Dmitri's Dacha

[Symphonic Addict]

For those who are collecting the recent Chandos recordings of his symphonies, there's another instalment to be released on 15 August:

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

For those who are collecting the recent Chandos recordings of his symphonies, there's another instalment to be released on 15 August:

I can't see the image (looks like an image from Presto's site), but I looked it up and found it on Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dmitri-Shostakovich-Symphonies-First-Scherzos/dp/B0F92P6PWC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2P9YSZ85IQGAL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cQbkjfoV_o5S54SqYnlmzRA713EFJLfw0Uf1d4RXLdH3iN6A-LHIHXsDetqJVJLDoZLA0dJlEbqCDf0Hvo6ECrN7olk95VSUBkM_oaV0VVY.pAPzOxlTLcLpUooFnmc_jvIOTgP9Kcv3RK40gh8KfFI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Shostakovich+Storgards&qid=1749500381&s=music&sprefix=shostakovich+storgards%2Cpopular%2C176&sr=1-1



I don't own any of this Shostakovich Storgårds series, but I've read nothing but good things about it.

[Symphonic Addict]

I can't see the image (looks like an image from Presto's site), but I looked it up and found it on Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dmitri-Shostakovich-Symphonies-First-Scherzos/dp/B0F92P6PWC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2P9YSZ85IQGAL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cQbkjfoV_o5S54SqYnlmzRA713EFJLfw0Uf1d4RXLdH3iN6A-LHIHXsDetqJVJLDoZLA0dJlEbqCDf0Hvo6ECrN7olk95VSUBkM_oaV0VVY.pAPzOxlTLcLpUooFnmc_jvIOTgP9Kcv3RK40gh8KfFI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Shostakovich+Storgards&qid=1749500381&s=music&sprefix=shostakovich+storgards%2Cpopular%2C176&sr=1-1



I don't own any of this Shostakovich Storgårds series, but I've read nothing but good things about it.

I haven't heard any note of those recordings either. I'm expecting more releases of Weinberg's symphonies with the same forces, especially the symphonies 9, 11 and 15 that haven't been recorded before.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I haven't heard any note of those recordings either. I'm expecting more releases of Weinberg's symphonies with the same forces, especially the symphonies 9, 11 and 15 that haven't been recorded before.

I wouldn't hold your breath. I think Chandos only released that one Weinberg recording with Storgårds because his Symphony No. 12 is written in memoriam of Shostakovich.

[Symphonic Addict]

I wouldn't hold your breath. I think Chandos only released that one Weinberg recording with Storgårds because his Symphony No. 12 is written in memoriam of Shostakovich.

Maybe not from the same orchestra and conductor, but since that label has recorded several of those symphonies, I still have a little of hope.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Maybe not from the same orchestra and conductor, but since that label has recorded several of those symphonies, I still have a little of hope.

Yeah, you never know what Chandos will do. Sometimes their label surprises me with their releases.

[JBS]

Chandos released three CDs during 2004-2006 that seemed to be intended as the start of a series, but stopped well short of completeness.

[Brian]

The original intention was that Chandos and Naxos would complete the cycle together, with Antoni Wit taking the biggest and choral symphonies and Chandos taking the smallest ones. Wit's departure from Warsaw, and that orchestra's subsequent contract with Warner, ended the proposed cycle. (It also affected a number of other proposed Wit/Naxos projects.)

[Daverz]

The original intention was that Chandos and Naxos would complete the cycle together, with Antoni Wit taking the biggest and choral symphonies and Chandos taking the smallest ones. Wit's departure from Warsaw, and that orchestra's subsequent contract with Warner, ended the proposed cycle. (It also affected a number of other proposed Wit/Naxos projects.)

Also, Chmura died in November of 2020.  Oddly, the only other Chmura recordings I'm familiar with are a lovely Haydn Morning, Noon & Night on CBC.

[foxandpeng]

The Columbia Bernstein recordings might be older, but this one is in modern sound and is IMO the definitive recording of the 7th:


The Haitink/RCO/LPO cycle is also in digital sound. It is great and well worth listening to.

