Shostakovich Songs and Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk: A Five-Cd Decca Collection

[Satzaroo]

Years ago my older cousin Harold said that he preferred Shostakovich to the more "traditional" composers. At the time, my father and I thought that he was a heretic. I don't know if my cousin had a recording of Shostakovitch's "Lady Macbeth," for example; but if he did, I am sure that my father would have excommunicated him on the spot.

Although I have outgrown my father's prejudice, I never purchased any choral works by Shostakovich--until I picked up a hugely discounted 5-CD Decca anthology. For about two dollars apiece, I'd try anything unfamiliar to me.

At first listening, I felt that the music was harsh, unmelodious, inanely melodramatic, even puerile; I wanted to trash "Lady Macbeth" and the miscellaneous songs whether they be verses by Michelangelo or renditions of Japanese poetry. But I persevered. I repeatedly played all five Cd's. To my surprise, I got fonder of the music the more I heard it. I found some tuneful spots amidst the whisperings, wailing, fierce declamations and hysterics of "Lady Macbeth." And I got accustomed to the rhythms of the songs, especially the selections from Jewish Folk Poetry.

I am now a believer: my cousin is vindicated.

[karlhenning]

Does that include (I mean, it must, mustn't it?) the Michelangelo Sonnets?  Who are the artists?

[Harry]

Years ago my older cousin Harold said that he preferrred Shostakovich to the more "traditional" composers. At the time, my father and I thought that he was a heretic. I don't know if my cousin had a recording of Shostakovitch's "Lady Macbeth," for example; but if he did, I am sure that my father would have excommunicated him on the spot.

Although I have outgrown my father's prejudice, I never purchased any choral works by Shostakovich--until I picked up a hugely discounted 5-CD Decca anthology. For about two dollars apiece, I'd try anything unfamiliar to me.

At first listening, I felt that the music was harsh, unmelodious, inanely melodramatic, even peurile; I wanted to trash "Lady Macbeth" and the miscellaneous songs whether they be verses by Michelangelo or renditions of Japanese poetry. But I persevered. I repeatedly played all five Cd's. To my surprise, I got fonder of the music the more I heard it. I found some tuneful spots amidst the whisperings, wailing, fierce declamations and hysterics of "Lady Macbeth." And I got accustomed to the rhythms of the songs, especially the selections from Jewish Folk Poetry.

I am now a believer: my cousin is vindicated.

You have done what I will never be able to do, even if I listen 1000 times to it, it would still give me migraine. I love all of Shostakovich  orchestral and chamber music, but the vocal things are no go area for me.

[Satzaroo]

Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti, op. 145a.

Cds 1 and 2: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra with Jarv--Cd 1: 2 Fables of Krylov, op.4; 3 Pushkin Romances, op. 46a; 6 romances (from the poetry of Sir Walter Raleigh, Robert Burns, and Shakespeare op. 62/140; Jewish Folk Poetry, op. 79a. Artists are Diadkova, Leiferkus, Orgonasova, Stutzmann, and Langridge. Cd 2: romances on texts by Japanese Poets, op. 21; 6 Poems of Marina Tsvetaeva, Op. 143a; Suite on Verses of Michelangelo, op. 145a. Artists are Levinsky, Zaremba, and Leiferkus.

Cd 3: 4 verses of Captain Lebyadkin, op. 146; 7 romances of Poems of Alexander Blok, op. 127. Artists are Fisher-Dieskau, Sondertrom, Shirley-Quirk, and Ashkennazy.

Cds 4 and 5: Lady Macbeth with the orchestra and chorus of the Opera Bastille. Artists are Ewing, Larin, Haugland, Langridge, and Zednik

[karlhenning]

I love those Blok romances for soprano and piano trio!

[Bulldog]

Years ago my older cousin Harold said that he preferred Shostakovich to the more "traditional" composers. At the time, my father and I thought that he was a heretic. I don't know if my cousin had a recording of Shostakovitch's "Lady Macbeth," for example; but if he did, I am sure that my father would have excommunicated him on the spot.

When I was a youngster, I had a strong liking for the music of Shostakovich and don't remember our dad having any criticism.  On the contrary, he was very supportive of my musical directions at that time.  When I turned to rock music, he was magnanimous about the switch.  So, perhaps he was less rigid than you thought.

[Satzaroo]

Boy, maybe I have recollections through a different time warp, or perhaps I am just warped--period.

[Bulldog]

Boy, maybe I have recollections through a different time warp, or perhaps I am just warped--period.

There were two primary things our dad had against Harold; musical preference wasn't one of them.

[Guido]

What relation are you two to each other?!

[Bulldog]

What relation are you two to each other?!

Brothers.