Need help with beginner Shostakovich

[Bonehelm]

Hi, I just started Shostakovich after hearing he's similar to Mahler. I tried his 5th and fell in love with it (especially the finale, such powerful music). But the others like 11 and 14 are very troublesome to my young ears...they just sound like a bunch chaos to me. Shostakovich is a bit weird to me because some of his works are VERY melodic and immediately appealing (waltz from his 2nd jazz suite, 2nd movement from his 2nd piano concerto, finale of the 5th sym, etc) but others are just...very hard. So can the experienced tell me what works I should listen to as a Shosty beginner and what I should pay attention to? My listening experience is mostly Romantic to Late-romantic. I have no trouble getting Mahler's early symphonies and the easier Bruckner works. Thanks a lot. 

[cx]

Hi, I just started Shostakovich after hearing he's similar to Mahler. I tried his 5th and fell in love with it (especially the finale, such powerful music). But the others like 11 and 14 are very troublesome to my young ears...they just sound like a bunch chaos to me. Shostakovich is a bit weird to me because some of his works are VERY melodic and immediately appealing (waltz from his 2nd jazz suite, 2nd movement from his 2nd piano concerto, finale of the 5th sym, etc) but others are just...very hard. So can the experienced tell me what works I should listen to as a Shosty beginner and what I should pay attention to? My listening experience is mostly Romantic to Late-romantic. I have no trouble getting Mahler's early symphonies and the easier Bruckner works. Thanks a lot. 

Try symphony no. 7 next. I always thought no. 11 was one of his more accessible symphonic works -- maybe not, maybe try again, or get a different recording (there's a thread on that subject). Symphony nos. 6 and 10 should be up your alley, but I'm sure others will have their own opinions on which are the most accessible. (And I'll let you know that my current favorites are 14 and 15 )

The first cello concerto is an extremely fun piece and chock full o' melody.

Op. 49 and Op. 73 should be a gentle introduction to DSCH's string quartets.

--CS

[techniquest]

The 10th symphony is usually recognised as the other really popular one (along with the 5th). Easier on the ear and straightforward in style are nos 1 & 9. I'd also recommend no.13 (although a much more serious work, the structure (of the movements 1 & 2 at least) is easy to navigate). Avoid nos. 2,3,4 definitely.
Also, try the Festive Overture.

[George]

Hi, I just started Shostakovich after hearing he's similar to Mahler. I tried his 5th and fell in love with it (especially the finale, such powerful music). But the others like 11 and 14 are very troublesome to my young ears...they just sound like a bunch chaos to me. Shostakovich is a bit weird to me because some of his works are VERY melodic and immediately appealing (waltz from his 2nd jazz suite, 2nd movement from his 2nd piano concerto, finale of the 5th sym, etc) but others are just...very hard. So can the experienced tell me what works I should listen to as a Shosty beginner and what I should pay attention to? My listening experience is mostly Romantic to Late-romantic. I have no trouble getting Mahler's early symphonies and the easier Bruckner works. Thanks a lot. 

I would get a nice set of his SQ, like Borodin on Chandos (missing 14 and 15 unfortunately) or Danel and start listening from the beginning. 

[Larry Rinkel]

His later style is far more bitter, elliptical, and acerbic than the earlier works. I loathed Symphony 14 on first hearing myself (though 15 is far more accessible). Going through the symphonies and quartets chronologically may be the best way to sense the development of his style. The Fitzwilliam Quartet and Barshai symphonies should be reasonably priced. There's also a very good Naxos of the op. 87 preludes and fugues for piano.

[Grazioso]

Try the illustrated audio lectures on Dsch here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/discoveringmusic/audioarchive.shtml

And if you like the 5th symphony, try the 10th. The 7th is equally well known but rather monotonous and even cheesy by comparison.

[bhodges]

You might investigate this excellent DVD, with excerpts from Symphonies 4 through 9, with Valery Gergiev and the Kirov and Rotterdam orchestras.  Although there isn't a performance of a complete symphony, the excerpts are substantial, and vividly played and recorded.

--Bruce

[PaulR]

You might investigate this excellent DVD, with excerpts from Symphonies 4 through 9, with Valery Gergiev and the Kirov and Rotterdam orchestras.  Although there isn't a performance of a complete symphony, the excerpts are substantial, and vividly played and recorded.

--Bruce

I also recommend this DVD.  It also features the first movement of the 7th, if I recall correctly. 

