Shostakovich Symphonies, Cycles & Otherwise

[North Star]

I've mislaid the Bournemouth Symphony!  I'm lost!

Oh. In that case, carry on..

[snyprrr]

Yes, everyone... Sarge... yes, that Sanderling/Cleveland is everything anyone ever said about it. I had no idea how he was going to make 20 minutes, but he did it, and I totally forgot how the piece went, his vision was so compelling. There's a Fellini-esque pall over the recording which highlights all the 'dead' sounds of the percussion, and one can hear DSCH as the plucky hero with forced clown make-up, putting on a show. I couldn't get over how 'theatrical' this performance is, making every 'voice' a character (not that others don't, buuut...), I felt like I was in some creepy TV Movie of the Week from 1971.

Obviously, Sanderling wins some kind of Award, but it's hard to say which one(s). Is it Genius, or Guts? I mean, you can try it in rehearsal, but if this is actually what you show the 'studio heads', isn't it really Guts that you have? Brass Balls! Petrenko, Caetani, and Wigglesworth are all trying things in their Cycles, but, have any of them come close to transforming any Opus the way Sanderling does here? Anyone else? Is this the most outre- well, obviously it is (maybe that really slow VC1 on Berlin comes close?)- maybe Lenny 7? Mravinsky's LandSpeedrecord?

What are some of your other favorite extreme DSCH?

Very impressed with Sanderling here- the creepy recording fits the music to a 't'. The playing is uniformly excellent. Here's is an experiment that worked! Wow!


(BUUUT!!! My Ashkenazy 9/15 yields nothing to Sanderling. The Decca sound is some of the absolute best ever; Ashkenazy plays everything 'Early Russians' fast, making it a perfect compare to Sanderling- the last movement, of course, in particular. As I was listening to Sanderling, I just couldn't imagine hoe Ashkenazy was going to fit it all under 14 minutes. I am currently touting Ashkenazy and Rostropovich as two extremely well recorded (Rosty sounds more like Sanderling) performances that have something to say at every turn. Cheap. Jarvi should arrive shortly, looking forward.)

Can't get over how Sanderling made the music so brand new to me, Bravo! That's why they call 'em 'Maestro', I guess!!

[vandermolen]

I have been really enjoying this CD. It is not nearly as 'bleak' at the start compared to nearly all other recordings I have heard but the tension builds up inexorably as the work progresses (try from 12 minutes into the second movement!) and the ending was terrifically exciting. It was interesting to hear a 'warmer' approach to Shostakovich's 11th Symphony, which to me at least related it more to the Russian symphonic tradition. Coincidentally I was watching a video of a very old BBC documentary series on the First World War recently and noticed that they were using this work as background music (along with Sinfonia Antartica by Vaughan Williams). Fantastic recording too. Performance is 57 minutes; faster than many I think but justified in Jordania's overall conception.
[asin]B000056N79[/asin]

[snyprrr]

I have been really enjoying this CD. It is not nearly as 'bleak' at the start compared to nearly all other recordings I have heard but the tension builds up inexorably as the work progresses (try from 12 minutes into the second movement!) and the ending was terrifically exciting. It was interesting to hear a 'warmer' approach to Shostakovich's 11th Symphony, which to me at least related it more to the Russian symphonic tradition. Coincidentally I was watching a video of a very old BBC documentary series on the First World War recently and noticed that they were using this work as background music (along with Sinfonia Antartica by Vaughan Williams)'. Fantastic recording too. Performance is 57 minutes; faster than many I think but justified in Jordania's overall conception.
[asin]B000056N79[/asin]

How are the dynamic level at the opening? Can one heard the harp pluck well? Does one have to play Volume Control Jockey? These are things we need to know!

[vandermolen]

How are the dynamic level at the opening? Can one heard the harp pluck well? Does one have to play Volume Control Jockey? These are things we need to know!

I was playing on a very lo-fi system in our study yesterday but I will play it again ASAP on the better system and get back to you. On the whole I found the recording to be both vivid and with considerable depth.

[snyprrr]

Ashkenazy Op.47

This was Ashkenazy's first recording with the RPO, and some have criticized its seeming tentative quality. Though the very opening is not recorded anywhere near as up front as, say, Lenny '59, the opening fits in with the reading. Otherwise, once things get going, look out! The Decca sound here can NOT be beat- just listen to the 'Largo'- everything registers with supreme hushed clarity. And the ending has some nice, biting brass.

Many like this issue as a Top Choice. I certainly recommend alongside other interpretations- use Ashkenazy as an MOR test. Rosty/DDG and Lenny '79 are on their way...

