Dmitri's Dacha

[not edward]

As someone who's a bit more DSCH-agnostic than many here, there are still a few works that for me stand out (mostly late ones):

Symphony #4, for the way it takes off from where Mahler left off, has the 'wow' factor but plenty to say that is less obvious.
Cello Concerto #2; easily my favourite of the concerti, at least in part due to its refusal to give easy answers to the questions it poses.
The 12th string quartet's incredible sense of purpose, and ultimately defiant ending ring very true to me.
And of course the 15th symphony, enigmatic and dark, yet witty, and again avoiding easy answers.

However, if there's a single DSCH work I have to take, it'd have to be the 14th symphony--surely one of the few 20th century works of its kind to stand with Das Lied von der Erde. It does seem to sum up Shostakovich's vocal world well; the obvious influences of Mahler, Mussorgsky, Berg and Britten are fully synthesised together (with a few finishing touches from DSCH's own students). I don't find the completely bleak nature of the work problematical, as some critics do; indeed I find its emotional narrative most compelling: the gloom of the first two songs broken up by the dramatic nature of Lorelei; the first four Apollinaire settings building up a claustrophobic atmosphere that explodes into the rage of The Zaphorozian Cossacks' reply to the Sultan, followed by consolation in O Delvig, Delvig, acceptance in The Poet's Death and ... well, I'm not sure what in the last movement.

[Mirror Image]

...there is so much more to Shostakovich.

Amen brother. I've been trying to tell all you guys to listen to The Bolt and The Golden Age, but, as usual, nobody listens to me. I think, in the ballet tradition, these are really fine works. They contain some just really gorgeous music and, of course, some of that great Shostakovich panache.

[Mirror Image]

Well it looks like our resident Scots John has purchased the Haitink Shostakovich set. I think he's going to love it! As I told him, the performances of the 5th, 8th, and 11th are still some of the best I've heard on record. I like Haitink's 6th and 9th a lot too. Great cycle. If this doesn't make a Shostakovich fan out of John, I don't know what will!

[Mirror Image]

I've been digging my through this set:



When I first read about this set, I was pretty skeptical of how a Swiss conductor of Ukranian/Italian descent was going to handle Shostakovich's symphonies, then I read that he is the son of famous conductor/composer Igor Markevitch and after I read this, I became a little more interested. One of the oddest things about this set is that Caetani is conducting an Italian orchestra: the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. But all of my doubts were cast aside when I heard the 6th from this set. All I have to say is it's outstanding and the playing from this orchestra is awesome. This orchestra may not be the Berliners or Concertgebouw, but it's playing is especially fine.

Those looking for another Shostakovich symphony cycle, then look no further. This one is definitely a keeper!

[eyeresist]

I've heard good things about this but am waiting for a bargain issue
This same orchestra recorded the chamber symphonies under Barshai, though I suspect the audio is nowhere near the current release.

[Mirror Image]

I've heard good things about this but am waiting for a bargain issue
This same orchestra recorded the chamber symphonies under Barshai, though I suspect the audio is nowhere near the current release.

Yeah, I bought this set for $70 I believe, which was the cheapest I've seen it. If you wait around awhile, the price could come down. The set is expensive, but look at what some box sets are going for (i. e. Wagner Ring sets).

[Mirror Image]

This is incredibly moving...Bernstein at his finest:

http://www.youtube.com/v/LpsfTdB4TCI&feature=related

[Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich]

Haitink+Concertgebouw are really great with Symphonies Nos. 11 (my favorite #11) and 8, but someone mentioned #5. Well, I don't like it. Especially when it comes to the endings of the first and last movement, the tempi are just - strange. Too variable, to insanely fast, also I recognized some instruments entering not exactly at the right time. No - Sanderling/BSO rocks.

[Mirror Image]

Haitink+Concertgebouw are really great with Symphonies Nos. 11 (my favorite #11) and 8, but someone mentioned #5. Well, I don't like it. Especially when it comes to the endings of the first and last movement, the tempi are just - strange. Too variable, to insanely fast, also I recognized some instruments entering not exactly at the right time. No - Sanderling/BSO rocks.

I happen to like the Haitink 5th recording. One of the most moving Largo movements on record. Haitink was not just good in the 8th and 11th. I think he nailed the 2nd, 6th, and 9th too. My favorite 10th is still Rattle/CBSO. Karajan's is great too. I actually really liked Kitajenko's too. Everybody has their preferences though.

[nesf]

So CC No. 2 is very interesting. I'd like to know a bit more about the many things going on in it, where do I start reading?

[KeithW]

So CC No. 2 is very interesting. I'd like to know a bit more about the many things going on in it, where do I start reading?

