Shostakovich's 6th Symphony

[Leo K.]

I have been listening to Shostakovich's 6th a lot lately as for some reason I am drawn to this enigmatic work. I like that I can't get a hold on it. My favorite at the moment is the Barshai account. I also have Haitink, Thomas Sanderling,  Pentrenko, and Jarvi. I am still rather new to Shostakovich so just soaking it all in. What are your valued recordings of the 6th symphony, and do you have any thoughts about it for me to ponder?

[Spotted Horses]

I have been listening to Shostakovich's 6th a lot lately as for some reason I am drawn to this enigmatic work. I like that I can't get a hold on it. My favorite at the moment is the Barshai account. I also have Haitink, Thomas Sanderling,  Pentrenko, and Jarvi. I am still rather new to Shostakovich so just soaking it all in. What are your valued recordings of the 6th symphony, and do you have any thoughts about it for me to ponder?

I like the often neglected Rostropovich cycle, and enjoyed his recording of the 6th. If you are interested in performance tradition and "historical" performance there is a Reiner recording from 1949 with Pittsburgh which is bracing, and the audio is good for the era.

I'm also a big fan of Kitajenko's cycle, and I'm sure I will like his 6th, when I get to it.

[Karl Henning]

I have been listening to Shostakovich's 6th a lot lately as for some reason I am drawn to this enigmatic work. I like that I can't get a hold on it. My favorite at the moment is the Barshai account. I also have Haitink, Thomas Sanderling,  Pentrenko, and Jarvi. I am still rather new to Shostakovich so just soaking it all in. What are your valued recordings of the 6th symphony, and do you have any thoughts about it for me to ponder?

I really enjoy Yuri Temirkanov's recording with the St Petersburg Phil.

[Karl Henning]

After the Fifth Symphony's overt exercise in blunting official disfavor, the composer's decision to subvert expectations in the Sixth, both by casting it in three movements and opening it with a Largo is richly intriguing. 

[brewski]

Sometimes the Sixth is my favorite of all of them. It structure is unconventional (a plus), and I like the trajectory of the movements, from slow, to fast, to fastest — it's like watching a comet.

First heard it with Haitink's Concertgebouw recording. After hearing the Eleventh live on the radio (!) years ago, with Slatkin and St. Louis, I bought Haitink's version of that (also great), which was coupled with the Sixth. Overall, probably still my favorite.

In addition to the others mentioned, Bernstein's version with the Vienna Phil is worth hearing (coupled with No. 9), for the quality of the playing. The ascending woodwind figure that ends the second movement has never sounded so delicate and beautiful. And also, who would have thought that those forces would come together for off-the-radar Shostakovich?

It's a great piece. I wish it showed up in the concert hall more often.

-Bruce

[Spotted Horses]

In addition to the others mentioned, Bernstein's version with the Vienna Phil is worth hearing (coupled with No. 9), for the quality of the playing. The ascending woodwind figure that ends the second movement has never sounded so delicate and beautiful. And also, who would have thought that those forces would come together for off-the-radar Shostakovich?

I discovered the piece with the Bernstein/WPO recording. I should revisit. As in some of Berstein's recordings from the period, the opening Largo is very Largo.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I've only heard a few versions, but the one I've stuck with over the years is - strangely enough - Sir Adrian Boult. Not a conductor I usually associate with DSCH, but I like the performance a lot and the sound is great (it's some kind of early audiophile recording on Everest, from the 1950s).

[brewski]

I've only heard a few versions, but the one I've stuck with over the years is - strangely enough - Sir Adrian Boult. Not a conductor I usually associate with DSCH, but I like the performance a lot and the sound is great (it's some kind of early audiophile recording on Everest, from the 1950s).

Thanks, going to check that out! I'm kindly disposed toward those old Everest recordings, since the first LP I owned was Respighi's The Pines of Rome, with Sargent and the LSO.

-Bruce

[Daverz]

I have been listening to Shostakovich's 6th a lot lately as for some reason I am drawn to this enigmatic work. I like that I can't get a hold on it. My favorite at the moment is the Barshai account. I also have Haitink, Thomas Sanderling,  Pentrenko, and Jarvi. I am still rather new to Shostakovich so just soaking it all in. What are your valued recordings of the 6th symphony, and do you have any thoughts about it for me to ponder?

The first Bernstein on Sony would probably be my goto recording.

Stokowski recorded the 6th with the Chicago Symphony in stereo for RCA.

[Brian]

I like a recent Paavo Jarvi recording with breathtakingly, maybe imprudently fast final two movements. He's faster in all three than Reiner! I don't know if that is how it should be, but the orchestral execution, in top notch sound, is thrilling in the extreme.

[foxandpeng]

I particularly find myself returning to Kitayenko,Kondrashin and Barshai.

I often pick up Gergiev and Caetani, however. There are so many worthwhile cycles out there.

[DavidW]

Kitajenko for me.



I usually like the lean, harsh take on Shostakovich's symphonies in Kondrashin, Barshai, etc. but the more subtle and melodic approach works better for me in this symphony. It didn't click until I heard Kitajenko.

[AnotherSpin]

To fully and adequately experience the 6th Symphony, you need to simultaneously read—out loud, clearly and distinctly, Vladimir Mayakovsky's poem Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (dedicated to the Russian Communist Party), which inspired Shostakovich when composing this opus. Try it; you won't be disappointed.

[Spotted Horses]

I like a recent Paavo Jarvi recording with breathtakingly, maybe imprudently fast final two movements. He's faster in all three than Reiner! I don't know if that is how it should be, but the orchestral execution, in top notch sound, is thrilling in the extreme.

I will check that out. I in my estimation Paavo has generally far surpassed dear old dad.

[Leo K.]

Thanks for all the recs, this should be an interesting journey. Listening to Paavo Berglund at the moment, and enjoying it's lushness, and it's recording quality is good too.

[AnotherSpin]

Thanks for all the recs, this should be an interesting journey. Listening to Paavo Berglund at the moment, and enjoying it's lushness, and it's recording quality is good too.

This is an accurate approach. The life of Lenin — a paranoid individual with an atrophied brain due to extensive damage caused by treponema pallidum, the instigator of a state coup, the founder of the Red Terror, and the organizer of famine across vast regions of the country — was undoubtedly lush.

[Madiel]

In terms of recordings, I only have Petrenko's Naxos cycle.

In terms of getting a hold on the work, I had some struggles until I thought of it as a 2-movement work, not a 3-movement one. It's just that the 2nd movement gets split in half...

[André]

My first exposure to the work about 40 years ago was through Boult's Everest version. The 6th is one of my top DSCH favourite symphonies. After hearing dozens of versions I still think Boult nails the first movement like no other, and the other two go as well as anyone else. Stokowski too puts in a great, very perceptive performance. Although old, both performances are very well recorded. Boreyko and the SWR are superb in modern sound.

Some soviet conductors (Mrawinsky, Kondrashin) take the Largo at a very flowing tempo, cutting timings from 18-20 minutes to a mere 13-15. I wonder about the rationale behind their thinking. I mean, are they on to something that's hidden behind the printed notes ?

[Leo K.]

How fascinating regarding the Boult recording, will have to hear that next. Same with the Stokowski.