Recommendation for Shostakovich 5th Symphony?

[rubio]

I'm working my way through the Barshai box set, and I have just enjoyed the 5th Symphony! This is really one of my favourite Shostakovich symphonies, and know I wonder which are your preferred performances of this symphony? And why? The Kondrashin box set is on the way to me, and I think that one should have a very good 5th. I'm looking forward to that, and maybe some of your recommendations.

[bhodges]

I have long been a fan of Haitink's recording, which is admittedly on the cool side.  But I'm sold by the spectacular playing of the Concertgebouw, plus the equally spectacular recording. 

If you want a white-hot version on DVD, there is Bernstein and the NYPO recorded in Tokyo in 1979.  The sound is excellent and the video is very good (with some occasionally slightly dated camera work).  It's coupled with a great reading of the Schumann Symphony No. 1, but the Shostakovich is the prize: absolutely electrifying. 

--Bruce

[Don]

I have long been a fan of Haitink's recording, which is admittedly on the cool side.  But I'm sold by the spectacular playing of the Concertgebouw, plus the equally spectacular recording. 

If you want a white-hot version on DVD, there is Bernstein and the NYPO recorded in Tokyo in 1979.  The sound is excellent and the video is very good (with some occasionally slightly dated camera work).  It's coupled with a great reading of the Schumann Symphony No. 1, but the Shostakovich is the prize: absolutely electrifying. 

--Bruce

The same applies to the Sanderling on Berlin Classics.

[david johnson]

mitropolous/nypo is fun!!  ...but i like it most times i hear it regardless of who's performing.

dj

[dirkronk]

The 5th can, I think, survive more than one approach. Good thing, since I like a number of them.

For the purely Russian take, I do like Maxim Shostakovich, and the recording on my analog LP is quite good if not audiophile quality.

I also love Mravinsky, but he did several recordings and choosing among them isn't always a cut-and-dried thing. My preferred choice, for example, might be thought a bit controversial: his live recording with Leningrad but done in Vienna in 1978 and well recorded by EMI. The performance is a good bit different from his other takes--phrasing is distinctive, sometimes almost quirky, and IMO thought-provoking--and you may find it worth hearing even if you've heard the rest already. However, there are other, slightly more conventional options in the Mravinsky discography if it's not to your liking.

Among non-Russians, I still like the earlier (1959) Bernstein/NYP more than the later live version Bruce mentioned. First, I like the presentation which to my ears is more coherent both sonically and interpretively. Second, though the earlier one is very early analog stereo and reveals some thinness in the treble, it sounds more appealing to my ears than the later one, which was in very early digital and (in the two formats I've heard, digital LP and early CD--haven't heard any later masterings) offered both spectacular aspects in the bass and annoyingly shrill ones in the treble. YMMV.

Others worth hearing: Stokowski on Everest (not the greatest ensemble but the Stokie fire is there) and Ancerl on Supraphon (not the greatest recording quality but some gorgeous playing from the Czechs, esp. in the less bombastic sections). I also have a Dorati on Mercury that impressed me enough to survive my last collection purge, but I honestly can't remember enough about the performance to give you useful information. Maybe someone else can comment more fully...?

FWIW.


Dirk

[hornteacher]

Believe it or not, the Atlanta Symphony has a great recording out, especially if you like modern DDD recordings:

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=4521

[mahlertitan]

this one is surprisingly good
rtsp://media.cc.columbia.edu/music/humanities/cd5000/track15.rm
Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Previn/LSO is a great performance. It has a couple of annoying sonic problems, though. At the very opening, there's a kind of "whooshing" sound (like a warped LP). Much worse, at the climax of the Largo, one of the channels simply drops out for a second or two.

Other than that however, I like it even better than the 1959 Bernstein, to which it is similar in interpretation.

[RebLem]

My 3 faves are the 1959 Bernstein/NYPO, the Ancerl/Czech Phil, and the Barshai, which has absolutely awesome sonics besides being a superb performance.

[val]

Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic, dynamic and with a perfect articulation.

Kondrachine with the Moscow Philharmonic, more dense, but very powerful.

Mravinsky,with Leningrad Orchestra, very dark, deep emotional. My favorite.

[rubio]

Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic, dynamic and with a perfect articulation.

Kondrachine with the Moscow Philharmonic, more dense, but very powerful.

Mravinsky,with Leningrad Orchestra, very dark, deep emotional. My favorite.

Is this Mravinsky the Melodiya recording from 1954? I have just bought that one (as part of a Mravinsky Shostakovich box set).

[Sergeant Rock]

Despite the problems with the sound Dirk noted, the second Bernstein (live from Toyko as Bruce mentioned) is one of my two favorites. Two reasons for that: the chilling way Bernstein phrases the second subject of the first movement...like ice, the violins quite haunting; and the unstoppable optimism of the last movement. My other recommendation is Rostropovich and the NSO: this was the first version I heard that treated the closing pages in a grimly ironic way instead of the romantic triumph Bernstein makes of it; Rostropovich punching out the rhythm like repeated blows to the gut. You won't find two more utterly different takes on this symphony.

Sarge

[val]

rubio

Is this Mravinsky the Melodiya recording from 1954? I have just bought that one (as part of a Mravinsky Shostakovich box set).

Yes, it is the version of 1954. I have it in a CD that also includes Scriabin's Poème de l'Extase.

[George]

I'm working my way through the Barshai box set, and I have just enjoyed the 5th Symphony! This is really one of my favourite Shostakovich symphonies, and know I wonder which are your preferred performances of this symphony? And why? The Kondrashin box set is on the way to me, and I think that one should have a very good 5th. I'm looking forward to that, and maybe some of your recommendations.

