, Bernstein is my favorite Mahlerian (as the Penguinites might say).

Mirror Image

#1230
Quote from: Jay F on February 16, 2014, 06:16:51 PM
Well, Bernstein is my favorite Mahlerian (as the Penguinites might say).

Like I mentioned before, I never cared much for the Leningrad until I heard Bernstein's performance. After this, other performances started opening up for me. One of my other favorite performances of the 7th is Masur/NY Philharmonic. An unconventional choice amongst the more Soviet-inclined listeners, but I find Masur absolutely convincing in this symphony. I think his understanding of the structure helps a lot and, in general, his pacing just sounds right on the money IMHO.


Jay F

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 16, 2014, 06:28:38 PM
Like I mentioned before, I never cared much for the Leningrad until I heard Bernstein's performance. After this, other performances started opening up for me. One of my other favorite performances of the 7th is Masur/NY Philharmonic. An unconventional choice amongst the more Soviet-inclined listeners, but I find Masur absolutely convincing in this symphony. I think his understanding of the structure helps a lot and, in general, his pacing just sounds right on the money IMHO.



I'm not "Soviet-inclined" (nor did I think you were talking about me). However, the Barshai box set was only $8.99 (MP3), so I bought it. The only one I have on CD is Haitink's No. 8. I've added Bernstein's No. 7 to my Amazon cart, though. Do you like his 5 & 9 on Sony?

Mirror Image

Quote from: Jay F on February 16, 2014, 06:47:43 PM
I'm not "Soviet-inclined" (nor did I think you were talking about me). However, the Barshai box set was only $8.99 (MP3), so I bought it. The only one I have on CD is Haitink's No. 8. I've added Bernstein's No. 7 to my Amazon cart, though. Do you like his 5 & 9 on Sony?

My favorite 9th is a toss-up between Jarvi/Scottish National Orchestra on Chandos and Gergiev/Kirov Orchestra on Philips. For the 5th, my favorite performance is Bernstein's 1979 Live in Japan with the New York Philharmonic.

snyprrr

I culled DSCH down to one indispensable recording: Shlomo Mintz Violin/Viola Sonatas (Erato). That's the only DSCH I can hear any more.

Jay F

Quote from: snyprrr on February 17, 2014, 03:20:05 PM
I culled DSCH down to one indispensable recording: Shlomo Mintz Violin/Viola Sonatas (Erato). That's the only DSCH I can hear any more.

Why?

Brian

Scheduled for April:



Ondine is also releasing an album of Gerald Finley singing the following:

Six Romances on Verses by Raleigh, Burns and Shakespeare, Op. 62/140
Scottish Ballade
Suite on verses by Michelangelo Buonarroti, for bass & piano, Op. 145

Karl Henning

The Op.62 (no less than the Op.145) is marvelous, do you know it already, Brian?

(Is there anything on the Naxos in addition to the Op.135?)  :)
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Brahmsian

Quote from: Brian on February 19, 2014, 11:44:49 AM
Scheduled for April:




*pounds the table!*  Bring it on, Vasily!!  :)

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Brian

Quote from: karlhenning on February 19, 2014, 07:34:43 PM
The Op.62 (no less than the Op.145) is marvelous, do you know it already, Brian?
I do not know any of the songs! Will be eagerly listening when it comes out, for exactly that reason. Gerald Finley is, of course, an excellent voice.

I don't know if there's anything else on the Naxos CD. They only have #13 left, correct?