Kondrashin

[Michel]

He did of course produce some wonderful stuff, but what specifically should we go for?

We all know his Shostakovich is worthy of attention, but what else?

His Mahler 1, the one he performed the nght he died, is terrific - the final movement is without equal.

What is his other Mahler like? Specifically, his 9th?

[BorisG]

He did of course produce some wonderful stuff, but what specifically should we go for?

We all know his Shostakovich is worthy of attention, but what else?

His Mahler 1, the one he performed the nght he died, is terrific - the final movement is without equal.

What is his other Mahler like? Specifically, his 9th?

Liszt with Richter.
Tchaikovsky with Argerich
Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin with Concertgebouw
Many collaborations with Rostropovich, Gutman, Oistrakh, Kogan, Gilels.

[sidoze]

Liszt with Richter.
Tchaikovsky with Argerich
Many collaborations with Rostropovich, Gutman, Oistrakh, Kogan, Gilels.

Yes, he was one of the best at accompanying, especially pianists.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I think this is one of the best Dvorak 9ths out there:



Along with Lenny's NYPO recording of course.

[Drasko]

I think this is one of the best Dvorak 9ths out there:

I had that CD in my hands in a shop earlier today and the only reason I didn't buy it is me being rather tired of Dvorak's 9th right now.

As sidoze mentioned he was sought after accompanist and that shows in his discography.

Some of his non-Shostakovich orchestral recordings I like would be:
Rachmaninov  Symphonic Dances / The Bells (MPO, Melodiya), Mahler 7 (Concertgebouw, Tahra), Prokofiev Cantata to the 20th anniversary of October (MPO, Melodiya) 'Classical' Symphony (MPO, Globe), Weinberg 5 & 6 (MPO, Russian Disc, Olympia/Melodiya), Tchaikovsky 6 (MPO, Altus, inspite sound problems), some more probably, can't remember right now.

There is certain amount of his recordings I haven't heard (and would like to) with Concertgebouw (mostly oop on Philips). Those include Sibelius ( 2, 3, 5), Scriabin 3, Prokofiev 3, Nielsen 5.

[vandermolen]

If you can find them:

Myaskovsky Symphony 6 (Russian Disc)an unrivalled performance (there is a later Kondrashin recording on Melodiya....link below to my rambling review):

http://home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/sovrev/miask/mel841.htm

Also, Moishei Vainberg: Symphony 5 (Russian Disc). This is a great work (dedicated to Kondrashin). It is in the spirit of Shostakovich Symphony 4 (the two composers were friends) and Popov's great Symphony 1.

[vandermolen]

Drasko is right, I should have included Vainberg's choral Symphony 6 too (Olympia..v difficult to find).It is a haunting and moving work.

[Drasko]

Melodiya has reissued Myaskovsky's 6th and Vainberg/Weinberg disc with 4 & 6 and those should be easy to find at amazon, crotchet ...

Vainberg's 5th on Russian Disc is oop and probably can be obtained only used (if that).

[Dancing Divertimentian]

There is certain amount of his recordings I haven't heard (and would like to) with Concertgebouw (mostly oop on Philips). Those include Sibelius ( 2, 3, 5), Scriabin 3, Prokofiev 3, Nielsen 5.

There's also some Shostakovich lurking in the Philips vaults (w/ the Concertgebouw), though you probably know this. I've seen a 6th symphony on LP and I'm lucky to own the 9th symphony coupled with the Prokofiev 3rd on one of those long OOP Kondrashin edition CDs.

And speaking of Scriabin's 3rd symphony, just last week I spotted and auditioned at length (at a used shop) a mid-70's Scriabin 3rd w/ the Concertgebouw on Etcetera (a first-rate indy label - no bootlegs).

I really thought I'd hit Scriabin paydirt with this one but alas the performance didn't come off so well. Firstly the recording levels were far too low which seemed to mute the drama of the symphony. Further - perhaps due to the poor recording levels - the Concertgebouw seemed flaccid. No color, no fire, and paper-thin as far as depth (it's a live recording). Seems improbable these forces could produce such deadwood so I chalk it up to the flawed recording.

However, I'll not too quickly give up on this unique recording. Such a conductor/orchestra combination is rare on disc and I reeeeeealy want this recording to work. I plan to give it another go next time I'm at the shop (provided it's still there) to confirm my initial impressions (keepin' me fingers crossed...).

