Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

[greg]

I am holding out hope that one day i will snag that 4th with rozh. I know its the 'real deal" and a  bargain at $65/amazon.

wow, calling any CD that's $65 a bargain seems crazy........ though of course, i kinda know what you're talking about, since certain obscure CDs can have a REALLY crazy price tag, and $65 can seem like nothing in comparison.

[not edward]

I've not heard Kagan in the 3rd concerto, but I don't tend to find Kremer the most convincing interpreter of Schnittke.

For example, in every piece where I've heard both Kremer and Lubotsky, I prefer the latter.

[paulb]

wow, calling any CD that's $65 a bargain seems crazy........ though of course, i kinda know what you're talking about, since certain obscure CDs can have a REALLY crazy price tag, and $65 can seem like nothing in comparison.

Considering the 4th is the most incredible of that cycle and is the only vc i know that even closely approches the Pettersson 2nd vc. Its a  real stunner the 4th.

Edward, to me Kremer is not second to even  the greatest of all violinists. of course you should know who i am refering to.
Kremer does the finest recording of Bach's solo violin, in fact if you can believe Kremer nailed it twice, 9 yrs apart. Only that other violinist posessed that level of talent.

I'll go to my collection see f I have the Lubotsky on another Schnittke work with violin/BIS label.
Its possible what you say, I'm all open for other approaches other than Kremer.
thanks for the tip, on my to order list today.

[karlhenning]

Kremer is not a venue (except, perhaps, to a fungus, e.g.)

[bhodges]

Kremer is not a venue (except, perhaps, to a fungus, e.g.)

   

--Bruce

[paulb]

I've not heard Kagan in the 3rd concerto, but I don't tend to find Kremer the most convincing interpreter of Schnittke.

For example, in every piece where I've heard both Kremer and Lubotsky, I prefer the latter.

I'm abit confused. ust got back from amazon and arkiv, did not see the 4th/Lubotsky.
OOP? Post a  link.
I;'m really after the 4th, as its the one most impressive..
though this 3rd with Kagan seems to have struck a  chord, its great.
As i mentioned its possible the backup for Kremer on the Warner may not have been up to the task, which caused me to sell it. I clearly recall Kremer in the 4th as doing some very remarkable things, and now regret selling the set.

[paulb]

Kremer is not a venue (except, perhaps, to a fungus, e.g.)

Get back over to UR Tchaikovsky forum

[paulb]

Varg
here's some links to Schnittke

http://www.classiccat.net/schnittke_a/biography.htm

Try this Requiem and has concerto for piano and strings

http://www.amazon.com/Schnittke-Piano-Concerto-Requiem-Alfred/dp/B000000B1R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1202854444&sr=1-1


You mentioned how I like the 8th, that you have some *issues* with it.

I am guessing you have the Polyansky/Chandos.
Its rare that there are 2 recordings of the syms, but in the case, we have 2 recordings of the 8th, BOTH ON CHANDOS.

I actually dida   comparison the other day and found that i prefered the Rozhdestvensky/Chandos.
though all of Polyansky's Chandos of schnittke is quite good, i gave the nod to rozhdestvensky.
There is enough ofa   difference in the 2 which may alter your perception of the work.

But as i said, there is no easy road to Schnittke, each man must forge his own path that leads to the composer.
I have found that path and still the music never ceases to amaze me.

Let me know how you are doing with Schnittke. Each work is quite different, yet there is always that unique signature of Schnittke in all his works.
Nothing easy about Schnittke, the most difficult challenge from any composer.

[Danny]

Schnittke appears popular in film these days: Volker Schlöndorff's Der Neunte Tag makes considerable use of the First Cello Concerto and First Concerto Grosso.

He also composed the wonderful score to Askoldov's Commisar. 

Lately I've grown to really love the String Trio and Concerto for Three, with the Cello Concerto. 

[bhodges]

Danny, which recording of the String Trio are you listening to?  I think I have just one and could use another.

--Bruce

[Danny]

Danny, which recording of the String Trio are you listening to?  I think I have just one and could use another.

