Your Four Favorite Shostakovich Symphonies

[karlhenning]

For some of us, this is no easier than The Hard Beethoven Decisions nearby :-)

[bhodges]

   I feel so bad, having to omit 7 and 8, but there you go. 

(Favorites: 4, 6, 10, 11.)

--Bruce

[The new erato]

4, 8, 14, 15

[Sergeant Rock]

For some of us, this is no easier than The Hard Beethoven Decisions nearby :-)

No, it isn't. Actually, for me, it's harder. My four plus today's preferred performances of each:

15 - Sanderling/Cleveland
4 -  Previn/Chicago
14 - Jansons/SOBR
8 -  Haitink/Concertgebouw


Sarge

[david johnson]

5, 7, 10

[Sergeant Rock]

4, 8, 14, 15

Really, Erato, I wasn't peeking over your shoulder as you wrote down your answers 

Sarge

[karlhenning]

As preamble, the symphonies which it (especially) pained me to omit (chronological order):  Nos. 5, 6, 7, 9 & 15

My votes:  Nos. 4, 10, 8 & 14

[Sergeant Rock]

5, 7, 10

One more, David. Come on , dude, go for it!

Sarge

[Don]

5-8-10-15

[Cato]

I can still recall a hot summer day in 1966 or maybe 1967, and I had just found a new DGG record at the library of the Shostakovich Tenth Symphony conducted by Herbert von Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic.  I have read opinions that this one beats his later version.

This is my #1 favorite, followed by the last 3.
Although little old #1 does have its appeal!

[orbital]

5, 10, 11, 13 although I could go on without any of them as long as SQ's are there 

[karlhenning]

5, 10, 11, 13 although I could go on without any of them as long as SQ's are there 

All right, buster, ten minutes Time Out! 

[AB68]

 
5-8-10-15

[from the new world]

5, 8, 11, 13 although I could go on without any of them as long as SQ's are there 

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps a thread like this for quartets instead of symphonies?

[bhodges]

I can still recall a hot summer day in 1966 or maybe 1967, and I had just found a new DGG record at the library of the Shostakovich Tenth Symphony conducted by Herbert von Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic.  I have read opinions that this one beats his later version.

As good as the later one is (and it's great) I like the earlier one better, by a small margin.  It feels slightly edgier and out of control...and very exciting.  It's also earlier in the Karajan/Berlin partnership and their musicmaking overall seems fresher.

--Bruce

[Cato]

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps a thread like this for quartets instead of symphonies?

Can Barshai's chamber orchestra arrangement of the String Quartet #8  count as a Symphony #16?

I would vote for that!

[AnthonyAthletic]

11 in G Minor '1905', Op.103
05 in D Minor, Op.47
08 in C Minor, Op.65
07 in C Major 'Leningrad', Op.60

11th on a personal level, being the most descriptive piece of music I have ever heard.  The hazy almost silence, the calm, the anxiety, the attack, the aftermath...outstanding.

[springrite]

I voted 11, 5, 13, 10, in that order.

[springrite]

5, 10, 11, 13 although I could go on without any of them as long as SQ's are there 

Wow, great minds do think alike. 

[karlhenning]

11th on a personal level, being the most descriptive piece of music I have ever heard.  The hazy almost silence, the calm, the anxiety, the attack, the aftermath...outstanding.

Maksim Dmitriyevich's account is closing the sale on this one for me, Tony!