[not edward]

There's also some Shostakovich lurking in the Philips vaults (w/ the Concertgebouw), though you probably know this. I've seen a 6th symphony on LP and I'm lucky to own the 9th symphony coupled with the Prokofiev 3rd on one of those long OOP Kondrashin edition CDs.

I have that Shosty 9/Proki 3 too. It's excellent.

IIRC all the discs from the Kondrashin edition are now available as ArkivCDs.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

IIRC all the discs from the Kondrashin edition are now available as ArkivCDs.

Just checked. I see that they are.

You are bringer of good news, Edward!

[George]

Yes, he was one of the best at accompanying, especially pianists.

Indeed.

I will add the Rachmaninov PC 1 with Janis as a brilliant example of his art.

He is one of the few conductors that I buy with confidence, even if I know nothing about it.

[vandermolen]

Melodiya has reissued Myaskovsky's 6th and Vainberg/Weinberg disc with 4 & 6 and those should be easy to find at amazon, crotchet ...

Vainberg's 5th on Russian Disc is oop and probably can be obtained only used (if that).

The Melodiya recording of Myaskovsky Symphony 6 is a later recording than the Russian Disc version (from 1978 rather than 1949 I think). The Melodiya is the better recording but the Russian Disc is the better performance; unrivalled in my view.

[Rabin_Fan]

Apparently there is a Petrushka with the RCOA that is excellent - according to Gramophone.

Not easily found this one.

[dirkronk]

The Kondrashin/Concertgebouw Scheherazade is (with the Reiner version) one of my two favorites of that work...I've gushed about it often.

His Shostakovich sym. 9 done for Melodiya and released on that label as well as Angel LP is my all time favorite of THAT work. I don't know the one on Philips.

Another must: the RCA Living Stereo edition of Khachaturian masquerade ste.; Kabalevesky comedians;Tchaikovsky cap italien; Rimsky cap espagnol. All these performances are about as good as I've ever heard, and they're all on one CD. I have both the CD and the original LPs of them all.

And I certainly agree about the Liszt concerti with Richter.

Cheers,

Dirk

[mahlertitan]

I have his:



what i can say so far is, that his tempo is a bit on the fast side, i don't think i have heard a faster 4th opening movement, but it was well played.

the one glaring problem you'll find however, is that the last movement is sung in RUSSIAN!　

As for the 6th, it's an absolute must have.

[hautbois]

The Kondrashin/Concertgebouw Scheherazade is (with the Reiner version) one of my two favorites of that work...I've gushed about it often.

I seconds this reference without any reservation. After 4-5 versions my favourite Scheherazade so far is still Kondrashin/Concertgebouw.

Howard

[Renfield]

I seconds this reference without any reservation. After 4-5 versions my favourite Scheherazade so far is still Kondrashin/Concertgebouw.

Howard

Indeed. Ditto for the Liszt concerti. And I'm always entertained by how utterly Kondrashin's Shostakovich recordings (any of them, really) obliterate almost every other possible contender.

I also seem to recall posessing a somewhat curious Russian reissue of him accompanying Richter in Brahm's Second Piano Concerto; and it was rather excellent (despite the questionable recording), in so far as I can remember! I'll see if I can dig it up.

[DarkAngel]

Agree with many selections already mentioned.......I want to specifically recommend the Mahler 1,3,4,5,6,7,9 set.
Very dramatic and intense performances like his great Shosty set, also sound by Melodyia is not great by modern standards but a bit better than the Shosty set.

Perhaps greatest single best purchase I ever made was the day I ordered the Kondrashin Shosty and Mahler sets!

[dirkronk]

I also seem to recall posessing a somewhat curious Russian reissue of him accompanying Richter in Brahm's Second Piano Concerto; and it was rather excellent (despite the questionable recording), in so far as I can remember! I'll see if I can dig it up.

I don't have that one myself, but one online discography lists it as being on Multisonic CD. (I DO have Richter and Mravinsky in the piece...now THAT'S a wild Brahms concerto.) However, Kondrashin did a lot of things with Richter, Gilels, et al., and many of those are worthy indeed, if not necessarily must-haves.

Cheers,

Dirk