[snyprrr]

Symphony No.13
Shirley-Quirk/Shallon (Koch)

Wow!

I was really looking forward to hearing the great John Shirley-Quirk blow me away here,... yes,... wait for it... BUUUT! the Koch engineers were having none of it. What greeted me here was the lowest wattage recording I think I've ever encountered. Fury ensues from the moment music begins to whimper from your speakers, and not until JSQ begins to sing do we get any sound source near any microphone.

I have tired of 'live' recordings, never knowing who to trust and who not to trust. This new trend in the Shostakovich recordings seems to yield recordings that everyone raves about, until one gets it home and hears that dreaded 'dynamic' range that sends one to the volume knob every sixteen bars. Of course, that's not the problem here in this record:- I turned it up quite a bit and it was still a terrible modern recording. Well, that smarted..

As good as JSQ is, the recording just doesn't do justice to whatever is going on in that auditorium. (I mean, you CAN hear it and all, but you will not be happy)

[snyprrr]

Is there one as good as Previn EMI  but just in the Most Modern Sound? It's really good

[snyprrr]

Wow, my attempt at replacing Haitink's 13th has been met with the fiercest resistance by Benny and the Hets!- with Marius Rintzler holding up very nicely against all odds. So, I had really high expectations for Solti (and masur's on his way to the ring) and they were immediately demolished by that confounding 'ppp' opening that only Haitink seems to... ... overplay... oy veeey...

So, Solti's acoustic is much much tighter than Haintink's wonderful mausoleum of stone and bell. The chorus comes in at an acceptable level, but, because there's no acoustic, well, there's no 'It'. And, then, the introduction of Aleksashkin that I'd been anticipating- uh, well, Rintzler's just as good, and doesn't have that deep vibrato thing that a lot of these guys have.

So, I did NOT make it very far into the Solti before I put Haitink back on in disgust. So, Masur, you're next! We're waiting...


Maybe I'm just used to this Haitink- or maybe it just has the best opening?

[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

[aukhawk]

Again, Caetani the speed demon has lengthy applause ending the final movement - the timing to end of music is 12:20

[snyprrr]

Again, Caetani the speed demon has lengthy applause ending the final movement - the timing to end of music is 12:20

check


So, IS there any viable alternative to Haitink in the 8th? I'm most curious about Jansons, Bychkov/Philips, Gergiev/Philips- I REMEMBER when Haitink was the shizzle, and then all these other 8ths came out (I thought Bychkov got raves at the time?) and I couldn't keep up with whether Haitink had been displaced or not. According to just about EVERYONE, Haitink has NOT been replaced. Anyone?

[vandermolen]

check


So, IS there any viable alternative to Haitink in the 8th? I'm most curious about Jansons, Bychkov/Philips, Gergiev/Philips- I REMEMBER when Haitink was the shizzle, and then all these other 8ths came out (I thought Bychkov got raves at the time?) and I couldn't keep up with whether Haitink had been displaced or not. According to just about EVERYONE, Haitink has NOT been replaced. Anyone?

I would say that the Previn EMI (not DGG) version is as good and there is a great historic Mravinsky version too.

[snyprrr]

I would say that the Previn EMI (not DGG) version is as good and there is a great historic Mravinsky version too.

Previn/EMI & Haitink it is.

The Haitink WAS the Very.First.Classical. I ever heard, and here we come full circle! (so, obviously those first notes made a Heavy Metal Impact!)

[snyprrr]

jUST GAVE MASUR 13 THE 2 MINUTE TEST

Aye aye aye- HAITINK WINS AGAIN!!- what is up with all these Super Star versions that just can't match Haitink's engineering in the opening? Most all are SO quite one can't hear the opening bell. wtf???

Solti was ok, but the acoustic didn't bloom.

Masur was ok, but there was something- I will check again.


WHAT IS THIS ARGUMENT that Haitink is so draggy here? I guess I'm used to it, because that opening can't seem to be matched by anyone (Kamu's good, but then the choir is just a tad recessed).


So, I thought that either Solti or Masur would do the job and now I am left believing that this Haitink might be one of the All-Time Best Recordings Ever? (look, I can't afford Maxim/Supraphon at the moment)-

AND THE SINGERS??? Sorry, but I was shocked. I thought 'Authentic Russian Basses' would be a revelation, BUT, SHOCKINGLY I prefer Rintzler to both Aleksashkin (Solti) or Lieferkus (Masur). Both have this giant wobble thing that is missing from the tighter Rintzler. STOROJEV, singing for Kamu (Chandos) DOES have the good 'It Factor' and handily beat Rintzler, but, again, I was disappointed at the recessed choir entry (and yes, that WILL ruin for Mr. Picky Pants!).

