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It's that time again, it's time to torment my fellow members with yet another Top 5 list. ;) There are no stipulations for this poll. Have fun. 8)
My Top 5 Favorite Shostakovich Works (in no particular order):
Symphony No. 8
Violin Concerto No. 1
Violin Sonata
String Quartet No. 8
The Golden Age
Cello Concerto 2
Preludes and Fugues
Quartet 8
Trio 2
Now it gets hard. Probably another quartet but there are some great concerti still. And the quintet. No symphony will make the list, nor a top 10 list. Shout out to John Shade on this topic. GMGers grossly overrate Shostakovich's symphonies.
Quote from: Ken B on May 23, 2015, 08:55:43 PM
Cello Concerto 2
Preludes and Fugues
Quartet 8
Trio 2
Now it gets hard. Probably another quartet but there are some great concerti still. And the quintet. No symphony will make the list, nor a top 10 list. Shout out to John Shade on this topic. GMGers grossly overrate Shostakovich's symphonies.
I don't think Shostakovich is overrated as a symphonist. I mean not every symphony he composed was a home run, but this doesn't disqualify him from being included into the pantheon of greats that came before him and I'm sure there will be many here who disagree with you, but what else is new, right? ;) ;D
Scherzo for string octet op 11 no 2
The list of the day hour:
Piano Trio no. 2
String Quartet no. 3
Symphony no. 4
Symphony no. 10
Violin Concerto no. 1
Symphony 4
Symphony 10
Piano Quintet
Symphony 11 'The Year 1905'
Passacaglia from Violin Concerto No.1
Symphony #4
Violin Concerto #1
String Quartet #13
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District.
The Execution of Stepan Razin.
Symphonies: 4, 5, 8, 10
Violin Concertos
My Top 5
Symphony No.4
Symphony No.8
Symphony No.9
Symphony No.14
Symphony No.15
Quote from: Ken B on May 23, 2015, 08:55:43 PMGMGers grossly overrate Shostakovich's symphonies.
No we don't ;D
Sarge
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
Symphony No.10
Piano Concerto No.1
Piano Concerto No.2
Violin Concerto No.1
Quote from: PaulR on May 25, 2015, 07:37:56 AM
Symphony #4
Violin Concerto #1
String Quartet #13
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District.
The Execution of Stepan Razin.
I also like the Stepan Razin work.
I feel guilty about not including Symphony 8 which is one I greatly admire.
I haven't heard all his works, but of what I have heard (the symphonies, the string quartets, and a few additional chamber works and concerti), my list at this time would look something like:
String Quartet #2
Cello Sonata
String Quartet #13
String Quartet #14
String Quartet #11
Quote from: PaulR on May 25, 2015, 07:37:56 AM
The Execution of Stepan Razin.
An excellent, excellent choice.
Listening Rocking to the Polyansky rendition right now!
Quote from: vandermolen on May 25, 2015, 08:53:54 AM
I also like the Stepan Razin work.
I feel guilty about not including Symphony 8 which is one I greatly admire.
If I didn't want to do one work per genre, the 8th, 14th, and/or 15th might have shown up. on this list.
Quote from: Wanderer on May 25, 2015, 10:27:25 AM
An excellent, excellent choice. Listening Rocking to the Polyansky rendition right now!
Good choice, but I enjoy the Kondrashin recording better :D (Not like you asked for my opinion)
Piano Concerto No.1
Symphony No.15
Viola Sonata
String Quartet No.8
Symphony No. 5
Cello Concerto No.1 could knock the 5th out of my list, it's just that I recently listened to the third mvt. Largo of the 5th and it gets me every time.
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 25, 2015, 08:12:28 AM
My Top 5
Symphony No.4
Symphony No.8
Symphony No.9
Symphony No.14
Symphony No.15
No we don't ;D
Sarge
Ok. ONE GMGer grotesquely overrates Shostakovich's symphonies!
Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87
String Quartet No. 8
Piano Concerto No. 2
Symphony No. 9
Symphony No. 10
hmmmm.
Waltz 2 from the Jazz Suite
Aphorisms / Piano Sonata No. 2
Piano Trio No. 2
String Quartet No. 13
Symphony No. 14 / Cello Concerto No. 1
best I can do right now
Symphony No. 9
Piano Trio No. 2
String Quartet No. 8
Symphony No. 15
Likewise, this is the best I can do.
Quote from: EigenUser on May 26, 2015, 01:25:44 AM
Symphony No. 9
Piano Trio No. 2
String Quartet No. 8
Symphony No. 15
Likewise, this is the best I can do.
