Shostakovich Symphonies, Cycles & Otherwise

[foxandpeng]

As a set, definitely Kondrashin.
Separate recordings: Previn and Gergiev in 4, Rostropovich's LSO 8 and 11, Mitropolous in 10, Janssons in 12-15.

Appreciate this, thank you 😊 I've not heard the Mitropolous or Janssons at all, and confess to having excluded the Previn due to the inevitable difference in sound recording values. I will give them a go!

[foxandpeng]

a bit of a left field recommendation are the 5 symphonies recorded by Paavo Berglund in Bournemouth - 5,6,7,10,11.  They are all in the Berglund "Icon" box but also various iterations and couplings.  Classic analogue sound & powerful performances.  In their time well regarded but never mentioned these days.......

Left field is good. Again, these would be new to me, which is great!

[George]

As a set, definitely Kondrashin.

Agreed!

[DavidW]

Agreed!

Unfortunately, Fox's audiophilia will turn him away from the extraordinary set!

[foxandpeng]

Unfortunately, Fox's audiophilia will turn him away from the extraordinary set!

I will try to be good, honest! *crosses fingers*

I was listening to Haitink in RVW the other day, and despite the age and manner of recording, really enjoyed it. Preferences are good, as long as they don't become ruts, I think. I just don't want to listen through an ear trumpet from the other side of the concert hall, and although I know that is a massive exaggeration, I do prefer to feel as though I am sitting in the middle of the orchestra.

Today's standouts have probably been the Barshai and Sladkovsky (both in #3, because I am enjoying the almost back to back listening to the same work while I explore different interpretations and sonic experiences). Sladkovsky's pace may be a little slower, but Melodiya seem to kinda know what they are doing . His ominous build up to the percussion and brass at around the 11 and a half minute mark, and subsequent tension, does well for being a little more measured.

[Karl Henning]

Pondering a traversal of the DSCH symphonies across 3 or 4 cycles.

Front runners amongst many possibilities are the Kitayenko, Barshai, Caetani and Kondrashin. There are so many cycles to choose from, so these comparators seem as good as many.

If anyone has any other burning recs, apart from Petrenko which has been my usual fare, then please do suggest away.

I'd swap Jansons in for Barshai.

[Roasted Swan]

I will try to be good, honest! *crosses fingers*

I was listening to Haitink in RVW the other day, and despite the age and manner of recording, really enjoyed it. Preferences are good, as long as they don't become ruts, I think. I just don't want to listen through an ear trumpet from the other side of the concert hall, and although I know that is a massive exaggeration, I do prefer to feel as though I am sitting in the middle of the orchestra.

Today's standouts have probably been the Barshai and Sladkovsky (both in #3, because I am enjoying the almost back to back listening to the same work while I explore different interpretations and sonic experiences). Sladkovsky's pace may be a little slower, but Melodiya seem to kinda know what they are doing . His ominous build up to the percussion and brass at around the 11 and a half minute mark, and subsequent tension, does well for being a little more measured.

I like the Sladkovsky set a lot - but that's probably because I'm programmed to hear these pieces played with at least a degree of old-school Soviet bite in the playing.....

[foxandpeng]

I'd swap Jansons in for Barshai.

Noted, sir!

Maybe it's just me, but I find sets like buying a booster of magic cards. I've always found it more cost effective to buy individual discs, as I do all my preliminary assessments on YouTube now.

I confess to being a streamer! My £20 or so each month seems a decent deal for all the access without any of the storage issues.

I like the Sladkovsky set a lot - but that's probably because I'm programmed to hear these pieces played with at least a degree of old-school Soviet bite in the playing.....

I do too, on the occasions I have listened. I think I'm probably still somewhat of a novice, however!

[George]

Unfortunately, Fox's audiophilia will turn him away from the extraordinary set!

Fortunately, audiophilia is not an incurable disease.

[George]

Maybe it's just me, but I find sets like buying a booster of magic cards. I've always found it more cost effective to buy individual discs, as I do all my preliminary assessments on YouTube now.

I tend to look for great sets and then, if necessary, supplement with individual discs. I find this to get me great recordings and is cost effective.

[hopefullytrusting]

I confess to being a streamer! My £20 or so each month seems a decent deal for all the access without any of the storage issues.

That is mostly me as well, but for those things I love I always try to get a physical copy.

I tend to look for great sets and then, if necessary, supplement with individual discs. I find this to gets me great recordings and is cost effective.

That makes sense. :-)

To contribute directly to this thread, my two favorite conductors for Shostakovich are Rozhdestvensky and Stokowski.

[aukhawk]

Front runners amongst many possibilities are the Kitayenko, Barshai, Caetani and Kondrashin. There are so many cycles to choose from, so these comparators seem as good as many.

Both Caetani and Kondrashin tend towards the fastest tempi.  A good foil might be Wigglesworth, who tends to the slow end.

[Karl Henning]

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