What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

Khrennikov: Symphony No.2
A fine war-time symphony, with a poignant and searching slow movement and a catchy tune in the finale which I can't get out of my head:

Khrennikov having been party to horrid grief for Shostakovich, I just don't think I can bring myself to listen to any of his music. Quoth Khrennikov: "It was no harm to them."

Even some of Khrennikov's harshest critics concede that he may not have had much choice but to accept the position when Stalin thrust him onto the political stage in 1948, and that he probably did not write his own early speeches. But if Khrennikov claimed the mantle of victimhood for himself, he was far less generous in extending that mantle to the very people who suffered on account of the words he spoke. "When [Shostakovich] was criticized, it was not so pleasant for him to hear," he said, "but all this criticism of persons of the range of Shostakovich, [composer Aram] Khachaturian and Prokofiev, or other major personalities - it could not affect their creative activity. It was no harm to them."

The historical record suggests otherwise. Prokofiev and Shostakovich were both personally devastated by the wave of official criticism that hit them that year. It was not just the bureaucratic epithets but the banning of works, the public humiliation, the loss of income, and the real existential danger that these denunciations carried when backed up by the organized terror of the Stalinist state. The scholar Harlow Robinson, a Prokofiev specialist, said that the events of 1948 were "disastrous" for Prokofiev, who died, as it happened, on the same day as Stalin in 1953. In her biography of Shostakovich, the scholar Laurel Fay speculates that the events of the year may have driven Shostakovich to consider suicide. If nothing else, it drove the composer's finances into such disrepair that his housekeeper had to use her own savings to help feed his family.

Could Khrennikov not help being a tool? Could he not help salving his sick conscience with the delusion that he had done Prokofiev and Shostakovich "no harm?" Color me unsympathetic. I hope Khrennikov rots in hell.

The denouncer. A meeting with Stalin's music man, who outlived them all

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No. 8 Rémy Ballot Oberösterreichisches Jugendorchester

[Karl Henning]

TD:

Prokofiev
The Steel Step Suite, Op. 41bis
RSNO
Järvi

[vandermolen]

Khrennikov having been party to horrid grief for Shostakovich, I just don't think I can bring myself to listen to any of his music. Quoth Khrennikov: "It was no harm to them."

Even some of Khrennikov's harshest critics concede that he may not have had much choice but to accept the position when Stalin thrust him onto the political stage in 1948, and that he probably did not write his own early speeches. But if Khrennikov claimed the mantle of victimhood for himself, he was far less generous in extending that mantle to the very people who suffered on account of the words he spoke. "When [Shostakovich] was criticized, it was not so pleasant for him to hear," he said, "but all this criticism of persons of the range of Shostakovich, [composer Aram] Khachaturian and Prokofiev, or other major personalities - it could not affect their creative activity. It was no harm to them."

The historical record suggests otherwise. Prokofiev and Shostakovich were both personally devastated by the wave of official criticism that hit them that year. It was not just the bureaucratic epithets but the banning of works, the public humiliation, the loss of income, and the real existential danger that these denunciations carried when backed up by the organized terror of the Stalinist state. The scholar Harlow Robinson, a Prokofiev specialist, said that the events of 1948 were "disastrous" for Prokofiev, who died, as it happened, on the same day as Stalin in 1953. In her biography of Shostakovich, the scholar Laurel Fay speculates that the events of the year may have driven Shostakovich to consider suicide. If nothing else, it drove the composer's finances into such disrepair that his housekeeper had to use her own savings to help feed his family.

Could Khrennikov not help being a tool? Could he not help salving his sick conscience with the delusion that he had done Prokofiev and Shostakovich "no harm?" Color me unsympathetic. I hope Khrennikov rots in hell.

The denouncer. A meeting with Stalin's music man, who outlived them all

I actually saw him in the flesh Karl!
New Year's Day 1986.
I attended a concert at the Bolshoi Theatre - a rather insipid ballet was being performed (I was on my own - my two friends were due to attend but they were too hung over from celebrations in Red Square on New Year's Eve  ). Anyway, at the end a box was lit up and the composer stood up to acknowledge the applause. I immediately recognised him as Khrenninkov from record sleeve images. No doubt he was a total sh-t but it puzzles me why he was not replaced following the collapse of the USSR. I'm no Khrennikov apologist but acknowledge his claim that, unlike may writers, poets or artists, no composers were killed during his time in office. Hardly a ringing endorsement but it interests me.