Depends what you have access to, and how much you want to read.  Grove is generally a good starting point, but it can be pricey if you don't have access through a good library (the online is much better than the old print version).

Otherwise, dig around on the Web.  A number of record companies make their CD booklets freely available - Hyperion is very good on this score, as are a number of record companies that sell through services like eclassical.com and theclassicalshop.net - try this to get an idea: http://www.theclassicalshop.net/download_booklet.aspx?file=CHAN%205093.pdf 

Look out for concert programme notes on the web too - this is becoming very common - for example: http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/?fuseaction=composition&composition_id=3749

And closer to home, some expert analysis is available at http://www.good-music-guide.com/reviews/104-shostakovich-cello.htm

[nesf]

Thank you. I assume the Concise Grove isn't worth a damn for this kind of stuff outside of the most major composers?

[KeithW]

Thank you. I assume the Concise Grove isn't worth a damn for this kind of stuff outside of the most major composers?

My general advice with concise stuff is that it depends on your starting knowledge base, how much detail you want and how much you expect your interest to grow in the future.  My recollection is that the new edition of Grove came out around ten years ago - in 20 or so volumes - but that the latest concise Grove was quite a few years before then.  In other words, the latest Grove concise preceded the current full work.  If you really want the concise Grove, go for it - it is reasonably priced - but be aware of the date.

There are other options for the concise approach, especially if you are happy with a Kindle edition.  I bought the 5 volume Oxford history of western music for the Kindle - a bargain at around GBP30 from the UK Kindle store.  Much lighter than the five volumes which come in at around 3,500 pages in print!

[asin]B004H0N71S[/asin]

You can also look at individual volumes of the full Cambridge or Oxford histories - perhaps the 20th century Cambridge if you really want to read up on that period.  But they tend to be print only, and not cheap.  I'd really advise looking at a selection of these in a library or bookstore before investing too much cash.

[nesf]

My general advice with concise stuff is that it depends on your starting knowledge base, how much detail you want and how much you expect your interest to grow in the future.  My recollection is that the new edition of Grove came out around ten years ago - in 20 or so volumes - but that the latest concise Grove was quite a few years before then.  In other words, the latest Grove concise preceded the current full work.  If you really want the concise Grove, go for it - it is reasonably priced - but be aware of the date.

There are other options for the concise approach, especially if you are happy with a Kindle edition.  I bought the 5 volume Oxford history of western music for the Kindle - a bargain at around GBP30 from the UK Kindle store.  Much lighter than the five volumes which come in at around 3,500 pages in print!

[asin]B004H0N71S[/asin]

You can also look at individual volumes of the full Cambridge or Oxford histories - perhaps the 20th century Cambridge if you really want to read up on that period.  But they tend to be print only, and not cheap.  I'd really advise looking at a selection of these in a library or bookstore before investing too much cash.

Hmm, unfortunately Irish people have to use the US store which isn't so favourably priced for that set. Still the set is less than £60 in hardcopy on .co.uk which is reasonable enough for reference set (we've 3 bookshelves filled with academic books/dictionaries/etc here so such prices are not alien to me, I've paid *far* more for a single volume in the past). Unfortunately my local bookstores here are pretty poor when it comes to music (and other specialist interests). Thanks for the recommendations though, I'll download some samples from the Kindle store to get a feel for the writing style etc.

[Mirror Image]

Haitink+Concertgebouw are really great with Symphonies Nos. 11 (my favorite #11) and 8, but someone mentioned #5. Well, I don't like it. Especially when it comes to the endings of the first and last movement, the tempi are just - strange. Too variable, to insanely fast, also I recognized some instruments entering not exactly at the right time. No - Sanderling/BSO rocks.

I would go so far as to say Bernstein's 1979 performance of the 5th is now my favorite of them all. Everything is just right or at least sounds right to me. The Largo is so emotional and deeply felt that it has made me question previous favorites of mine.

[Mirror Image]

WAHOOO!!! JUST BOUGHT MY NINTH SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONY CYCLE!!!!



Bought this set for $57 + shipping. A far cry from the $100+ price tag! Can't wait to hear these legendary performances!

[Karl Henning]

That is an excellent price. I forget now just what I paid for it . . . might have been $79 incl. shipping.

[Mirror Image]

That is an excellent price. I forget now just what I paid for it . . . might have been $79 incl. shipping.

That's a good price too, Karl.

Yeah, it really is a great price and Kondrashin's cycle was one of the only ones I was missing. To those who don't have it, there are two listings on Amazon for this set. The import listing is the one for $57 from an Amazon MP seller.

[DavidW]

That is an excellent price. I forget now just what I paid for it . . . might have been $79 incl. shipping.

That was exactly what I paid for mine... was yours Aulos too?

[Karl Henning]

No, the 11-disc Melodia box.