--Bruce

Right here, my friend:

http://www.amazon.com/Schnittke-String-Concerto-Three-Minuet/dp/B000002RW8

Hope you don't already have it!   

[paulb]

I'll have to get with the guy who wrote to me asking for a  copy of the Rachmaninov Vespers/1965/Svechnikov.
I told him the cd is very worn and i have to figure out how to use my cd burner on my computer.
He says he has heard all the russian recordings, except the 1965 Svechnikov and that hopes to hear that work in its full potential. I told him he reads scores very well, he is correct, not sure how he can read the nuances . He says he is able.

In exchange I will request that he look over Schnittke's scores to the Requiem and Choir Concerto, see if he hears what i hear, that there is more potential in both works.
Also if he could look over the score to Penitential Psalms and compre it to the Swedish Radio Choir.
I know there's much more to be had from that powerful work, as one amazon reviewer heard live the PS and found the Swedish to come up short.

Comments?

Greg, you never told me which 8th you have.
Polyanky or Rozhdestvensky?

[not edward]

There's also an 8th on BIS with Lu Jia conducting some minor orchestra, but I couldn't recommend it over Rozhdestvensky or Polyansky, both of whom have better orchestras and invest the piece with more colour and tension. Jia's performance seems more like a competent run-through than anything, though it scores heavily in having the only performances of For Liverpool and the interesting Symphonic Prelude.

[paulb]

There's also an 8th on BIS with Lu Jia conducting some minor orchestra, but I couldn't recommend it over Rozhdestvensky or Polyansky, both of whom have better orchestras and invest the piece with more colour and tension. Jia's performance seems more like a competent run-through than anything, though it scores heavily in having the only performances of For Liverpool and the interesting Symphonic Prelude.

The BIS series of Schnittke has some great recordings, others , like the one you mention , fair.
There's much to explore in Schnittke, each work a  masterpiece and so much a  masterpiece that each work could/should  require its own individual topic, much as the Beethovenians with his works.


Now this is addressed to the several Schnittkeian s we have on the forum.
Is there any among you who do not like the Requiem?
Not sure how to properly pose this question, but does atheism get in the way of absorbing, being impacted by  the 3 major scared works of Schnittke?
Once beinga  big fan of the Rachmaninov Vespers, a  work i listened to all the time, find the Schnittke sacred works to go even further in this field. And this opinion is based on the fact that i have the Vespers/Svechnikov/1965/USSR Chorus, which until you hear that recording, you have not heard the Vespers.
This ties in with my statement that  I find Schnittke syms more appealing from first note to last than the Shostakovich's. Shostakovich to me writes froma   motive of reflecting more the russian perdictiment, more objective, vs Schnittke's personal experience.
As i made my opinion known before, that Schnittke is like unto Mozart, ina   category all his own. Comparable to none. Though more well known than Pettersson, still relatively *a unknown composer*

The Iconoclast 
as per Karl's request that I sign so, not to lead any newbies unwittingly astray.

[vandermolen]

Really enjoyed his newly released "Symphony 0" (BIS). Uncharacteristic, but showing assimilated influence of Myaskovsky and Shostakovich.

[Maciek]

Ah, been a while since I listened to any good ol' Schnookey... Time to revisit.






Egad? What? I am actually the one who started this thread?? Mind-boggling. But nice.

[bhodges]

Ah, been a while since I listened to any good ol' Schnookey... Time to revisit.






Egad? What? I am actually the one who started this thread?? Mind-boggling. But nice.

Just listened to the first Concerto Grosso yesterday...still an amazing piece, after all these years.

--Bruce

[greg]

Just listened to the first Concerto Grosso yesterday...still an amazing piece, after all these years.

--Bruce

After all, if it all of a suddens stops being amazing, there's something seriously wrong, isn't there? 

[The Emperor]

Been listening to Schnittke a lot lately, just listened to the Requiem for the first time  breathtaking, simply fabulous!

[Guido]

Listened again to Schnittke's Choir Concerto today. Like nothing else I have heard by him. Utterly beautiful - the only other thing I can think of that is as beautiful is Silvestrov's Testament and Lord's prayer - thankyou to the person who introduced me to both.