Shostakovich Symphony 8

ezodisy · May 25, 2008, 03:38:39 AM

Quote from: Lilas Pastia on May 24, 2008, 07:14:08 AM
I personally prefer it to Mrawinsky, which in the end always leaves me with a certain feeling of unease. Granted, it's jaw-droppingly played, but I feel beaten to pulp and left cold on the ground.

call me old fashioned but I always thought that the symphony was meant to leave you beaten to pulp and left cold on the ground. This idea of 'compassion for human suffering' never occured to me here, and any recording which left me feeling anything less than empty and exhausted seemed not quite worth it. I've got a live Kondrashin recording somewhere which I'll try to upload

Peregrine · May 25, 2008, 07:03:03 AM

Quote from: ezodisy on May 25, 2008, 03:38:39 AM
I've got a live Kondrashin recording somewhere which I'll try to upload

Do it now!.....please

ezodisy · May 25, 2008, 11:23:18 AM

Quote from: Peregrine on May 25, 2008, 07:03:03 AM
Do it now!.....please

will try to do it tomorrow. There's a very interesting and I think accurate review of the performance here.

http://www.dschjournal.com/reviews/rvs21op65.htm

Those who know and like his studio recording might in particular be interested in this live one.

Lilas Pastia · May 25, 2008, 01:14:44 PM

Sounds like quite an experience! Will certainly download

One that is recommended by those who know it (not me) is the savagely brutal Rodzinski. Anyone heard that?

ragman1970 · May 27, 2008, 08:45:05 AM

Quote from: Drasko on May 22, 2008, 11:15:01 AM

this is a recording of the first live performance done UK as far as I know.
And this is one of the recordings worth to buy

vandermolen · May 27, 2008, 11:01:55 AM

Quote from: Lilas Pastia on May 25, 2008, 01:14:44 PM
Sounds like quite an experience! Will certainly download

One that is recommended by those who know it (not me) is the savagely brutal Rodzinski. Anyone heard that?

Yes, am playing it now. A terrific performance (NYPO 1944) spread over two discs with 5th Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Ist Piano Concerto and 1812 Overture. On Archipel Records. Murky recording but fantastic performance. Not much "compassion for suffering humanity" here. Very slow and shot through with lowering darkness rather than compassion. Maybe a recording for those suffering from overfamiliarity with Shostakovich's 8th Symphony.

Drasko · May 28, 2008, 08:48:21 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on May 27, 2008, 11:01:55 AM
Yes, am playing it now. A terrific performance (NYPO 1944) spread over two discs with 5th Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Ist Piano Concerto and 1812 Overture. On Archipel Records.

Also available as budged priced single on Guild.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//GHCD2322.htm

ezodisy · May 28, 2008, 10:15:12 AM

Quote from: Peregrine on May 25, 2008, 07:03:03 AM
Do it now!.....please

QuoteSounds like quite an experience! Will certainly download

sorry but I can't find the CD. I don't know where it is but I do know that my memory is getting worse and worse. If it turns up I will post a link here.

vandermolen · May 28, 2008, 11:36:58 AM

I am listening to the earlier Previn LSO recording, just come out at budget price on EMI. The digital remastering is excellent and it sounds better than ever.

vandermolen · May 28, 2008, 11:40:32 AM

Quote from: Drasko on May 28, 2008, 08:48:21 AM
Also available as budged priced single on Guild.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//GHCD2322.htm

Thank you. The version I have seems to be deleted now.

karlhenning · May 28, 2008, 11:46:34 AM

Quote"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." (Churchill)

Brilliant!

Sergeant Rock · May 28, 2008, 01:06:54 PM

Odd...the Eighth is one of my three favorite Shostakovich symphonies (along with 4 and 15) but I don't have a favorite among the versions I own. Probably because each is satisfying in its own way. I think I'll play them all over the next few days to see if one rises above the rest. Starting with Barshai, the latest addition to the collection.

Sarge

alkan · June 02, 2008, 02:58:14 AM

KONDRASHINE and the Moscow PO !!!!

But I have a shameful confession to make ...... I usually only listen to the 2nd and 3rd mvmts !!!

The 2nd mvmt is a nice appetizer. A kind of grotesque circus parade which Kondrashine and the orchestra really make the most of. But whenever I need a shot of adrenaline, the 3rd mvmt allegro never fails to thrill. It's absolutely gripping, starting from the slashing rhythm set by the lower strings and the way its harmony is screwed up and up, spilling over into one climax, then another, .... Then the motor rhythm switches and we are treated to a quite fantastic trumpet solo. The Leningrad trumpeter lets himself go completely, along with the rest of the brass section, and the result is mindblowing. I don't know how much vodka he drunk, but I think only Russians can play this way. Then back to the original rhythm, which totters ever-closer to the edge and eventually goes over into a colossal climax dominated by a pounding tam-tam. I've heard several versions of the 8th where the timpani is played fairly tamely (eg Previn) With Kondrashine it hits you straight between the eyes. It's like a monstrous machine running out of control ..... No wonder the whole lot goes nuclear, explodes and disintegrates, leaving the final movement to pick up what it can of the charred bits and pieces .....

I also have the Sanderling version of the 8th, which is pretty good too, and in much better sound. He offers a great 2nd mvmt scherzo and the 3rd mvmt is pretty good too, but without the savage power of Kondrashin.

ezodisy · June 02, 2008, 05:05:59 AM

Quote from: alkan on June 02, 2008, 02:58:14 AM
With Kondrashine it hits you straight between the eyes.

man you should hear the live performance from Japan, it's even more intense and considerably faster

http://develp.envi.osakafu-u.ac.jp/staff/kudo/dsch/work/sym8e.html

karlhenning · June 02, 2008, 05:09:09 AM

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 28, 2008, 01:06:54 PM
Odd...the Eighth is one of my three favorite Shostakovich symphonies (along with 4 and 15) but I don't have a favorite among the versions I own. Probably because each is satisfying in its own way.

Hear, hear, Sarge.

alkan · June 02, 2008, 07:24:58 AM

Ezodizy, which one are you referring to?
Your link has 2 live performances ?

What's the sound quality like?

Thanks

ezodisy · June 02, 2008, 01:15:14 PM

Quote from: alkan on June 02, 2008, 07:24:58 AM
Ezodizy, which one are you referring to?
Your link has 2 live performances ?

What's the sound quality like?

Thanks

The Altus is from Japan -- cavernous acoustic, some instruments recessed to inaudibility, timpani very much to the fore, climaxes are shocking, huge and ear-splitting (as the review above says). The later live recording is from Prague and is quite remarkable for what I considered a very natural acoustic and a pleasure to hear. Unlike the person who runs the site I would slightly favour the earlier recording, though there's not much between them really. If I manage to find the Altus recording among my CDs I will upload the whole thing.

vandermolen · June 02, 2008, 11:11:58 PM

Quote from: karlhenning on May 28, 2008, 11:46:34 AM
Brilliant!

Thank you Karl!

alkan · June 03, 2008, 02:24:24 AM

I would love to hear the upload ....
Thanks