The Shostakovich Œuvre

[Mirror Image]

Going by the list in MI's link, I've heard about 35% ....but that includes almost everything major (symphonies, concertos, quartets, song cycles, ballets, operas). For you guys who say you've heard 85%, well, I'm really skeptical 


Sarge

You're probably right, Sarge. There are some things in every composers output I purposely avoid because I don't like the medium and one of them is works for voice and piano. I'm sorry, but the only work I've ever enjoyed for voice and piano has been Schubert's Winterreise. There's still a lot music of Shostakovich's that I haven't heard like Russian River for chorus and orchestra. Has this even been recorded?

Edit: Okay, I see that it has been recorded on the Northern Flowers label. Quite an expensive recording.

[Brian]

I keep coming back to the symphonies... I just have a limited capacity to willingly subject myself to dreariness and anguish.

Even the Sixth and Ninth!?

[DavidRoss]

147 opus numbers (including a couple of dozen variants), plus another 50 or so w/o number.

You're probably right, Sarge. There are some things in every composers output I purposely avoid because I don't like the medium and one of them is works for voice and piano. I'm sorry, but the only work I've ever enjoyed for voice and piano has been Schubert's Winterreise.

Well, you're still quite young in your listening career and so you have much to look forward to. Mid-19th Century German Goethe-disciples are just the tip of the iceberg.

[North Star]

35% is pretty close. Haven't heard: the operas, ballets, most songs, and the piano quintet. Have heard Natalia Gutman playing the 2nd Cello Concerto in Oulu, and next week will hear the 14th symphony here.

[DavidRoss]

Even the Sixth and Ninth!?

Exceptions that prove the rule? (The 9th makes me think of Fellini!)

[mc ukrneal]

I put 15%, only because I thought 5% was just too low - it's probably more like 10%. Shosty is not my favorite, but I would like to explore more of his theatrical works. This is the side of his I like most. I also would like to hear all of the preludes and fugues (I have only heard some of them to date).

[Mirror Image]

I put 15%, only because I thought 5% was just too low - it's probably more like 10%. Shosty is not my favorite, but I would like to explore more of his theatrical works. This is the side of his I like most. I also would like to hear all of the preludes and fugues (I have only heard some of them to date).

Have you heard his ballets, Neal? The Golden Age or The Bolt? These will be right up your alley as are the Jazz Suites, and the PCs, which have a Neoclassical feel to them. Symphony No. 9 would also be to your liking I think. It's quite comical.

[mc ukrneal]

Have you heard his ballets, Neal? The Golden Age or The Bolt? These will be right up your alley as are the Jazz Suites, and the PCs, which have a Neoclassical feel to them. Symphony No. 9 would also be to your liking I think. It's quite comical.

Yes - this is some of the stuff I have. I still have a few symphonies to explore (#9 being one of them).

[Mirror Image]

Yes - this is some of the stuff I have. I still have a few symphonies to explore (#9 being one of them).

What symphonies haven't you heard?

[Brian]

Exceptions that prove the rule? (The 9th makes me think of Fellini!)

Agreed, they very much are exceptions that prove the rule in this case.

[The new erato]

I've heard more or less everything that have been recorded, inclding all available ballets and film music,except for a few of the more propagandistic cantatas, Song of the Forests etc. There are some (mostly early) music in smaller formats I've never stumbled across. So I guess between 80 and 85% ?

[mszczuj]

I have heard symphonies, concertos, majority of chamber music, about half of piano music, some operas (but not  this most important ), some smaller works - 25%.

[mc ukrneal]

What symphonies haven't you heard?

I haven't kept track 100%, but #9, #14, and I think 2-4 (maybe #1 too). I'm pretty sure I heard #6, but cannot recall it. I know for sure I heard 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15. As I wrote the list, I realized I couldn't remember #12 either, so not sure on that one. My most recent acquisition was #10 (everyone was raving about Patrenko, so I got it), but I didn't really like it that much. Still, I didn't post anything as I wanted to give another listen.

[Karl Henning]

FWIW, though I think the Petrenko very good, it is not my own favorite Tenth.

[kishnevi]

I haven't heard the film music, not two of the ballets, nor the any of the cantatas (that I can remember), and any odds and ends he may have produced along the way.   I think, however, I've heard everything else at least once (including Orango), and numerous times for much of it.   

So I put 75 percent.