Shostakovich Symphonies, Cycles & Otherwise

[Brahmsian]

Symphony No.8

I think the Haitink was my very first classical music i chose to hear (library). c minor? What was there not to take a chance? So, I see the 8th is STILL fairly slim pickins', - the last one I remember coming out (in-the-day) was Bychkov on Philips, and it seems like most of the competition is quite fresh.

1) Bychkov/Philips?- anyone?- with Berlin!!

2) Jarvi gets high marks

3) Slatkin is the one I'm really curious about-mm??

4) Temirkanov also tempts, but of course with him I could be wary- anyone?

5) Petrenko sounds good, but does he not open with baH-BAAAH???

6) Mravinsky- not right now, please

7) Rattle vs Jansons MACH2

8- Gergiev's sound is highly criticized


Slim Pickins- but

By far and away, I enjoy the Haitink/RCO over other interpretations of the 8th.

[snyprrr]

By far and away, I enjoy the Haitink/RCO over other interpretations of the 8th.

Wait- is that the new 'live' one or the OldWarhorse?

If it's the classic,... really? Nothing has come along with anything... how bout even different-yet-satisfying? I don't know why I have such an aversion to that album cover>---

I mean, it's the only one I know,- I suuure wouldn't want to be disappointed by anybody.

No Bychkov/Philips with Berlin? (I know, I'm just fishing- maybe I'll just get the Haitink from the library)

[snyprrr]

I'm also considering Litton I (Virgin) for 10m though- who's this Frank Shipway character (BBC)?

[Brahmsian]

Wait- is that the new 'live' one or the OldWarhorse?

[kishnevi]

Slava LSO Live for both 8 and 11.  Barshai's 11 is the one in that set I do not like.
No preference in 10,  but the people who like Karajan are not wrong.  Jansons seems to me to rule 12 through 14.  The only really good DSCH I remember hearing from Gergiev is 4.

[Karl Henning]

By far and away, I enjoy the Haitink/RCO over other interpretations of the 8th.

Haitink & Jansons/Pittsburgh are particularly good in the Op.65.

[snyprrr]

Haitink & Jansons/Pittsburgh are particularly good in the Op.65.

What.about.Solti?


And I'm still asking what's up with Bychkov/Philips since it's with Berlin (and I'm also assuming the Philips sound would be great).


WHAT A SLOG!!! I can't believe I haven't pulled this one yet... 10 and 8... ack... I'm getting bogged down in all these frankly obsessive reviews that I get sucked into- like the solitary one who convinced me Lenny was too over the top in Mahler6- ahhhh, it's going to be a loooong weekend....

[Sergeant Rock]

WHAT A SLOG!!! I can't believe I haven't pulled this one yet... 10 and 8... ack... I'm getting bogged down in all these frankly obsessive reviews that I get sucked into- like the solitary one who convinced me Lenny was too over the top in Mahler6- ahhhh, it's going to be a loooong weekend....

Of course Lenny's DG M6 is over the top! Why would anyone want an M6 any other way? 

Okay, I like Karajan's beauty and Szell's Classical restraint (until the end where he unleashes the apocalypse), Chailly's stoic grimness. But Lenny or Solti...that's the way a Sixth should go (with three hammerblows too) if you're only getting one.

Sarge

[snyprrr]

Of course Lenny's DG M6 is over the top! Why would anyone want an M6 any other way? 

Okay, I like Karajan's beauty and Szell's Classical restraint (until the end where he unleashes the apocalypse), Chailly's stoic grimness. But Lenny or Solti...that's the way a Sixth should go (with three hammerblows too) if you're only getting one.

Sarge

Yes, I AM hearing you!!

[snyprrr]

Symphony No.8 Op.65



Kofman                    30:08     6:29     6:52     11:01    16:14
Kitajenko                  29:37    7:01     6:20     11:10     15:03

Wigglesworth           29:10    7:00    6:47     10:35     16:19


Inbal                        28:05     6:37    6:51     10:00    16:00
Gergiev2                  28:04     6:02     6:14     9:57     15:20
Previn2                    27:54     6:16     6:09    13:17     14:17
Svetlanov                 27:44     6:45     6:01     10:02     14:44
Berglund                  27:44     6:34     6:48      9:39      15:33


Sanderling               27:10     6:36     6:46     10:32     15:27
Levi                         26:52     6:29     6:09    11:13     13:23