[Traverso]

They are also available on the Musical Heritage label:

Thank you,I have found a nice Chandos set  and it is now on my list 

[Todd]

[vers la flamme]

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.1 in D major. Rafael Kubelík, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

So much better than the Audite performance IMO. It's a very zippy performance of the first movement, but with lots and lots of orchestral detail and vibrance.

[SonicMan46]

Smetana, Bedrich (1824-1884) - Má Vlast w/ Rafael Kubelik and the Chicago SO recorded in 1952 on Mercury Living Presence - sounds great! Own two other versions, Kubelik on his return w/ the Czech PO live in 1990 and Theodore Kuchar on Brilliant (first disc of three).  Dave

 

[Karl Henning]

I actually saw him in the flesh Karl!
New Year's Day 1986.
I attended a concert at the Bolshoi Theatre - a rather insipid ballet was being performed (I was on my own - my two friends were due to attend but they were too hung over from celebrations in Red Square on New Year's Eve  ). Anyway, at the end a box was lit up and the composer stood up to acknowledge the applause. I immediately recognised him as Khrenninkov from record sleeve images. No doubt he was a total sh-t but it puzzles me why he was not replaced following the collapse of the USSR. I'm no Khrennikov apologist but acknowledge his claim that, unlike may writers, poets or artists, no composers were killed during his time in office. Hardly a ringing endorsement but it interests me.

Oh, I should never mistake you for a Khrennikov apologist, Jeffrey, and I'm not calling for a ban only I observe a personal ban.

[Linz]

Remy Ballot Bruckner Symphony 9 Altomonte Orchester St. Florian

[vers la flamme]

If you were to start squeezing in some Bruckner, you just might eventually see God, if your head doesn't explode first...

I am due for revisiting Bruckner. I'm in need of a steady flow of divine music lately. 

[Lisztianwagner]

Arnold Schönberg
String Quartet in D Major

[SonicMan46]

Chopin, Frederic - Piano Music w/ Pietro De Maria - have not pulled out this 13-disc box in a while - will play a few recordings a day.  Dave

 

[aligreto]

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 [Haitink/LSO]





The opening two movements are tight, articulate and well driven. Speeds are brisk but this lends to a sense of excitement and also helps with the inherent tension and drama in the work. All of this leads to a great vibrant atmosphere in the opening two movements.
The slow movement is delightful and sweeps along like a gentle summer breeze.
The final movement is a strong and powerful affair. The combination of both the full orchestra and choir sounds wonderfully impactful. The movement is powerfully driven; It has great emotional energy. The individual soloists are also very fine but I do find the soprano a bit on the shreeky and piercing side. This is an invigorating presentation overall.

[Que]

   

[Karl Henning]

Arnold Schönberg
String Quartet in D Major

The early quartet, yes? I remember it being lush!

[Todd]

Could it be that DSCH's First is really his best symphony?  Well, no, but revisiting this shows that Temirkanov delivers a fine reading that makes revisiting the recording fun.  His Sixth is very fine, too.

[San Antone]

Shostakovich : Symphony Nos. 9 & 12
Mark Wigglesworth / The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra



Very nice.

[vers la flamme]

Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Murray Dickie, Paul Kletzki, Philharmonia Orchestra

I really love this recording. Haven't heard it, nor the work itself in any way, shape or form, in quite some time. So good to be revisiting this great music.

[KevinP]

I'm sure I've said this before, but despite its vast popularity, one genre I've never been a huge fan of is the concerto. Any concerto. Any instrument. Virtuosity impressed me for a minute or two, after which it just becomes, 'Okay. You're good. I get it' stretched out for half an hour. The fact that someone can play a concerto with a professional orchestra is proof that they've practiced to an impressive level; knowing that, I don't need to actually hear them to know they're good.

I'm probably the only one here who feels this way.

And all that said, I've been listening quite a bit to the harp concerto on this Milhaud CD (although mine doesn't have the grey border). I've had this disc since the mid-90s and have only recently given this piece its second (or thereabouts) listen.