Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996)

[lunar22]

I really enjoyed this disc and highly recommend it!  Excellent performance, great recorded sound and very finely crafted music.


https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.572752

this is my favourite symphony by my favourite symphonist after Bruckner. Lande is perhaps not the ideal interpreter as he he majors on icy chill whereas this work at least needs some sort of Romantic warmth but it's eminintly serviceable. This and no. 17 are, for me, his two greatest masterpieces, I think but the cycle is just so extraordinarily varied and rich from the Prokofiev/Shosty inspired early works to the desolate 22nd. 

[vandermolen]

this is my favourite symphony by my favourite symphonist after Bruckner. Lande is perhaps not the ideal interpreter as he he majors on icy chill whereas this work at least needs some sort of Romantic warmth but it's eminintly serviceable. This and no. 17 are, for me, his two greatest masterpieces, I think but the cycle is just so extraordinarily varied and rich from the Prokofiev/Shosty inspired early works to the desolate 22nd. 

Interesting - so far I prefer some of the earlier ones like 1,3,5 and 6 (+ the Cello Concerto). I must listen to that Naxos CD.

[lunar22]

the earlier symphonies and cello concerto are more within the Prokofiev or Shostakovich orbit but I've always particularly enjoyed no.1 which is the work which brought him to the attention of Shostakovich. No.6 -- which in Soviet times was probably his most popular and has several recordings-- is a true masterpiece. One shouldn't forget the opera "The Passenger" which is widely regarded as his greatest work.

The works he wrote after the Shosty's death are different in character and there are those who like the earlier Weinberg more than the later and vice versa.

[foxandpeng]

the earlier symphonies and cello concerto are more within the Prokofiev or Shostakovich orbit but I've always particularly enjoyed no.1 which is the work which brought him to the attention of Shostakovich. No.6 -- which in Soviet times was probably his most popular and has several recordings-- is a true masterpiece. One shouldn't forget the opera "The Passenger" which is widely regarded as his greatest work.

The works he wrote after the Shosty's death are different in character and there are those who like the earlier Weinberg more than the later and vice versa.

On my growing list of exploration. I did intend to follow with Weinberg during my recent foray into Russian composers, but got distracted. He seems popular on GMG!

[Karl Henning]

this is my favourite symphony by my favourite symphonist after Bruckner. Lande is perhaps not the ideal interpreter as he he majors on icy chill whereas this work at least needs some sort of Romantic warmth but it's eminintly serviceable. This and no. 17 are, for me, his two greatest masterpieces, I think but the cycle is just so extraordinarily varied and rich from the Prokofiev/Shosty inspired early works to the desolate 22nd. 

I greatly enjoyed revisiting this not long ago.

[vandermolen]

the earlier symphonies and cello concerto are more within the Prokofiev or Shostakovich orbit but I've always particularly enjoyed no.1 which is the work which brought him to the attention of Shostakovich. No.6 -- which in Soviet times was probably his most popular and has several recordings-- is a true masterpiece. One shouldn't forget the opera "The Passenger" which is widely regarded as his greatest work.

The works he wrote after the Shosty's death are different in character and there are those who like the earlier Weinberg more than the later and vice versa.

Interesting. I enjoy both recordings of No.1 (Northern Flowers and Chandos) and had the good fortune to see the 3rd Symphony live at the Proms a few years go.

[lunar22]

I heard Mirga Grazinta-Tyla perform no.3 a few months ago in concert with the Munich Phil. I'd always thought this was among his weakest symphonies but that performance made a strong case for it and I subsequently bought the recording (coupled to am impressive 7th)

[kyjo]

the earlier symphonies and cello concerto are more within the Prokofiev or Shostakovich orbit but I've always particularly enjoyed no.1 which is the work which brought him to the attention of Shostakovich. No.6 -- which in Soviet times was probably his most popular and has several recordings-- is a true masterpiece. One shouldn't forget the opera "The Passenger" which is widely regarded as his greatest work.

The works he wrote after the Shosty's death are different in character and there are those who like the earlier Weinberg more than the later and vice versa.

Your observation may be true overall, but I find that the beautiful Cello Concerto is very much free of either Prokofiev's or Shostakovich's influence in its soulful lyricism influenced by Weinberg's Jewish heritage.