I'm just happy you didn't pick the chamber symphony op 110 ....
Symphony #11
Quartet #3
Violin Concerto #1
Lady MacBeth
Piano Trio #2
Quote from: Ken B on May 26, 2015, 02:07:09 PM
I'm just happy you didn't pick the chamber symphony op 110 ....
Well, Shostakovich didn't write the Chamber Symphony op 110
a.....
I suppose an update will be in order now (in no particular order):
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43
Six Romances on texts by Japanese Poets, Op. 21
Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77
String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110
This could change by tomorrow. The only constants from my previous list have been VC1 and SQ8.
I don't have a group of favorite works, 5 or otherwise. I probably like a higher percentage of the quartets than any other genre, but that doesn't really narrow it down.
Quote from: BasilValentine on December 05, 2016, 07:26:58 AM
I don't have a group of favorite works, 5 or otherwise. I probably like a higher percentage of the quartets than any other genre, but that doesn't really narrow it down.
It'd still be nice to see a list, though. Just sayin'. :)
Quote from: Mirror Image on December 05, 2016, 07:46:57 AM
It'd still be nice to see a list, though. Just sayin'. :)
Uh ... okay.
Quartets probably 5 and 10 (with 3, 4, 9, 11 and 13 close behind)
Favorite symphonies 8 and 10 (at the moment, with 6, 4 and 15)
First Cello and First Violin among concertos.
Chamber: Piano Quintet and Second Trio
Sonata: Violin
Solo piano: Op. 87
Quote from: BasilValentine on December 05, 2016, 03:24:40 PM
Uh ... okay.
Quartets probably 5 and 10 (with 3, 4, 9, 11 and 13 close behind)
Favorite symphonies 8 and 10 (at the moment, with 6, 4 and 15)
First Cello and First Violin among concertos.
Chamber: Piano Quintet and Second Trio
Sonata: Violin
Solo piano: Op. 87
Very nice list. 8) I'm in dire need of getting reacquainted with the SQs (I recently bought the Brodsky set on Teldec to help get me back into them).
My top 5 Shostakovich works are apt to be the last 5 I've listened to, but ...
In no particular order:
1. Symphony No. 4 in c minor
2. Symphony No. 10 in e minor
3. Blok Romances for soprano & pf trio
4. The Execution of Stepan Razin
5. Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti
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Symphony 13
Cello Concerto 2
String Quartet 9
String Quartet 12
String Quartet 15
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on December 05, 2016, 04:53:13 PM
My top 5 Shostakovich works are apt to be the last 5 I've listened to, but ...
In no particular order:
1. Symphony No. 4 in c minor
2. Symphony No. 10 in e minor
3. Blok Romances for soprano & pf trio
4. The Execution of Stepan Razin
5. Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti
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This very well could have been my list. Scary! All incredible works, Karl.
I'm going to give you:
Symphonies 10 and 13
String Quartets 5 and 12
And leave a slot to be haggled over. Even though I went through all the opuses with the help of streaming services, I really don't know many of them that well yet beyond the string quartets, a few of the symphonies and the op.87 preludes and fugues for piano.
Symphony No.9 might get the slot, but it would have to fight off quartets 3 and 4 at least..
Aye, the first pass-through is only the start.
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Here is a list of Shostakovich works I really like:
The Nose
Symphony no. 2
Symphony no. 4
Symphony no. 6
Song of the Forests
Piano Concerto no. 1
Cello Concerto no. 2
String Quartet no. 8
String Quartet no. 13
Op. 87 (counting this as one work)
Ok so I am 5 over the limit..........
Quote from: jessop on December 07, 2016, 03:40:34 AM
Here is a list of Shostakovich works I really like:
The Nose
Symphony no. 2
Symphony no. 4
Symphony no. 6
Song of the Forests
Piano Concerto no. 1
Cello Concerto no. 2
String Quartet no. 8
String Quartet no. 13
Op. 87 (counting this as one work)
Ok so I am 5 over the limit..........
...and might therefore find yourself subject to a Shostakovian breathalyser...
An alternate list (in no particular order):
Symphony No. 7 in C major, "Leningrad," Op. 60
Six Romances on Texts by British Poets, Op. 140
Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57
Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67
Violin Concerto No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 129
I'm starting to feel like Karl in that the last work Shostakovich's I heard is my favorite. ;D
String Quartets no 6 - 10
My first list:
5th Symphony
8th Symphony
11st Symphony
10th symphony
4th symphony
My second list:
5th Symphony
Piano quintet
Viola sonata
Piano trio 2
Violin concerto 1
1st Cello Cto
1st Violin Concerto
8th Symphony
15th Symphony
2nd Piano Concerto
Quote from: Thatfabulousalien on December 14, 2016, 10:09:51 PM
Symphony #4
The Execution of Stepan Razin
Symphony #8
String Quartet #8
String Quartet #9
I'm still highly surprised that The Nose hasnt yet made it on your list :laugh:
Нос is cracking good fun!
