Dmitri's Dacha

[Symphonic Addict]

I need to revisit The Fall of Berlin. I certainly think that the scores for New Babylon and Alone are very fine.

They're also incredibly fun in my book. Shostakovich's more-carefree side doesn't lack inspiration at all.

[Madiel]

Going back to all the film music is something on my to-do list. I do vaguely remember liking Alone/Odna.

[vers la flamme]

Definitely need to hear Shostakovich's film music. Been really digging Alfred Schnittke's film music lately.

[Karl Henning]

They're also incredibly fun in my book. Shostakovich's more-carefree side doesn't lack inspiration at all.

Agreed.

[foxandpeng]

Definitely need to hear Shostakovich's film music. Been really digging Alfred Schnittke's film music lately.

DSCH's film music is mostly unknown to me, but look forward to exploring it too! Schnittke is also quite a find, for me. I have been impressed by John's (MI) reflections in recent months, and he has so much to offer.

[Karl Henning]

DSCH's film music is mostly unknown to me, but look forward to exploring it too! Schnittke is also quite a find, for me. I have been impressed by John's (MI) reflections in recent months, and he has so much to offer.

La crème de la crème, of course, is the brace of late Kozintsev Shakespeare soundtracks, Hamlet and Lear.

[foxandpeng]

La crème de la crème, of course, is the brace of late Kozintsev Shakespeare soundtracks, Hamlet and Lear.

*adds to list*

[Madiel]

La crème de la crème, of course, is the brace of late Kozintsev Shakespeare soundtracks, Hamlet and Lear.

The plan in my head is actually to organise things by film director rather than by era. Kozintsev is the big one: once they started working together, it was on every film except one - from New Babylon in 1929 all the way through to Lear in 1971. That's quite a working relationship.

There's also a director named Arnshtam that Shostakovich worked with on 5 films. And a couple of other directors where there were repeated collaborations.

[Roasted Swan]

*adds to list*

For sure some of DSCH's film scores really are major works regardless of the genre.  New Babylon is probably one of the highpoints of his early career - the music seems to be pouring out of him from drammatic to wacky to atmospheric and seen alongside the actual film it is simply sensational.  Likewise the Shakespeare scores - I particularly like Hamlet.  I conducted a suite of it with an amateur British orchestra in a sleepy town in South England once.  I got a (slightly) malicious delight when the good folk in the audience jumped on the first slashed chord!

The 'propagandist' scores are very fine given the context of the music required and how DSCH had to poduce them but personally I find them of less interest (but fun to hear)

[foxandpeng]

For sure some of DSCH's film scores really are major works regardless of the genre.  New Babylon is probably one of the highpoints of his early career - the music seems to be pouring out of him from drammatic to wacky to atmospheric and seen alongside the actual film it is simply sensational.  Likewise the Shakespeare scores - I particularly like Hamlet.  I conducted a suite of it with an amateur British orchestra in a sleepy town in South England once.  I got a (slightly) malicious delight when the good folk in the audience jumped on the first slashed chord!

The 'propagandist' scores are very fine given the context of the music required and how DSCH had to poduce them but personally I find them of less interest (but fun to hear)

Thanks for this. Now playing, and I agree very much with how good it is! Unfortunately, I can't find the Kozintsev Hamlet on Spotify . I would have liked to hear you in action, RS 

[Brahmsian]

These are the film recordings I own for Shostakovich (all excellent):











On The Dance Album, this includes excerpts from the film The Gadfly.

[foxandpeng]

These are the film recordings I own for Shostakovich (all excellent):











On The Dance Album, this includes excerpts from the film The Gadfly.

Ah, these look great. I shall continue with these, thank you!

[Roasted Swan]

Ah, these look great. I shall continue with these, thank you!

If you've not heard them all 3 of the Chailly albums are great fun.  The collective titles are a bit spurious (especially Jazz!) but the programming/playing and engineering is top drawer......

[foxandpeng]

If you've not heard them all 3 of the Chailly albums are great fun.  The collective titles are a bit spurious (especially Jazz!) but the programming/playing and engineering is top drawer......

Really appreciate your recommendations. Much of my film music listening has been folk like Frederick Curzon, Arnold, Williams and Shore, so this is great stuff. 

[Mirror Image]

Let's not forget these great sets of Shostakovich's film music:

[Roasted Swan]

Let's not forget these great sets of Shostakovich's film music:

Given that Serebrier is very good in other repertoire - and indeed the DSCH ballets on Naxos - those Belgium-sourced film discs are very thin gruel to my ear.  I think to be blunt, the orchestra is simply not that good..... The Capriccio set is excellent though

[Mirror Image]

Given that Serebrier is very good in other repertoire - and indeed the DSCH ballets on Naxos - those Belgium-sourced film discs are very thin gruel to my ear.  I think to be blunt, the orchestra is simply not that good..... The Capriccio set is excellent though

I just treat the Serebrier set like most horrible sounding Soviet Era recordings.

[Mirror Image]

These are the film recordings I own for Shostakovich (all excellent):











On The Dance Album, this includes excerpts from the film The Gadfly.

You should check this one out, too, Ray:

[Brahmsian]

You should check this one out, too, Ray:

Indeed, John. It is on my list, along with a few others.

[Mirror Image]

Indeed, John. It is on my list, along with a few others.