Well, I really like this music, which seems witty and lively, and I have only one recording -- Elisso Virsaladze. Has anyone else done anything interesting with it on record?
I am barely familiar with the music but the young Mustonen recorded them (Decca, 1990s, with Alkan, I think) and he is usually interesting.
There seems to be a version for violin and piano too, not sure whether both were penned by DSCH,
Just taking random samples from recordings streaming is pretty disheartening, because either they play down the acerbic wit and add kiss curls and curlicues, which kills it, or they just produce something utterly dry, monochrome and boring. Maybe Virsaladze is as good as it gets.
Vitaly Katajev may be worth pursuing, maybe not.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODAyMTc5MS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MzAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
Quote from: Jo498 on July 06, 2021, 08:11:59 AM
I am barely familiar with the music but the young Mustonen recorded them (Decca, 1990s, with Alkan, I think) and he is usually interesting.
I have that in the Decca Shostakovich Chamber Music box. I should give it a listen at last. Come to poke around, I've also got Margarete Babinsky, so I could do a comparison.
Scherbakov and Mustonen are the two I'm most familiar with. Brian mentioned Andrey Gugnin in another thread, this is the most "modern, detached" version I've heard, maybe this is like Roger Woodward given the descriptions of his Op. 87 in the other thread.
Here's Koroliov
https://www.youtube.com/v/9dF9BP6nuAE&ab_channel=incontrariomotu
Quote from: hvbias on July 06, 2021, 11:26:38 AM
Scherbakov and Mustonen are the two I'm most familiar with. Brian mentioned Andrey Gugnin in another thread, this is the most "modern, detached" version I've heard, maybe this is like Roger Woodward given the descriptions of his Op. 87 in the other thread.
Where is the Gugnin?
No.15 in D flat may be familiar to UK members of a certain generation, as the title music to the BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 06, 2021, 01:34:03 PM
Where is the Gugnin?
It's on Hyperion so presumably not very easy to hear online, send me a PM if you'd like.
Quote from: hvbias on July 06, 2021, 03:30:37 PM
It's on Hyperion so presumably not very easy to hear online, send me a PM if you'd like.
Coincidently, I bought that recording today. 8) Looking forward to hearing it.
Quote from: hvbias on July 06, 2021, 03:30:37 PM
It's on Hyperion so presumably not very easy to hear online, send me a PM if you'd like.
I've managed to hear it now. I'm starting to think that I had stumbled on the best by accident with Virssaladze.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 07, 2021, 07:43:01 AM
I've managed to hear it now. I'm starting to think that I had stumbled on the best by accident with Virssaladze.
How does one hear this? I see one on Youtube, but then two other pianists are credited in the extras section.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 06, 2021, 09:16:00 AM
There seems to be a version for violin and piano too, not sure whether both were penned by DSCH,
The arrangement was not by Shostakovich. It's a combination of arrangements by Dmitri Tsyganov and Lera Auerbach.
Quote from: hvbias on July 14, 2021, 02:00:53 PM
How does one hear this? I see one on Youtube, but then two other pianists are credited in the extras section.
One buys the CD
https://live-classics.com/shop/liszt-mephisto-waltz-no-1-sonetto-104-di-petrarca-shostakovich-24-preludes-op-34-lisztgounod-waltz-from-faust-milan-1995-2001/
or one listens to the stream here
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y53BkOqKhI&list=OLAK5uy_l8UAgMsJKmcZB-5jrgF_LD0hfKAIAPaGk
(I think it is excellent, I hope you try it.)
Quote from: Mandryka on July 15, 2021, 06:14:22 AM
One buys the CD
https://live-classics.com/shop/liszt-mephisto-waltz-no-1-sonetto-104-di-petrarca-shostakovich-24-preludes-op-34-lisztgounod-waltz-from-faust-milan-1995-2001/
or one listens to the stream here
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y53BkOqKhI&list=OLAK5uy_l8UAgMsJKmcZB-5jrgF_LD0hfKAIAPaGk
(I think it is excellent, I hope you try it.)
Region locked just like on Spotify and Qobuz
(https://i.imgur.com/fiY9Heq.jpg)
Then download a free vpn, I use windscribe.
Here is a link that doesn't require a VPN, performance is identical to the one you linked in the music.youtube one, initially I wasn't sure because Youtube credits two other pianists: https://youtu.be/30gJoDUYuns
She's interesting, at times makes the music sound more like Chopin than Shostakovich. I think Olli has all those qualities you mentioned in the OP except for maybe lively as his is a more cool approach.
I still haven't heard Mustonen -- I will do something about that!
Mustonen makes them into a hotchpotch, a rag bag of unconnected pieces of music, Elisso makes them flow and cohere. I wondered why Elisso is one track, now I know: it's part of her conception. Mustonen's touch is more brittle.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 16, 2021, 08:08:44 PM
Mustonen makes them into a hotchpotch, a rag bag of unconnected pieces of music, Elisso makes them flow and cohere. I wondered why Elisso is one track, now I know: it's part of her conception. Mustonen's touch is more brittle.