Quote from: Thatfabulousalien on December 15, 2016, 12:10:34 PM
I haven't actually heard The Nose yet ???
That'll be my task for today then? ;) The photos of it make it look the the greatest absurd opera ever :D
I was tempted to put Orango in the list though, I like that one. As you could probably tell though, I'm not much of a Shosty fan but I generally like his darker/heavier works more (expectedly of me ;) )
Mmm well the nose is definitely one of the crazier pieces by him, I still don't understand what you mean by 'heavy' do you mean in terms of orchestration an emphasis on the bass instruments?
Quote from: Thatfabulousalien on December 15, 2016, 01:17:55 PM
No, I mean as an aesthetic thing. Heaviness to me, is frequently an abrasive dissonance and often precise rhythmic syncopation. Which can often be works by anyone from Mussorgsky to Stravinsky/Bartok (even Webern) to Varese to Xenakis etc.
Shostakovich's 2nd and 4th symphonies in particular are quite "heavy" in areas :)
Ah ok. Well I've never considered that to be 'heavy' before but I guess I do like that aesthetic from time to time.
Here, I list them in the ascending order according to the size of the forces required for their performance, but the numbers in front of each represent their standing in my hierarchy of preferences.
5. String Quartet 8
3. String Quartet 15
1. Piano Quintet
2. Symphony 15
4. Symphony 5
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on May 25, 2015, 04:58:21 PM
Piano Concerto No.1
Symphony No.15
Viola Sonata
String Quartet No.8
Symphony No. 5
Cello Concerto No.1 could knock the 5th out of my list, it's just that I recently listened to the third mvt. Largo of the 5th and it gets me every time.
Almost 2 years later...still somewhat accurate. But
Symphony 10 has to make its way in there now, really been spinning that piece quite a bit recently. I forget how good it is, and start to remember how enjoyable it is live, which was with Jarvi/Cincinnati SO about 8-9 years ago.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 11, 2017, 07:18:31 PM
Almost 2 years later...still somewhat accurate. But Symphony 10 has to make its way in there now, really been spinning that piece quite a bit recently. I forget how good it is, and start to remember how enjoyable it is live, which was with Jarvi/Cincinnati SO about 8-9 years ago.
Does my heart good to see more love for the e minor Symphony!
Only five? Impossible!
OK, let's have a go.
Symphony No. 4 has to head the list
String Quartet No. 9 or would I prefer 13 or 12 or...
Violin Concerto No. 1
Symphony No. 10 I mean 13 or maybe 8 or perhaps 6 or alternatively 15 or even 1...
Nope; failed already!
Now had it been top five works by Alvin Curran, the opposite problem would arise, namely getting the list up as far as one...
Quote from: ahinton on March 27, 2017, 08:51:14 AM
Only five? Impossible!
OK, let's have a go.
Symphony No. 4 has to head the list
String Quartet No. 9 or would I prefer 13 or 12 or...
Violin Concerto No. 1
Symphony No. 10 I mean 13 or maybe 8 or perhaps 6 or alternatively 15 or even 1...
Nope; failed already!
Now had it been top five works by Alvin Curran, the opposite problem would arise, namely getting the list up as far as one...
;^)
Time to update my list I suppose.
In no particular order:
String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43
Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57
Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
1. Piano Concertos 1 and 2 (Donohoe)
2. 24 Preludes and Fugues (Lin)
3. Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (plus other operas)
4. Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti
5. Symphony 11 (Rozhdestvensky)
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on May 25, 2015, 04:58:21 PM
Piano Concerto No.1
Symphony No.15
Viola Sonata
String Quartet No.8
Symphony No. 5
Cello Concerto No.1 could knock the 5th out of my list, it's just that I recently listened to the third mvt. Largo of the 5th and it gets me every time.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 11, 2017, 07:18:31 PM
Almost 2 years later...still somewhat accurate. But Symphony 10 has to make its way in there now, really been spinning that piece quite a bit recently. I forget how good it is, and start to remember how enjoyable it is live, which was with Jarvi/Cincinnati SO about 8-9 years ago.
Another 3 years later...big change.
Could put
Piano Trio #2 at the top, I can't stop listening to it.