[kyjo]

I heard Mirga Grazinta-Tyla perform no.3 a few months ago in concert with the Munich Phil. I'd always thought this was among his weakest symphonies but that performance made a strong case for it and I subsequently bought the recording (coupled to am impressive 7th)

Perhaps the 3rd isn't one of Weinberg's "greatest" symphonies, but it's certainly one of his most immediately accessible and I enjoy it very much. I'm sure many can agree that the darkly haunting 5th Symphony is one of the high points of Weinberg's oeuvre. I'm not as familiar with his later symphonies as I perhaps ought to be, but I was highly impressed by the 14th (recorded by Chandos). What are some of your favorite later symphonies of his (the 10th and onwards, say)?

[lunar22]

The 5th made a strong early impression and was certainly the first of the cycle to show a totally individual voice. My favourite symphonies are 17 and 19 from the "War trilogy", I think, although the relatively recently recorded 13 is also very powerful. I don't think any of them are negligible, though (well, I don't know 9, 11 and 15 as they still haven't been recorded). The breakthrough was actually no. 8 which I got as a present and was the catalyst to seriously explore the composer.

[Karl Henning]

I heard Mirga Grazinta-Tyla perform no.3 a few months ago in concert with the Munich Phil. I'd always thought this was among his weakest symphonies but that performance made a strong case for it and I subsequently bought the recording (coupled to am impressive 7th)

Love it!

[Roy Bland]

Belonenko A.
Mechislav Weinberg and Georgy Sviridov: the intertwining of destinies
ISMN/ISBN: 978-5-7379-1029-7

The book tells about the difficult life and creative path of two outstanding composers of the 20th century, nationally minded artists - a Jew, a native of Poland Mieczysław Weinberg and a Russian Georgy Sviridov. The author talks about their many years of friendship, outlines the dramatic historical background of their relationship, shares his thoughts on their work. The book makes extensive use of extensive historical material, including texts of archival documents and letters published for the first time. For a wide range of music lovers

[Figaro]

Any inkling of whether or when we'll ever see a recording of symphonies 9, 11 or 15? Are there bootlegs anywhere?

[lunar22]

9 and 11 have not ever been performed --the 9th symphony, based on poems by Weinberg's favourite Tuwim is supposedly fine music but for modern tastes, the inclusion of interludes featuring the Soviet role in liberating Poland may be a disadvantage, particularly for any Polish premiere. No. 11 is dedicated to Lenin and has major difficulties for the orchestra. No. 15 sets conformist revolutionary texts and the work pretty well disappeared after the premiere.

Basically, a combination of cost -- all the symphonies require large forces and choirs -- and political questionability has held them back so far. But surely eventually. I wrote David Fanning to see if there are any updates and if I get any further info, I'll post it here.

[Maestro267]

Political questionability hasn't stopped Shostakovich 2 & 3 from at least being recorded several times.

[lunar22]

yes, but less often than most of the others and most often in complete sets. Anyway, the 2nd symphony is an interesting piece -- not sure I'd say the same for no. 3

[Maestro267]

The recent posting in the thread has led me to now revisit the 8th Symphony, Polish Flowers. Very chamber-music-like in the first half. It kicks in a bit from the 6th movement.

[lunar22]

from David Fanning, it seems the best hope of a 9 or 15 was -- not so surprisingly ---with Mirga. However, she's now got three young children and, added to the pandemic, plans seem to have been shelved for the time being. Of course the UK's stupidity in leaving the EU has meant that few conductors of any calibre want to have much to do with the country any more (Rattle even took out German citizenship) as it's such a hassle travelling to and from Europe as I myself know only too well. .

[Symphonic Addict]

Lately I've been revisiting all of Weinberg's symphonies and today the turn was for the symphonies 14 and 16 on the CD below. Both masterful compositions, but the 14th had the biggest impact on me. The writing for winds in some passages is rather peculiar and sardonic; the music has a sort of schizophrenic and disturbing mood that makes it unpredictable, with unexpected turns, a work that really grabs the attention. It's well known that gloom and melancholy permeate a significant portion of his works, but on these two symphonies that feels different and eventually absorbing.

[Symphonic Addict]

This is one of the most compelling Weinberg's symphonies, so I have high expectations of this recording. Hopefully Chandos will also record his symphonies 9, 11 and 15 in due time.