Rostropovich'live'      26:34     6:46     7:07     12:01     16:16
Slatkin                     26:30     6:12     5:55     9:43     13:06
Jarvi                        26:28     6:42     5:54     9:54     14:28

Herbig                     26:18     6:20     6:04     10:37     14:00


Barshai(Cl-f-Pl)       25:58     6:44     6:37     9****1     14:03
Bychkov'live'            25:58     6:25     6:00     9:10     14:25
Rostropovitch          25:52     6:16    6:58     10:23     14:45
Solti                        25:45     6:30     6:27     9:42      14:32 
Gergiev1                 25:37     6:00     6:16     10:48     14:40

Rodzinsky               25:23     5:58     5:26      8:29     13:00
Petrenko                 25:12    5:55     6:12      9:34     14:47
Previn1                   25:08     5:53    5:34     11:16     13:23
Bychkov1                25:01    5:59     6:24     10:24     14:43
Ashkenazy              25:00    5:57     6:11      9:36     13:49

Mravinsky               24:40     6:17     5:54     9:29     13:30
Rozhdesventsky      24:37     6:30     7:49     9:37     13:35
Jansons                  24:29     6:27     6:20    10:02    15:10
Kondrashin(studio)  23:57     5:44     6:04     8:28     12:33
Kondrashin(live)      21:54     5:34     5:36     6:32     12:41

Caetani                  20:44     5:52     6:01      7:40   13:19

[kishnevi]

Slava LSO Live
26:34
6:46
7:07
12:01
16:16

[Drasko]

Kondrashin (studio)  23:57  5:44  6:04  8:28  12:33
Kondrashin (live)       21:54  5:34  5:36  6:32  12:41

[snyprrr]

ok, I really think I was a smart cookie here. Take a lot at that list of 8s, and if you've been following the thread, tell me which 8 I picked. I will tell you its samples ROCKED me like NO OTHER (so, it has to be a 'special' performance, eh?!!), and from the moment I heard a certain something, all other versions just seemed to fall by the wayside.

I can tell you that it's one of the well known 'Best' versions, but I'm pretty sure you won't get- BUUUT- it IS an overwhelming version. If there has been ANY criticism of a performance than it's pretty sure it's not the one. A True Dark Horse (just hiding in plain sight).

For anyone who thinks they know my methods- I'm really hoping that the answer will be enlightening. (Yes, I'm craving attention this morning, haha!)

I'LL POST AFTER 8 THIS EVENING. (I'm really wanting you to say, "Oh that snyprrr, he's so thoughtful and analytical,... my what a great Picker he has!"

[snyprrr]

Kondrashin (studio)  23:57  5:44  6:04  8:28  12:33
Kondrashin (live)       21:54  5:34  5:36  6:32  12:41

Slava LSO Live
26:34
6:46
7:07
12:01
16:16

added

Please play my "Which 8th Did snyprrr Choose" Game. I believe the true answer will be a surprise,- but it was the best I heard overall- BY A MARGIN!!! Who could it be??? (answer is not totally obvious, but should be).

CLUE: It's not Mravinsky, just to get that out of the way (because I said "obvious")- I think price might have been a factor, but I still thought some somewhat better.

CLUE 2: Obviously there is one movement that CAN serve as a litmus test



Oh, this is gonna be fun!

[Ken B]

added

Please play my "Which 8th Did snyprrr Choose" Game. I believe the true answer will be a surprise,- but it was the best I heard overall- BY A MARGIN!!! Who could it be??? (answer is not totally obvious, but should be).

CLUE: It's not Mravinsky, just to get that out of the way (because I said "obvious")- I think price might have been a factor, but I still thought some somewhat better.

CLUE 2: Obviously there is one movement that CAN serve as a litmus test



Oh, this is gonna be fun!

Previn.

[Sergeant Rock]

For anyone who thinks they know my methods- I'm really hoping that the answer will be enlightening. (Yes, I'm craving attention this morning, haha!)

I doubt anyone knows your methods. I'm stumped anyway  

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Please play my "Which 8th Did snyprrr Choose" Game.

Wigglesworth! (You usually go for the funny names, right?)

Sarge

[snyprrr]

Previn.

yea, well THAT was no fun! ........and i'm assuming you mean the EMI? Yeeees. Wow, was that a lucky guess or is it that obvious? YES OF COURSE Previn/EMI BLEW ME BAAACK!!! with that 'salad chopper' movement!! Yea, how can I hear it 'normal' ever again???