And I can't fight it, I'm a symphony-guy so to complete the list I'll have to go with...
Symphony 4
Symphony 5
Symphony 10
Symphony 14
Symphony 15
oops that's six ???
Piano Trio No.2 (Shostakovich/Shirinsky/Tsyganov, alternately Shostakovich/Oistrakh/Sadlo or Gilels/Kogan/Rostropovich)
String Quartet No.13 (St. Petersburg Quartet, alternately Kremer/Zehetmair/Imai/Pergamenshchikov)
Symphony No.4 (Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra, alternately Kondrashin/Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra)
Symphony No.14 (Currentzis/Korpacheva/Migunov/MusicAeterna, alternately Kremer/Korpacheva/Kuznetsov/Kremerata Baltica)
Piano Sonata No.2 (Alexei Lubimov, alternately Melvin Chen)
Quote from: amw on May 25, 2015, 10:29:43 PM
hmmmm.
Waltz 2 from the Jazz Suite
Aphorisms / Piano Sonata No. 2
Piano Trio No. 2
String Quartet No. 13
Symphony No. 14 / Cello Concerto No. 1
best I can do right now
I evidently don't change much.
5 + 1 favourites:
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 15
Violin Concerto No. 1
Cello Concerto No. 1
String Quartet No. 10
Quote from: Madiel on December 06, 2016, 03:05:06 AM
I'm going to give you:
Symphonies 10 and 13
String Quartets 5 and 12
And leave a slot to be haggled over. Even though I went through all the opuses with the help of streaming services, I really don't know many of them that well yet beyond the string quartets, a few of the symphonies and the op.87 preludes and fugues for piano.
Symphony No.9 might get the slot, but it would have to fight off quartets 3 and 4 at least..
Hmm. I own a lot more Shostakovich now, but some of the last haul hasn't even been listened to yet. I'm not sure how much the list would change. Those are still my favourite string quartets. But I know the symphonies a lot better now and Symphony No.9 might be the top of the pile.
And of course, given that I deliberately tripled my recordings of op.87, I think op.87 better get a slot.
Um... yeah, I still don't know. Though I did recently have my first really good listen to Piano Concerto No.2 and it was a total delight.
Let's give it a shot:
Cello Concerto No.1
Piano Quintet
Symphony No.1
String Quartet No.8
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District
All subject to change because the man wrote so many great works, but I'm OK with this list for now...
Does anyone love the ballets?
Quote from: relm1 on May 24, 2020, 05:58:39 AM
Does anyone love the ballets?
I really like
The Golden Age. I do feel that his ballets' material could've worked better had they been condensed. I think they're too long.
Quote from: relm1 on May 24, 2020, 05:58:39 AM
Does anyone love the ballets?
The Bolt is my favourite but only as a DVD, even then it goes on too long. There is an excellent production from the Bolshoi; it is very inventive and at times very funny but this still can't prevent the celebration of Soviet industry at the end from being too long.
I think the other ballets (and indeed
The Bolt) are better heard as suites
Shostakovich isn't a composer I listen to a ton these days, but I still have great affection for some of his works:
Cello Concerto no. 2
Cello Sonata
Piano Concerto no. 2
Symphony no. 4
The Execution of Stepan Razin
Bonus choice: Piano Quintet
Quote from: kyjo on May 24, 2020, 08:47:23 AM
Shostakovich isn't a composer I listen to a ton these days, but I still have great affection for some of his works:
Cello Concerto no. 2
Cello Sonata
Piano Concerto no. 2
Symphony no. 4
The Execution of Stepan Razin
Bonus choice: Piano Quintet
I imagine you have heard the Kondrashin recording of
The Execution of Stepan Razin, Kyle, haven't you? A shattering interpretation, the definitive recording IMO.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 24, 2020, 03:13:52 PM
I imagine you have heard the Kondrashin recording of The Execution of Stepan Razin, Kyle, haven't you? A shattering interpretation, the definitive recording IMO.
+ 1, enthusiastically. One of those miraculous interpretations that appear every blue moon.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 24, 2020, 03:13:52 PM
I imagine you have heard the Kondrashin recording of The Execution of Stepan Razin, Kyle, haven't you? A shattering interpretation, the definitive recording IMO.
For me, there are no other performances of this work. :)
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 24, 2020, 03:13:52 PM
I imagine you have heard the Kondrashin recording of The Execution of Stepan Razin, Kyle, haven't you? A shattering interpretation, the definitive recording IMO.
I actually haven't, John! :o But I shall certainly be seeking it out due to you and Andre's enthusiastic recommendation!