Dmitri's Dacha

Karl Henning · July 31, 2019, 08:06:10 AM

Quote from: aukhawk on July 31, 2019, 01:53:47 AM
A problem with the concert-hall experience (one of several) is that it is a 'polite' environment. I think some music can be heard to greater advantage outside of that cocoon - even if, admittedly, that would not be what the composer had in mind (he might have hoped for a riotous premiere a la Stravinsky).

Folks, whilst recommending our way through the best of Dmitri's output, please don't overlook the First Violin Concerto (1948, but supressed for several years) and the First Cello Concerto (1959). As orchestral music goes, I think these are a match for the best of his symphonies. Performances by the dedicatee in each case (Oistrakh and Rostropovich respectively) are mandatory although in Oistrakh's case I don't know of any in good modern sound. For a modern recording of the VC Tetzlaff is good, or Vengerov.

A YouTube of Oistrakh and VC1 from 1967 - this is fantastic viewing, from about 21:30 for 15 minutes or so is intense!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYQiXHqFi20

The First Vn Concerto and the First Vc Concerto, equal to the best symphonies, yes.

Karl Henning · July 31, 2019, 08:10:45 AM

The Lenny/CSO recording of the Leningrad is truly magnificent: An individual take, yet not eccentric.

The first two recordings of the Leningrad that I loved, though, are Temirkanov & Ancerl.

Andy D. · July 31, 2019, 04:04:43 PM

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2019, 08:10:45 AM
The Lenny/CSO recording of the Leningrad is truly magnificent: An individual take, yet not eccentric.

The first two recordings of the Leningrad that I loved, though, are Temirkanov & Ancerl.

Hey three more to try!!!

relm1 · July 31, 2019, 04:24:19 PM

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2019, 08:10:45 AM
The Lenny/CSO recording of the Leningrad is truly magnificent: An individual take, yet not eccentric.

The first two recordings of the Leningrad that I loved, though, are Temirkanov & Ancerl.

See, I said I spoke on your behalf. Now proof.

My quote yesterday: "My favorite No. 7 is Bernstein's/CSO."

Karl Henning · July 31, 2019, 04:33:05 PM

Quote from: relm1 on July 31, 2019, 04:24:19 PM
See, I said I spoke on your behalf. Now proof.

My quote yesterday: "My favorite No. 7 is Bernstein's/CSO."

I meant to credit you, really.

Andy D. · July 31, 2019, 05:09:54 PM

I gave the Petrenko 7th another try, this time with headphones, and I am in love with the war time symphonies.

I love the clear sound on this disc (his 10th and 11th are really good too, but avoid the 8th).

vandermolen · July 31, 2019, 11:15:07 PM

This new release was very well reviewed on Musicweb today:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Jul/Shostakovich_sy7_OVC1030.html

Irons · July 31, 2019, 11:29:51 PM

Quote from: vandermolen on July 31, 2019, 11:15:07 PM
This new release was very well reviewed on Musicweb today:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Jul/Shostakovich_sy7_OVC1030.html

I have the Mravinsky on vinyl, Jeffrey. The first movement in the wrong hands can sound like second-rate Bolero but not with Mravinsky where the repeated chords are menacing. A special performance.

Andy D. · August 01, 2019, 12:05:54 AM

Quote from: Irons on July 31, 2019, 11:29:51 PM
I have the Mravinsky on vinyl, Jeffrey. The first movement in the wrong hands can sound like second-rate Bolero but not with Mravinsky where the repeated chords are menacing. A special performance.

Ooo sounds good. I have the Mravinsky 8th, and I must confess that, though I really like the Petrenko and Barshai (and am super looking forward to checking out the Kondrashin), the Mravinsky is how I first heard that masterpiece and it remains my favorite performance.

vandermolen · August 01, 2019, 01:47:30 AM

Quote from: Irons on July 31, 2019, 11:29:51 PM
I have the Mravinsky on vinyl, Jeffrey. The first movement in the wrong hands can sound like second-rate Bolero but not with Mravinsky where the repeated chords are menacing. A special performance.

