Shostakovich Symphony Showdown: the 5th vs. the 10th

[Mirror Image]

Shostakovich Symphony Death Match Time!!!

You knew this one was coming.

[jochanaan]

The 5th has "pride of place" in that it was the first music by Shostakovich that I ever heard, many years ago; but in the 10th there is a greater sense that Dmitri Dmitriyevich is letting us see his true musical nature.  So, Number Ten.

[Sergeant Rock]

D minor

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

D minor

Sarge

You will have to refresh my memory, Sarge, but I recall you not being enamored with Shostakovich's 10th because of the opening movement or was it a general dislike for the whole symphony? Please elaborate on this as my memory is quite fuzzy.

[Daverz]

No contest for me, 10 is my favorite of all the symphonies. 

[vandermolen]

No contest for me, 10 is my favorite of all the symphonies.

One of mine too with No.4 and 11.

[Sergeant Rock]

You will have to refresh my memory, Sarge, but I recall you not being enamored with Shostakovich's 10th because of the opening movement or was it a general dislike for the whole symphony? Please elaborate on this as my memory is quite fuzzy.

My main problem is the first movement. It doesn't hold my attention. It did go better the last time I listened to it (the Rozhdestvensky, I believe) so it may be growing on me finally.

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

My main problem is the first movement. It doesn't hold my attention. It did go better the last time I listened to it (the Rozhdestvensky, I believe) so it may be growing on me finally.

Sarge

I see a similar pattern also in the 6th and 8th with these large introductions, but this never bothered me and only help transport me into a 'war-torn landscape of harrowing cries.' Not that this is something that I wanted to envision, but I just can't help it. Powerful, compelling music from a master.

[Mirror Image]

I chose the 10th for reasons similar to Johanaan's. I felt like it was Shostakovich revealing more of himself, but, instead of a fragmentary way, by the bucketload. No 'hidden' agenda or coded messages here, it's pure Shostakovich.

[springrite]

Since 11 is not one of the choices, I vote 10.

[Mirror Image]

Since 11 is not one of the choices, I vote 10.

I just love the 11th, but I wanted to pit two of Shostakovich's more famous symphonies against each other. The 5th and the 10th do, for me, represent turning points in his musical life. The 5th saved his life while the 10th was his first post-Stalin success.

[Turner]

Regarding 5 and 10, I´d often choose 5, since I find 10 very repetitive.
But favourites are probably 8, 9, 15 + an occasional dose of 13 and 14.

[Maestro267]

Voted for No. 5, because the first movement of the Tenth goes on for about 8 minutes longer than it needs to. You have this big climax, then it just rambles on aimlessly after that.

[Lisztianwagner]

Symphony No.5

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

no. 10 I think...there's something about the 5th which I find to be rather too 'forced....' when art is forced it seems to be lesser in quality from my own experience anyway.

[PaulR]

the 10th.  The 5th isn't even among my top 4 favorites of DS's symphonies.

[Bogey]

Could not begin to tell you which I enjoy more.  However, this has prompted me to back and listen to both!

[Karl Henning]

Could not begin to tell you which I enjoy more.  However, this has prompted me to back and listen to both!

Excellent!

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

My favourites are 2, 4, 6 and 8...none of those are on this poll. I haven't come across many symphonies more awesome than those four really.

[Mirror Image]

My favourites are 2, 4, 6 and 8...none of those are on this poll. I haven't come across many symphonies more awesome than those four really.

The 2nd? Really? I don't think much of it. The 6th is seriously underrated IMHO. Following up the 5th was no easy task.