Dmitri's Dacha

[Karl Henning]

The Jansons & Bayer is a very fine recording indeed.

Very tasty!

[North Star]

I have mentioned this before offhandedly, but every time I hear Bartok's Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion, the opening of the third movement sounds like a dead ringer for oone passage in DSCH's 14th Symphony.  Granted, the similarities in instrumentation may account for some of it, but it sounds as if Dmitri just leaned over, cut and pasted that passage in his own work.
1) Is it just my imagination?
2) How well did Dmitri know Bela's output?

Payback for the S7/CfO business, I imagine. 

I have so much of the rest of the Jansons set, the box would not make sense.

Alright. The jazz suite and Tahiti Trot are nice enough. Should revisit them, actually.

[Karl Henning]

There's one passage in the third movement of the Fourth where it is clear (since I've listened to the twain tonight) that Haitink leads the passage at a slower tempo than does Jansons, but it still works, still speaks. Both of them, splendid accounts of a great piece.

[bhodges]

Not to digress from discussion of the magnificent Fourth - which IIRC Shostakovich thought was the greatest of his symphonies - but last week I heard Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a terrific preview of their upcoming Shostakovich cycle for Deutsche Grammophon:

http://seenandheard-international.com/2015/04/at-carnegie-hall-nelsons-heralds-a-new-era-for-boston/?doing_wp_cron=1429923553.9634699821472167968750

Karl, lucky you!

--Bruce

[Bogey]

Tao be released on the 28 of this month: (Blu-Ray Box Set)

[snyprrr]

There's one passage in the third movement of the Fourth where it is clear (since I've listened to the twain tonight) that Haitink leads the passage at a slower tempo than does Jansons, but it still works, still speaks. Both of them, splendid accounts of a great piece.

I think I have to agree on the 4th as the DIDisc,... it's the most abstract, busy,... to keep one busy for years...aeons...yawning chasms of time...

No, SQ disc really seems to do it,... by default I'd have to go with the Emerson disc with eith 4-6, or the one with 7-10, not because of the playing but simply that they are the only ones that stuffed with music.

Frankly, karl, I'm quite ready to go on an all out Emerson attack rant. You'll remember I was hailing their Op.73 a few months ago when I first reacquired their Cycle, mainly because their blazingly fast finale opens with such a glorious cello contribution from Finkel. But then I listened again on an Op.73 binge the other day, and here's the rub. Their 'Adagio' is so quick that all emotion is clipped out of existence, thus leading to a finale that now sounds just rushed to me. 8:16 is just to quick (just as the Borodin's 11:01 is just too slow). And, yes, Karl, no, the Emerson have absolutely no rustic, folk quality at all here, Russian, or not. The are playing as "Professors of Musicology", and, at least I, hear it. And, please, one listen to the Taneyev, or Eder, or even the dreaded Borodin (I'm k.i.d.d.i.n.g.) impresses the lack of context in the Emerson reading. Check out the Allegri's performance for an example ofaband whose credentials probably can't be questioned, who imbue the notes with a HUMANITY that is utterlyliterally missingintheEmersontake (wow space bar 000Karl what did you do??)

This was further corroborated by a first listen to the Emerson's Op83, which I had hitherto dismissed out of hand, but had to of course check against my vain arrogance, but, to no avail as the Emerson refused to give the 'Andantino' any pathos- again, if you're going to play it at the quick extreme (4:30; as opposed to the slow extreme- 6:30), you have to have a special tension, but the Emerson are so quick as to render any expression hopelessly rushing after the next train as it's already left the station.


ok, now that I got that off my chest...

I'm down to the Emerson only really disappointing in 3, 4, and 8, and maybe 14- all guilty of being flippant and glib, Matt Lauer. Just the facts just doesn't work here- in 11-13, yes!!, here, no. That's why many think that 13 is their highlight- because it's so "third person"- Emerson and Arditti known for that "perfect playing" thing, not conducive to "gypsy".style.

See? I'm even giving them credit for a very poised Op.101 .

[Moonfish]

Shostakovich: Symphony No 10          BBC Scottish SO/Runnicles [Live Sep-28-2014]

From BBC Music Magazine May 2015

Hmm, a first for the 10th! I like it!  0:)
Slowly venturing into the soundscape of Shostakovich. Previously I had listened to the 7th (Barshai forces) [and not the 5th] which I did not take to very much at all. This symphony was quite different with its slow steady progression and build-up of power. The 7th sounded like a mediocre high school orchestra that were having a great time. This work was very different in its scope.  It seems like Shostakovich has a weakness for solo wind instruments expressing feelings. I kept thinking about a poor withering plant out on the everlasting steppes for some odd reason. Well, I guess I should listen to it again and then move on some other of his works! 

[Karl Henning]

Shostakovich: Symphony No 10          BBC Scottish SO/Runnicles [Live Sep-28-2014]

From BBC Music Magazine May 2015

Hmm, a first for the 10th! I like it!  0:)

Excellent!  I was made a fan of the Tenth for life by hearing the Cleveland Orchestra play the piece in the College of Wooster's M^cGaw Chapel, back when.