Thanks Lol,
I'm looking forward to hearing it. Mravinsky's only recording of the work surprisingly.

vandermolen · August 01, 2019, 01:48:37 AM

Quote from: Andy D. on August 01, 2019, 12:05:54 AM
Ooo sounds good. I have the Mravinsky 8th, and I must confess that, though I really like the Petrenko and Barshai (and am super looking forward to checking out the Kondrashin), the Mravinsky is how I first heard that masterpiece and it remains my favorite performance.

I think it's at super-budget price Andy.

Andy D. · August 01, 2019, 02:12:59 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on August 01, 2019, 01:48:37 AM
I think it's at super-budget price Andy.

There's also this budget dvd with Mravinsky conducting the 5th and 8th, among others. Wondering if anyone's had any experience with this.

Irons · August 01, 2019, 06:45:59 AM

Quote from: Andy D. on August 01, 2019, 02:12:59 AM

There's also this budget dvd with Mravinsky conducting the 5th and 8th, among others. Wondering if anyone's had any experience with this.

I have Mravinsky in the 5th,6th,12th as well as the 7th but not the 8th. The 5th is a studio performance far as I am aware. Quite a few were recordings from live from concerts. Everything from Mravinsky is special and unique. I think it is his uniqueness that sets him apart, not only in Shostakovich, or even Russian music. Once heard his Sibelius 7th Symphony is not forgotten.

Andy D. · August 01, 2019, 02:51:38 PM

Has anyone heard the Gergiev 7th on SACD? I really like his live performance of the piece.

Madiel · August 01, 2019, 03:09:42 PM

I currently can't separate Lin and Melnikov in the 24 Preludes and Fugues (though each is quite different), and I think they might be both coming home with me. Metaphorically speaking, as what really happens these days is I click buttons and a shop sends them to my home.

If you've heard and one and not the other, I think it's worth checking both out.

EDIT: And to aukhawk, I thank you for drawing Jenny Lin's version to my attention, though my wallet does not.

aukhawk · August 02, 2019, 01:17:22 AM

It seems like the best thing she's done on record. I was very disappointed by Lin's recording of the Glass Etudes (a piano project of similar scale, if a bit more restricted in scope) - I heard several of the hesitations that you identified in a couple of places in the P&F. (Fortunately the Etudes are very well served on record, since the composer's 80th birthday sparked a flood of releases in 2017. My picks would be Batagov (romantic) or Namekawa (modernist).

Out of respect for your wallet of course I made no mention of Jarrett (disappointing), Nikolayeva on Melodiya, Papadopoulos, Woodward, Mustonen, or part-sets - Richter, DSCH himself on Naxos.

Jo498 · August 02, 2019, 01:38:32 AM

The Mustonen pairing with WTC I is interesting and thought-provoking but even regardless of the mix probably not a first rec for either set of P&F. Besides Mustonen I have Sherbakov and Rubackyte and the incomplete Richter/Decca. Which is enough for my needs.

Karl Henning · August 02, 2019, 03:12:23 AM

Quote from: Jo498 on August 02, 2019, 01:38:32 AM
The Mustonen pairing with WTC I is interesting and thought-provoking but even regardless of the mix probably not a first rec for either set of P&F.

Agreed.

Madiel · August 02, 2019, 06:29:16 AM

Quote from: aukhawk on August 02, 2019, 01:17:22 AM
It seems like the best thing she's done on record. I was very disappointed by Lin's recording of the Glass Etudes (a piano project of similar scale, if a bit more restricted in scope) - I heard several of the hesitations that you identified in a couple of places in the P&F. (Fortunately the Etudes are very well served on record, since the composer's 80th birthday sparked a flood of releases in 2017. My picks would be Batagov (romantic) or Namekawa (modernist).

Out of respect for your wallet of course I made no mention of Jarrett (disappointing), Nikolayeva on Melodiya, Papadopoulos, Woodward, Mustonen, or part-sets - Richter, DSCH himself on Naxos.

Most of those others can be eliminated on the basis of mixed reviews. So mentioning them can be permitted, I just wouldn't have rated your opinion as highly!

relm1 · August 02, 2019, 04:59:19 PM

Quote from: Andy D. on August 01, 2019, 02:51:38 PM
Has anyone heard the Gergiev 7th on SACD? I really like his live performance of the piece.

I generally like the Gergiev interpretations but not the acoustics. They tend to be a bit stuffy on disc so prefer live recorded sounds. For example, I adore his live video of Prokofiev's Scythian suite but not the CD with the same forces.