Thanks, Dave. Helpful, as ever. Listened to this earlier today, and found it enjoyable. I don't believe that I will ever be anything but a novice where classical music is concerned, which is ok, so long as people are patient with my uneducated ramblings. I apologies for any annoyance that might bring.

I followed this by playing the Oleg Caetani 'Leningrad', with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. Again, a version that I enjoy very much - not that I note massive differences between the two. I probably have a level of recency bias that is present.

[Roasted Swan]

Thanks, Dave. Helpful, as ever. Listened to this earlier today, and found it enjoyable. I don't believe that I will ever be anything but a novice where classical music is concerned, which is ok, so long as people are patient with my uneducated ramblings. I apologies for any annoyance that might bring.

I followed this by playing the Oleg Caetani 'Leningrad', with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. Again, a version that I enjoy very much - not that I note massive differences between the two. I probably have a level of recency bias that is present.

The Caetani cycle is very fine and quite individual.  I do think the Bernstein Chicago Leningrad is rather special but again it is quite an individual version.  At the end of the day the only thing that matters with any piece and any version is how and whether it speaks to you.  If it doesn't so what if the whole world says its the best ever!  I understand that it can be helpful to aim listeners towards certain works or versions but ultimately we are all our own arbiters - the key is to keep on listening and keep on enjoying.....

[Karl Henning]

I'm another fan of Lenny/Chicago. And while I haven't heard the entire Caetani cycle, I very much like those that I've heard. 

[foxandpeng]

The Caetani cycle is very fine and quite individual.  I do think the Bernstein Chicago Leningrad is rather special but again it is quite an individual version.  At the end of the day the only thing that matters with any piece and any version is how and whether it speaks to you.  If it doesn't so what if the whole world says its the best ever!  I understand that it can be helpful to aim listeners towards certain works or versions but ultimately we are all our own arbiters - the key is to keep on listening and keep on enjoying.....

This has long been my view. I want to understand what I am hearing and if possible to quantify what is commendable or lacking in a given piece or performance, but at the end of the day, I am moved by what works for me. I am happy to be in the minority in my views or preferences. Having said that, I do adhere to a notion of objective excellence, demonstrable skill, or essential beauty in art. Without resorting to a J Evans Pritchard (Dead Poets' Society) graph to map the worth of a piece of poetry, art or music, I do believe that some things are intrinsically more worthy than others.... it may not mean that I prefer a particularly feted rendering, but it should at least be acknowledged

[DavidW]

Thanks, Dave. Helpful, as ever. Listened to this earlier today, and found it enjoyable. I don't believe that I will ever be anything but a novice where classical music is concerned, which is ok, so long as people are patient with my uneducated ramblings. I apologies for any annoyance that might bring.

I'm glad you liked it! No need to apologize. I never know what sounds good to Scarpia's or your ears. I'm just a pretend audiophile next to you guys. I like the sound of good gear, but I'm much more laid back about SQ in recordings.

Anyway, you already own my favorite set: Petrenko.

[foxandpeng]

I'm glad you liked it! No need to apologize. I never know what sounds good to Scarpia's or your ears. I'm just a pretend audiophile next to you guys. I like the sound of good gear, but I'm much more laid back about SQ in recordings.

Anyway, you already own my favorite set: Petrenko.

Petrenko is very good, in my view. If you are also a fan, then my enthusiasm is not unfounded 😊

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

One of my favorite Leningrad performances comes from Svetlanov and the USSR State Symphony Orchestra (or whatever they're called) on Melodiya.

It was remastered not too long ago and made available in this now OOP set (which I'm sure can be streamed now):

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

When it comes to Shostakovich, we're in no short supply of fabulous recordings. This composer's discography is so vast. It's truly jaw-dropping the amount of recordings available just of the symphonies, concerti and SQs.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Some complete cycles of the SQs that have impressed me through the years:

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

If I was still buying CDs and didn't own any of the Capriccio recordings, I would definitely be acquiring these sets:

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Also, can I take for a second to say how much I love Shostakovich's song cycles like From Jewish Poetry, Six Poems by Marina Tsvetayeva, Seven Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok et. al. Such masterful works and if one doesn't like vocal music, then tune the vocals out and listen to the way Shostakovich writes for the instruments around the vocals. Truly remarkable.