Rubio, my one and only recording of this one is Rostropovich conducting the LSO Live. I love his interpretation because he really brings out the pain in the finale.

Here's a quote from my favorite guide book (Classical Music, The Listener's Companion, Edited by A.J. Morin):

"For decades, the Finale was inperpreted as a triumphant apothesis, but the composer said it was like being beaten with a stick and forced to repeat "Our business is rejoicing." His disciple, Roistropovich says it's like being "stretched on a rack," and his first recording (DG) leaves no doubt as to the way an excruciatingly slow tempo in the coda can turn those dissonances into agonizing torture.   

I feel the same about his later recording with the LSO. It's superb. 

[alkan]

Following on from George

I have just received the Sanderling version on Berlin Classics.      I was brought up on versions of the 5th with a triumphant, blazing ending of the symphony.    It was quite a shock to hear Sanderling's version.      Blazing yes, but triumphant .... definitely not.    It quite changed my understanding of the work.      I love this version, plus the other  Shostakovich symphonies recorded by Sanderling, with the sole exception of the 8th where I feel that Kondrashin is still king   (the monstrous, pounding tom-tom at the climax of the second allegro !!!!).        Sanderling's 15th is also magnificent, and in fact the box set is worth the price solely for the booklet of interviews with Sanderling  (who knew Shostakovich well).

[snyprrr]

Despite the problems with the sound Dirk noted, the second Bernstein (live from Toyko as Bruce mentioned) is one of my two favorites. Two reasons for that: the chilling way Bernstein phrases the second subject of the first movement...ike ice, the violins quite haunting; and the unstoppable optimism of the last movement. My other recommendation is Rostropovich and the NSO: this was the first version I heard that treated the closing pages in a grimly ironic way instead of the romantic triumph Bernstein makes of it; Rostropovich punching out the rhythm like repeated blows to the gut. You won't find two more utterly different takes on this symphony.

Sarge

Well.... here... we are!

[snyprrr]

Inbal/ Frankfurt (NOT Vienna- there are two) has gotten some high marks. Again, though, the very opening is of the Not-As-Loud-As-Lenny/Haitink variety. However, as I have had to learn, some discs MUST be turned up higher than you would normally ever do. When you turn this one up. what you get is something like a Perfect Recording. Mind you, it's not my favoured way with recordings, but this one gets it about as right as I've heard, you just have to be pretty exacting where you put the initial volume (if you're like me and don't WANT to fiddle-during-playtime). The recording does achieve impressive decibels during climaxes, but I did want more spit out of the brass- fine as they are and they are fine.

It reminds me a bit of the veiled/cloaked sound on the Lenny79- there is seriousness here. More on the ending later.

btw- it seems the consensus on the other Inbal 5 is that it's at least not as good as this one. There was a charge of 'smoothness' levelled at it- and Inbal is smooth here too, but it is pulled off with aplomb here- I can't personally speak for the Vienna recording.

[vandermolen]

My favourite version by far is the 1938 recording by Mravinsky. Unfortunately I don't see it on Amazon UK at the moment, although there are several other Mravinsky recordings. Despite the 1938 recording, the performance IMHO is in a class of its own, relating the work, more closely than any other version I have heard, to the sound world of Symphony 4.
PS I found it on the US Amazon site:
[asin]B00006YXAA[/asin]
If the age of the recording (or the price) worries you I would opt for Andre Previn's RCA recording with the London Symphony Orchestra.
I also like the recording by Maxim Shostakovich with the USSR SO, which was the first one I heard.

[Karl Henning]

My favourite version by far is the 1938 recording by Mravinsky. Unfortunately I don't see it on Amazon UK at the moment, although there are several other Mravinsky recordings. Despite the 1938 recording, the performance IMHO is in a class of its own, relating the work, more closely than any other version I have heard, to the sound world of Symphony 4.

Oh, what a temptation you have set, Jeffrey;  I'm not, as you may know, an enthusiast for older recordings (all things being equal), but the notion of a recording from a time when the ink had not finished curing on the page . . . .

How odd that there is only Un bal from the Symphonie fantastique there.  Still, into the Wish List it goes!

[snyprrr]

My favourite version by far is the 1938 recording by Mravinsky. Unfortunately I don't see it on Amazon UK at the moment, although there are several other Mravinsky recordings. Despite the 1938 recording, the performance IMHO is in a class of its own, relating the work, more closely than any other version I have heard, to the sound world of Symphony 4.
PS I found it on the US Amazon site:
[asin]B00006YXAA[/asin]
If the age of the recording (or the price) worries you I would opt for Andre Previn's RCA recording with the London Symphony Orchestra.
I also like the recording by Maxim Shostakovich with the USSR SO, which was the first one I heard.

yea, you really pluck the short hairs there! mm

So, you like Previn? I've been curious


AND- I get soooooooo confused concerning Maxim's recording legacy-

1) there are old '70s recordings with LSO of 5... 10... mm... a few others? Violin Concerto... 15...

2) then there's the Collins series- 5... 10... 7?... 8?...

3) then there's a solitary RCA 5th?

4) then there's the Supraphon Box, which had 5, 13, 4, 6?,... and others? as single discs...

5)

6)


So, how many 5ths?...4?... 5?... You don't hear much about that RCA though- are the timings as long as the others?


I've always enjoyed Maxim's hair! DSCH always seemed to have Bed Head.