[Mirror Image]

Shostakovich: Symphony No 10          BBC Scottish SO/Runnicles [Live Sep-28-2014]

From BBC Music Magazine May 2015

Hmm, a first for the 10th! I like it!  0:)
Slowly venturing into the soundscape of Shostakovich. Previously I had listened to the 7th (Barshai forces) [and not the 5th] which I did not take to very much at all. This symphony was quite different with its slow steady progression and build-up of power. The 7th sounded like a mediocre high school orchestra that were having a great time. This work was very different in its scope.  It seems like Shostakovich has a weakness for solo wind instruments expressing feelings. I kept thinking about a poor withering plant out on the everlasting steppes for some odd reason. Well, I guess I should listen to it again and then move on some other of his works! 

One performance that may change your perception of the 7th is Lenny's with the CSO on DG. Essential recording.

[kishnevi]

Shostakovich: Symphony No 10          BBC Scottish SO/Runnicles [Live Sep-28-2014]

From BBC Music Magazine May 2015

Hmm, a first for the 10th! I like it!  0:)
Slowly venturing into the soundscape of Shostakovich. Previously I had listened to the 7th (Barshai forces) [and not the 5th] which I did not take to very much at all. This symphony was quite different with its slow steady progression and build-up of power. The 7th sounded like a mediocre high school orchestra that were having a great time. This work was very different in its scope.  It seems like Shostakovich has a weakness for solo wind instruments expressing feelings. I kept thinking about a poor withering plant out on the everlasting steppes for some odd reason. Well, I guess I should listen to it again and then move on some other of his works! 

It is a good version of the 10th;  I got it the other day.

Available at newstands today.

[Cato]

I am still a great fan of this one: the 1967 recording on DGG with Karajan conducting.

[asin]B00000E4HH[/asin]

[Moonfish]

It is a good version of the 10th;  I got it the other day.

Available at newstands today.

I was quite impressed with Runnicles and the BBC Scottish SO forces. In addition, the recordings was very clear making it even more immediate in terms of a listening experience. I have been quite impressed with the BBC Music Magazine disks as I was not expecting much at all. In contrast I have had a great time with them over the last four months since I started subscribing to the magazine. Great stuff. I am sure there will be a downer in the batch at one point.

[Moonfish]

Excellent!  I was made a fan of the Tenth for life by hearing the Cleveland Orchestra play the piece in the College of Wooster's M^cGaw Chapel, back when.

I can see how one becomes attached to the 10th...   

One performance that may change your perception of the 7th is Lenny's with the CSO on DG. Essential recording.

I definitely need to revisit the 7th. So the Bernstein/CSO bring forward a different soundscape compared to Barshai?

I am still a great fan of this one: the 1967 recording on DGG with Karajan conducting.

[asin]B00000E4HH[/asin]

I am looking forward to sampling these.       So many renditions to choose from. What do you think about Haitink or Rostropovich's performances of the 10th?

[Moonfish]

Hmm, clearly there a plenty of Shostakovich fans here at GMG!!! 

[Cato]

I am looking forward to sampling these.       So many renditions to choose from. What do you think about Haitink or Rostropovich's performances of the 10th?

Different, but excellent!  The Karajan - I would need to listen again to refresh my memory - perhaps brings out the bleak, wandering in the desert aspects a little better.

[bhodges]

Different, but excellent!  The Karajan - I would need to listen again to refresh my memory - perhaps brings out the bleak, wandering in the desert aspects a little better.

I like that (earlier) Karajan performance, too.

--Bruce

[Moonfish]

Different, but excellent!  The Karajan - I would need to listen again to refresh my memory - perhaps brings out the bleak, wandering in the desert aspects a little better.

Sounds like great listening for the upcoming summer months here in California...       

[Mirror Image]

I definitely need to revisit the 7th. So the Bernstein/CSO bring forward a different soundscape compared to Barshai?

Barshai's account of the 7th doesn't hold a candle to Bernstein's. There's a tragic element in Bernstein's interpretation that seems to hit the nail on the head. The slower sections that call for a more mournful feeling have never sounded more poignant than they do under Lenny. Oh, and those awesome explosive moments completely shatter the ground with a grand fury. Not to be missed, Peter. My highest recommendation.

[Moonfish]

Barshai's account of the 7th doesn't hold a candle to Bernstein's. There's a tragic element in Bernstein's interpretation that seems to hit the nail on the head. The slower sections that call for a more mournful feeling have never sounded more poignant than they do under Lenny. Oh, and those awesome explosive moments completely shatter the ground with a grand fury. Not to be missed, Peter. My highest recommendation.

Ahh, you tempter! How can I possibly resist it after such a delicious description of the performance? The only thing that holds me back is that expect the DG Bernstein 2 set to be released sometime at the end of the year.  Ha ha!   Hmmmmm...

[Mirror Image]

Ahh, you tempter! How can I possibly resist it after such a delicious description of the performance? The only thing that holds me back is that expect the DG Bernstein 2 set to be released sometime at the end of the year.  Ha ha!   Hmmmmm...

It's been reissued of course:

[asin]B0013816GU[/asin]

I wrote a description of what I was listening to when I had Shostakovich as my avatar and I think this statement aptly refers to this Bernstein performance and the music therein: "Harrowing cries across a war-torn landscape."

Good luck in resisting the temptation, Peter.