But yea, here's another view of my method. Again, for the Prokofiev 5, a Symphony which MOSTLY strives for 'nobility', and all that classy jazz, I want that Rolls treatment, all cream and gleam. But with something like DSCH 8, I NEED that scratchy, AAD, raw nastiness that I ONLY heard in the Previn/EMI (only from my pool of samples, about a baker's dozen)- well, it was here and there, but I smelled some manson in the Previn.

Wigglesworth! (You usually go for the funny names, right?)

Sarge

Mr. Smartypants here guessed it right away! Previn/EMI- I heard this Symphony speak to me from, what?, 1970?71? The raw sound sent the hairs up. I mean, look, I caaan be wrong, but- fuuuuuu- as soon as I heard that salad chopper I had to change my shorts! FUUUU!!!!!!!! :oSWEEEEEET!!

Anyhow, it sounds positively creeepy, so, I can't wait! Got the Matrix issue cheap, on the way.



I think the Wigglesworth sample failed on the salad chopper. BUT WHAT OF ROZH'S OVER 7 MINUTE??? Do you have that? I figured out that if you DO play this part slow enough to a point, every single note takes on the exact same weight so that it could sound like a demonic marchine death. Maybe the Rozh does this?

Many failed on the salad chopper, but many were too fast in the 2nd mvmt, robbing it of that Ancerl festiveness. And Wigglesworth had one of the longest 1st mvmts., and with some others in that range (30mins.!!!), I dunno,... you know?

Anyhow, i'm quite proud of my choice in Previn/EMI, but, as you can see from that Timings Chart, there are a lot of interesting takes. Trust me, I was listening and reading reviews till my head hurt,- but Previn's salad chopper was a no brainer from the instant I heard it. Only, interestingly, Rodzinsky was wilder.


Anyhow, i hope someone gains something from that chart- I think it's purdy! It raises a LOT of questions, whew.

[kishnevi]

I was in fact going to guess Rodzinsky because he was
almost all in green,  and a suitable Dark Horse.  Kondrashin was all green but not a dark horse....and not cheap IIRC.

[Ken B]

yea, well THAT was no fun! ........and i'm assuming you mean the EMI? Yeeees. Wow, was that a lucky guess or is it that obvious? YES OF COURSE Previn/EMI BLEW ME BAAACK!!! with that 'salad chopper' movement!! Yea, how can I hear it 'normal' ever again???

But yea, here's another view of my method. Again, for the Prokofiev 5, a Symphony which MOSTLY strives for 'nobility', and all that classy jazz, I want that Rolls treatment, all cream and gleam. But with something like DSCH 8, I NEED that scratchy, AAD, raw nastiness that I ONLY heard in the Previn/EMI (only from my pool of samples, about a baker's dozen)- well, it was here and there, but I smelled some manson in the Previn.

Mr. Smartypants here guessed it right away! Previn/EMI- I heard this Symphony speak to me from, what?, 1970?71? The raw sound sent the hairs up. I mean, look, I caaan be wrong, but- fuuuuuu- as soon as I heard that salad chopper I had to change my shorts! FUUUU!!!!!!!! :oSWEEEEEET!!

Anyhow, it sounds positively creeepy, so, I can't wait! Got the Matrix issue cheap, on the way.



I think the Wigglesworth sample failed on the salad chopper. BUT WHAT OF ROZH'S OVER 7 MINUTE??? Do you have that? I figured out that if you DO play this part slow enough to a point, every single note takes on the exact same weight so that it could sound like a demonic marchine death. Maybe the Rozh does this?

Many failed on the salad chopper, but many were too fast in the 2nd mvmt, robbing it of that Ancerl festiveness. And Wigglesworth had one of the longest 1st mvmts., and with some others in that range (30mins.!!!), I dunno,... you know?

Anyhow, i'm quite proud of my choice in Previn/EMI, but, as you can see from that Timings Chart, there are a lot of interesting takes. Trust me, I was listening and reading reviews till my head hurt,- but Previn's salad chopper was a no brainer from the instant I heard it. Only, interestingly, Rodzinsky was wilder.


Anyhow, i hope someone gains something from that chart- I think it's purdy! It raises a LOT of questions, whew.

Once you get past the "it has to be a russian" prejudice Previn is the name on the list, russians included, most likely to give a great performance of that piece; it is right in his wheelhouse.  I have not heard any on the list but Barshai, btw.