Okay, now you're definitely making me want to listen to other performances. I only have Mustonen (not that I know even that recording very well at all yet).
I should probably try Weichert for starters...
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 06, 2021, 10:34:42 AM
I have that in the Decca Shostakovich Chamber Music box. I should give it a listen at last. Come to poke around, I've also got Margarete Babinsky, so I could do a comparison.
Karl can you say if this was supposed to come with a booklet? I found a really cheap copy, mostly interested in hearing Ashkenazy's Op. 87 but there was no booklet.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 16, 2021, 08:08:44 PM
Mustonen makes them into a hotchpotch, a rag bag of unconnected pieces of music, Elisso makes them flow and cohere. I wondered why Elisso is one track, now I know: it's part of her conception. Mustonen's touch is more brittle.
I did end up ordering the CD after a second listen. They're interesting for sure, I thought they might have been slightly too eccentric on first listen.
Edit: I can't say I'll be too fond of it being a single track. It's possible to index them while keeping it gapless.
Quote from: hvbias on July 17, 2021, 09:02:10 AM
I did end up ordering the CD after a second listen. They're interesting for sure, I thought they might have been slightly too eccentric on first listen.
Edit: I can't say I'll be too fond of it being a single track. It's possible to index them while keeping it gapless.
My advantage, or disadvantage, is that I don't know enough about Shostakovich to know what's eccentric and what isn't!
Quote from: hvbias on July 17, 2021, 09:01:04 AM
Karl can you say if this was supposed to come with a booklet? I found a really cheap copy, mostly interested in hearing Ashkenazy's Op. 87 but there was no booklet.
Mine came with no booklet.
Quote from: hvbias on July 17, 2021, 09:02:10 AM
I did end up ordering the CD after a second listen. They're interesting for sure, I thought they might have been slightly too eccentric on first listen.
Edit: I can't say I'll be too fond of it being a single track. It's possible to index them while keeping it gapless.
Shostakovich wrote the
Opus 34 in 1932 & 33, a nervy, uncertain time for Soviet artists. Brittle is arguably a valid tack. Approaching the Opus 34 through the lens of the
Opus 87, arguably anachronistic. Of course the musical result of the performance will put the case.
Quote from: hvbias on July 17, 2021, 09:01:04 AM
Karl can you say if this was supposed to come with a booklet? I found a really cheap copy, mostly interested in hearing Ashkenazy's Op. 87 but there was no booklet.
Decca put a booklet in all of their Shostakovich reissue box sets. I think there were like three boxes in total? I can't remember, but, yes, there are booklets in all of these sets.
Quote from: Mirror Image on July 27, 2021, 12:01:55 PM
Decca put a booklet in all of their Shostakovich reissue box sets. I think there were like three boxes in total? I can't remember, but, yes, there are booklets in all of these sets.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 18, 2021, 08:36:57 AM
Mine came with no booklet.
Thanks guys, turns out my question was moot; the seller slapped a shipping label on the box itself with some sort of permanent glue and the postal service pretty much destroyed it.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 18, 2021, 08:36:57 AM
Mine came with no booklet.
That's the 5 CD Decca set, right? A booklet in mine.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91JysWaYJuL._SS500_.jpg)
Quote from: Todd on September 06, 2021, 05:53:26 AM
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91JysWaYJuL._SS500_.jpg)
Very good, thanks for mentioning. Very well recorded too, and he can do timbre, which is nice when it's caught so beautifully. I kept thinking it would be nice to hear him do Schumann, it's as if he brings out the contrasting Florestan and Eusebius in these preludes.
Why can't all piano recordings sound as good as this?!
This one seems sweet
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODc5NzQ4NC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1OTQ4MjA5NjF9)
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8797484--ricercata
(https://i.discogs.com/BQwlB7x1SVfYoqjvptTw-yeNvnmreTtr-8a_t7Ecs3g/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:350/w:350/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTMzNTk2/MTItMTMyNzI2NzM4/MC5qcGVn.jpeg)
This is worth your time when you're in the mood. Polina Osetinskaya.
Quote from: Mandryka on January 25, 2023, 12:22:07 PM(https://i.discogs.com/BQwlB7x1SVfYoqjvptTw-yeNvnmreTtr-8a_t7Ecs3g/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:350/w:350/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTMzNTk2/MTItMTMyNzI2NzM4/MC5qcGVn.jpeg)
This is worth your time when you're in the mood. Polina Osetinskaya.
Oblique, sick and thrillfull. Gorgeous. Sometimes her rhythm is a little similar to Weichert, but Polina has a lot more nuances and shadows. I think in contrast, Koroliov and Berman are on the lyrical side.
