Dmitri's Dacha

[vandermolen]

Today I am going to hear No. 12 in concert.  Any fans of that Symphony?

Yes, I've always liked that work and was sorry to miss a rare chance to hear it live in London at the Proms this year. It is sometimes used to accompany Eisenstein's film about the 1917 Revolution which gives it an added appeal to me as I am very interested in that period in history. Obviously it's a programme work but I still enjoy it.
Enjoy the concert!

[vandermolen]

Kondrashin certainly has the fiery spirit in Shostakovich, which I admire. Interestingly enough, I was happy to have discovered Kondrashin's performances of Shostakovich on the Profil label in much, much better audio than his Soviet counterparts:

[asin]B000FGGKLC[/asin]

[asin]B000QCTFQC[/asin]

Do you know these recordings, Jeffrey?

I have the Symphony 4 John and, like you, was delighted to find a more recent Kondrashin recording. It was much the same when I discovered that there was also a more recent recording of Kondrashin conducting Miaskovsky's 6th Symphony - one of my favourite pieces of music.

[SymphonicAddict]

Today I am going to hear No. 12 in concert.  Any fans of that Symphony?

It's fun, somewhat bombastic but not as powerful as the 11st. I enjoy it.

BTW, I wish you a good listen at the concert! 

[relm1]

It's fun, somewhat bombastic but not as powerful as the 11st. I enjoy it.

BTW, I wish you a good listen at the concert! 

The entire concert was fantastic!  The AYS is very good.   The brass sororities were suburb considering it a youth orchestra (though advanced).  It was clear the orchestra loved the work.  I overheard a violinist saying even though we are mostly static at the end, it is still so effective. 

[vandermolen]

The entire concert was fantastic!  The AYS is very good.   The brass sororities were suburb considering it a youth orchestra (though advanced).  It was clear the orchestra loved the work.  I overheard a violinist saying even though we are mostly static at the end, it is still so effective.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Who are AYS?

[Karl Henning]

Today I am going to hear No. 12 in concert.  Any fans of that Symphony?

I'll bet it sounds well live!

[relm1]

Glad you enjoyed it.

Who are AYS?

It was this orchestra: http://aysymphony.org/

They sounded great!

[vandermolen]

It was this orchestra: http://aysymphony.org/

They sounded great!

Thanks - they look quite a slick enterprise.

[pjme]

A recent discovery :

In the Moscou State archives an unknown work by Chostakovich has been found. It is an  "Impromptu" (Adagio - Allegro) for  viola and piano, dating from May 1931.
It is dedicated to Alexander Ryvkin, member of the Glasunov quartet. The score was found in the legacy of Vadim Borisovsky.



The Strad has this message:

A previously unknown work by Dmitri Shostakovich, a viola impromptu, has been discovered in Moscow's central archive, it was announced on 25 September, the composer's birthday.

The short work, consisting of title sheet, a single page for the viola part and one for the piano score, is titled Impromptu op.33. It was found among documents belonging to Vadim Borisovsky (d. 1972), the violist of the Beethoven Quartet for over 40 years.

The autograph on the title page, dated 2 May 1931, Leningrad, when Shostakovich was 24, dedicates the work to 'Alexander Mikhailovich' – assumed to be Alexander Ryvkin, violist of the Glazunov Quartet. It is dedicated 'in memory of our meeting' and this, along with the exact date and peculiarities of the score, as well as the title itself, are seen as conclusive evidence that the work was written spontaneously, in one sitting. A number of relevant authorities confirmed the autograph's authenticity prior to the announcement.

It is not known how the work passed from Ryvkin to Borisovksy, nor why Shostakovich later recycled the opus number for The Song of the Counterplan, the title music for the 1932 film Counterplan.

[Madiel]

Well, regarding the opus number, he seems to have adjusted them quite frequently while he was working on things.

It's always interesting when new compositions come to light, no matter how small.

[Mirror Image]

Recently listened to the man himself in his PC2 and was utterly mesmerized by his pianism. Looking forward to exploring the rest of this set:

[aukhawk]

I think he plays his own music very well (something apparently not true of all composer/performers, but who am I to judge).

However I do always feel, with piano parts written by Shostakovich, that they have been written to meet a less-than-virtuoso standard.  Presumably because he wrote with himself in mind, or Maxim.  (The 24 Preludes & Fugues is an obvious exception.)  It seems a bit odd for example, to hear Richter playing in the Piano Quintet - he so obviously could do it with one hand tied behind his back - the Concertos, the Cello Sonata, all leave me with the same impression.  Indeed Bernstein did play and conduct I think, for his recording of the 2nd Piano Concerto.

[Karl Henning]

Indeed Bernstein did play and conduct I think, for his recording of the 2nd Piano Concerto.

That in itself does not rule out a virtuoso solo part, of course.

[vandermolen]

Next Saturday morning BBC Radio 3 will be comparing different recordings of Symphony 11 'The Year 1905'.

[Mirror Image]

Next Saturday morning BBC Radio 3 will be comparing different recordings of Symphony 11 'The Year 1905'.

Excellent, Jeffrey. It'll be interesting to see how my favorite Haitink/Concertgebouw stacks up against the rest.

[vandermolen]

Excellent, Jeffrey. It'll be interesting to see how my favorite Haitink/Concertgebouw stacks up against the rest.

I'll let you know John! Haitink's is a very fine one. Yesterday I listened to the Berglund version which I had on LP decades ago - another fine performance.

[Mirror Image]

I'll let you know John! Haitink's is a very fine one. Yesterday I listened to the Berglund version which I had on LP decades ago - another fine performance.

I haven't heard the Berglund, but he's an outstanding conductor, so I imagine it's a good one indeed.

[relm1]

I remember also thinking highly of Mariss Jansons/Philadelphia Orchestra recording of the 11th.  But I also agree with Haitink/Concertgebouw being wonderful.  I must have a shout out to my old favorite, Stokowski/Houston.

[vandermolen]

The Kondrashin is a fine performance as well.

[relm1]

Any fans of Mark Wigglesworth's outing of No. 11 with Netherlands Radio?  I remember thinking it was an interesting perspective and very well recorded.  If you are fan, how would you rate it to the greats?



How about Maxim Shostakovich's with Prague? 

To me a fantastic recording of No. 11 requires this:

1. Deep mystery in first movement
2. Extreme viciousness in second movement
3. Glorious and powerful low horns in third movement at the funeral section (Stowkowski)
4. Superb cor anglais solo in fourth movement before coda.
5. At the start of the coda of the fourth movement, very bold horns (again Stowkowski)
6. Terrifying coda
7. Really good timpani (clear, in tune, etc.)
8. Very high fidelity audio with very wide dynamic range (willing to compromise on this but my holy grail would fulfill all these)