I would also agree with the 10th, 8th, and 9th symphonies.  I would also add the Piano Trio #2 in E Minor Op. 67 to the list

And in time, you can listen to the 11th more easily   Regarding the 14th......I had similar troubles when I first listened to it, but with time, I got to love

Same thing with the 4th.  That's why I wouldn't suggest starting with it, but getting to it when ready

[Daverz]

I'd start with:

Cello Concerto 1
Symphony 1
Piano Concertos
Violin Concerto 1
Piano Trio 2

[Bonehelm]

Thanks everyone!  I got the Rostropovich set.  (sry if I spelled his name wrong)

[m_gigena]

Hi, I just started Shostakovich after hearing he's similar to Mahler. I tried his 5th and fell in love with it (especially the finale, such powerful music). But the others like 11 and 14 are very troublesome to my young ears...they just sound like a bunch chaos to me. Shostakovich is a bit weird to me because some of his works are VERY melodic and immediately appealing (waltz from his 2nd jazz suite, 2nd movement from his 2nd piano concerto, finale of the 5th sym, etc) but others are just...very hard. So can the experienced tell me what works I should listen to as a Shosty beginner and what I should pay attention to? My listening experience is mostly Romantic to Late-romantic. I have no trouble getting Mahler's early symphonies and the easier Bruckner works. Thanks a lot. 

So you like the Jazz suites... On June 8th 2006 the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra played and all Shostakovich program (one overturte, the first piano concerto and both Jazz suites), conducted by Marin Alsop. The video was downloadable from Avro website. Check the Broadcast Corner.

[Bonehelm]

So you like the Jazz suites... On June 8th 2006 the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra played and all Shostakovich program (one overturte, the first piano concerto and both Jazz suites), conducted by Marin Alsop. The video was downloadable from Avro website. Check the Broadcast Corner.

Thanks, Manuel

[karlhenning]

Avoid nos. 2,3,4 definitely.

Oh, I don't know.  Bonehelm's interest seems piqued by similarity to Mahler, and the Fourth may be right up his street.

[Holden]

Thanks everyone!  I got the Rostropovich set.  (sry if I spelled his name wrong)

I started my Shosty symphony exploration with the Rostropovich/LSO 8th and then moved on to the equally impressive 11th. My first listen to the 8th was in a very quiet place and I feel this helped as this is music that has to be listened to - as background noise it is rather disquieting. What I liked about the 8th was the incredible dynamic range from ppp to fff  and how 'Slava' achieved this in a live concert. Some of the transitions/segues from the depth of melancholy to a simple yet beautiful tune just took my breath away. The 'martial' 3rd movement makes such a contrast to the rest of the work that I just had to replay it when the symphony ended. From there the 11th was a natural transition I feel (though sheerly coincidental on my part).

Enjoy!

[George]

Thanks everyone!  I got the Rostropovich set.  (sry if I spelled his name wrong)

He only has one set, right? The earlier, Warner/Teldec one?

[George]

I started my Shosty symphony exploration with the Rostropovich/LSO 8th and then moved on to the equally impressive 11th. My first listen to the 8th was in a very quiet place and I feel this helped as this is music that has to be listened to - as background noise it is rather disquieting. What I liked about the 8th was the incredible dynamic range from ppp to fff  and how 'Slava' achieved this in a live concert. Some of the transitions/segues from the depth of melancholy to a simple yet beautiful tune just took my breath away. The 'martial' 3rd movement makes such a contrast to the rest of the work that I just had to replay it when the symphony ended. From there the 11th was a natural transition I feel (though sheerly coincidental on my part).

Enjoy!

If I am not mistaken, Ropstropovich's later recordings are better. I have his live LSO 5th and enjoy it very much. 

[Don]

There's also a very good Naxos of the op. 87 preludes and fugues for piano.

That Scherbakov/Naxos set does seem very good until one gets to hear Nikolayeva.  As for the symphonies, I find nos. 1-5-9-10 the easiest to immediately enjoy.

[Bonehelm]

He only has one set, right? The earlier, Warner/Teldec one?

Yup:)

[jochanaan]

If I am not mistaken, Ropstropovich's later recordings are better. I have his live LSO 5th and enjoy it very much. 

Depends.  I have a 14th from the early 1970s or late '60s (originally on Melodiya, issued in the West on Columbia) with Rostropovich leading members of the Moscow Philharmonic, with Galina Vishnevskaya (Rostropovich's wife) singing soprano and Mark Reshetin singing bass, and it nearly burns the stereo up, it's so hot! I also have Slava's 1991 7th with the National Symphony Orchestra; it's very good but doesn't have quite the same heat as that 14th.