The recording by Elena Varvarova was not well-received, but somehow I like some of her interpretations.
I don't think I'd ever be in the mood for such a cranky-looking cover. Really playing up the Shostakovich misery there.
I briefly checked the albums below. They all sound good, especially Petrushansky and Marshev. Still Polina remains my favorite.
(https://cdn.prs.net/cov/f9/1c/f91c373dc6f0b20a45cef17cde78358a_700.jpg)
(https://cdn.prs.net/cov/71/fe/71fe9daf8a4ed588b2c9f8bc877e531d_700.jpg)
(https://cdn.prs.net/cov/0d/c5/0dc54fcedb5c4ee64289bcd04a4a552d_700.jpg)
(https://cdn.prs.net/cov/f9/6d/f96d690e6fede2987c24c60153aaf923_700.jpg)
No love for Elena Rozanova's version? I quite like it, it's poetic; but I haven't heard other versions recently.
Quote from: Verena on January 29, 2023, 06:46:51 AMNo love for Elena Rozanova's version? I quite like it, it's poetic; but I haven't heard other versions recently.
Will check. Classics Today gave 3/10 rating. It must be a good recording. 😄
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on January 29, 2023, 07:50:42 AMWill check. Classics Today gave 3/10 rating. It must be a good recording. 😄
Yes, I've seen that ;D . Can't be that bad indeed ;D Incidentally, I think the recording got high/highest ratings in some other well-known magazines. Gramophone on the other hand wasn't too impressed either.
I'm curious what you think of her interpretation.
Quote from: Verena on January 29, 2023, 06:46:51 AMNo love for Elena Rozanova's version? I quite like it, it's poetic; but I haven't heard other versions recently.
Well I for one prefer it to Osetinskaya's - because of the impish lightness she can do so well. Did the bad review have anything interesting to say?
Osetinskaya is a bit too heavy and perfumed for me.
Quote from: Mandryka on January 29, 2023, 08:49:55 AMWell I for one prefer it to Osetinskaya's - because of the impish lightness she can do so well. Did the bad review have anything interesting to say?
Osetinskaya is a bit too heavy and perfumed for me.
Not too interesting overall. I don't agree with the Gramophone reviewer who thinks that she is expressive but lays it one with a trowel as it were. Distler from Classics Today is actually rather positive about her Shostakovich (mostly) and primarily criticises Rozanova's interpretation of the other works on the disc.
The most interesting observation for me was Distler's comment that her rubato occasionally weakens the music's caustic impact. I guess that's true, but it's not a problem for me.
Quote from: Verena on January 29, 2023, 06:46:51 AMNo love for Elena Rozanova's version? I quite like it, it's poetic; but I haven't heard other versions recently.
Too light for my personal taste in spite of her dexterity. I would like more shadow and decadent sensuality. But if you like non-fat, non-sugar ice cream, this maybe it in music.
The discussion made me curious and I caught myself ready to order a copy (Gugnin) when I have a recording of the piece as-yet unlisted to.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Lpx5T1-eL._SL1413_.jpg)
Listened to the first six. Interesting, but not drawing me in in a huge way yet. Just noticing that No 6 in b-minor is a hoot. :)
Quote from: Mandryka on September 07, 2021, 07:16:17 AMVery good, thanks for mentioning. Very well recorded too, and he can do timbre, which is nice when it's caught so beautifully. I kept thinking it would be nice to hear him do Schumann, it's as if he brings out the contrasting Florestan and Eusebius in these preludes.
Why can't all piano recordings sound as good as this?!
Back to this this morning having been reminded about Lifitz by
@Todd on another forum. I feel exactly the same as I did eighteen months ago -- it is an outstanding release.
Quote from: Mandryka on April 15, 2023, 04:34:18 AMBack to this this morning having been reminded about Lifitz by @Todd on another forum. I feel exactly the same as I did eighteen months ago -- it is an outstanding release.
Sounds convincing. Which ones would you else recommend to a newcomer (me)?
Quote from: premont on April 15, 2023, 05:14:10 AMSounds convincing. Which ones would you else recommend to a newcomer (me)?
This
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30gJoDUYuns&ab_channel=ww
and if you like it you can buy it here
https://live-classics.com/shop/liszt-mephisto-waltz-no-1-sonetto-104-di-petrarca-shostakovich-24-preludes-op-34-lisztgounod-waltz-from-faust-milan-1995-2001/
Quote from: Mandryka on April 15, 2023, 07:14:49 AMThis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30gJoDUYuns&ab_channel=ww
and if you like it you can buy it here
https://live-classics.com/shop/liszt-mephisto-waltz-no-1-sonetto-104-di-petrarca-shostakovich-24-preludes-op-34-lisztgounod-waltz-from-faust-milan-1995-2001/
Thanks :)