I MEAN- WTF?

I really liked Mikaulas(?) in Slovak's 14 (Naxos) and I just wonder if that 13th will have all the other ingredients? (there is no wild consensus here, so, I doubt that there will be much surprise)-



Anyhow, ALL HAIL ST. HAITINK IN THE 13TH!! (yes, Virginia, he's not as bad as you thought)


There is an Amazon Reviewer who says, about the Sondeckis/SONY: "Finally we have one to replace Haitink." But I heard another word that said not quite.


Anyhow, I think I'm done with the 13th. No one is making me feel the way Haitink does at the chilling opening. (sounds like 'Castle Music' from Wiz/Oz).

[snyprrr]

This is how the DSCH Library has come along since we started this a few months ago:


1- Lenny1
    Lenny2

2

3                             

4- Jarvi
    Rostropovich- I like both, but Rosty's rec. is a little cleaner (as we all know)



5- Lenny59(library)- this one is hottt!!
    Lenny79
    Ashkenazy
    RostropovichDDG
    Mackerras'live'BBC

6- Lenny1(SONY)

7- Lenny2(DDG)

8- Previn73
    Haitink

9- Ashkenazy (w/15- I didn't get this specifically, but it's pretty tight, still- looking for more)      Inbal(library)        Lenny59(library)

10- Karajan82(that I've had forever)
      Litton/Virgin
      Shipway(BBC)
      A.Davis(EMI)



11- Stokowski(that I've had forever)

12



13- Haitink(that I've had forever)
      Masur
      Solti
     Shallon (Koch)

14- Haitink
      Jarvi
      Lazarev(Virgin)
      Slovak
     Rostropovich
     Inbal

15- Sanderlin/Cleveland
      Ashkenazy
      Jansons
      Solti
      Rostropovich
      Jarvi



Obviously still lots of work to be done. Waddaya think?

[vandermolen]

Interesting list. I would add Kondrashin for No. 4 (premiere recording on Melodiya), Previn is also excellent in No. 4 with the Chicago SO. My favourite No. 15 was my old LP with Maxim Shostakovich conducting on EMI/Melodiya which has unbelievably never been released on CD. I have an extraordinary CD of Symphony No 10 with Rozhdestvensky conducting in London on the day in 1968 when the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia. The performance begins in the most extraordinary way with members of the audience shouting out angry protests 'Go Home!' etc. The way in which the opening of Shostakovich's 10th Symphony emerges from the turmoil is quite extraordinary.

[snyprrr]

Interesting list. I would add Kondrashin for No. 4 (premiere recording on Melodiya), Previn is also excellent in No. 4 with the Chicago SO. My favourite No. 15 was my old LP with Maxim Shostakovich conducting on EMI/Melodiya which has unbelievably never been released on CD. I have an extraordinary CD of Symphony No 10 with Rozhdestvensky conducting in London on the day in 1968 when the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia. The performance begins in the most extraordinary way with members of the audience shouting out angry protests 'Go Home!' etc. The way in which the opening of Shostakovich's 10th Symphony emerges from the turmoil is quite extraordinary.

Yea, there's a lot of good stuff that's either 'Not', or is too $$$, or is out of my reach for whatever reason. But, thankfully, some of the TopChoices are available pretty cheap!


So, I finally listened to Symphony No.7 for the FIRST TIME! ever... well, it sure starts off in a different mood than other things, but it soon sounds like Shosty. I was listening to Barshai on YT, and a bit of the Lenny DDG, and, I don't think I'd have a problem with Lenny here- I don't think I'd want a 'sober' performance of this. Anyhow, 7's a bit different but still a lot like the propaganda music. 8 is more like the absolute music. (6 too)

I also listen to the first two sections of Mavrinsky's 12th- also my first here, and, it's more appealing than 3, at least. Now i only have 2 left.

[vandermolen]

By the way there is a really good CD coupling Shostakovich Symphony No.5 (Mravinsky) with Miaskovsky Symphony 15 (Kondrashin). One comparative survey I read claimed that it was the best performance of the Shostakovich and also it is a great introduction to Miaskovsky. It is also very inexpensive on Amazon.com.

[Karl Henning]

By the way there is a really good CD coupling Shostakovich Symphony No.5 (Mravinsky) with Miaskovsky Symphony 15 (Kondrashin). One comparative survey I read claimed that it was the best performance of the Shostakovich and also it is a great introduction to Miaskovsky. It is also very inexpensive on Amazon.com.

What, no link?!