Dmitri's Dacha

[Karl Henning]

Now that is one I haven't heard. Will search for it stream tonight. Thanks for the rec, Karl!

I'm here for you, bud!

[BWV 1080]

As in Rachmaninov's First Symphony. Yes, I see that but the end of the Shostakovich seems to me, at one level, to anticipate the end of Tsarist tyranny (only to be replaced, ultimately, by Stalinist tyranny of course).

FWIW, the tyranny began with Lenin and Dzerzhinsky, not Stalin. 

[Symphonic Addict]

I have three recordings of the viola sonata (one with Richter) and not one compares with this - you do wonder that great artists save their ultimate performance for concert rather then studio. I have been critical of Richter as a duo partner in the past as he is such a massive musical presence he can overshadow his partner. None of that here as he was the perfect accompanist, although I couldn't take my eyes of him! I dare say Bashmet had some input here. They were very close both musically and physically - I feared for Richter's well-being from Bashmet's baton and left elbow!

Everything you so eloquently write SA is spot on. I was captivated by the whole performance but moments I made note:
At 3.57, falling into a pit of devastation. 7.20 chilling to the bone. 27.30 from Shostakovich via Bashmet, a final scream of pent-up anguish and despair. After the scream, the work - and life itself - petered out to nothingness.

Thank you for posting link.

Very interesting to read, Irons, especially the bolded text.

At least there is someone who is not commenting ad nauseam the symphonies besides me. 

[Herman]

Must admit it surprises me you find the viola sonata theatrical.

Perhaps you have a negative association with the word "theatrical"?

In my view DSCH's music almost always has a theatrical component. It needs a space and an audience.

I think that very much goes for the Viola Sonata, which is quite bare-bones musically.

Part of the theatre is: "I brought you to this place in anticipation of something big, but I'm going to hold back for a long time."

[Irons]

Perhaps you have a negative association with the word "theatrical"?

In my view DSCH's music almost always has a theatrical component. It needs a space and an audience.

I think that very much goes for the Viola Sonata, which is quite bare-bones musically.

Part of the theatre is: "I brought you to this place in anticipation of something big, but I'm going to hold back for a long time."

You have lost me I'm afraid. Not saying your comment doesn't have credence by any means.

 

[Irons]

Very interesting to read, Irons, especially the bolded text.

At least there is someone who is not commenting ad nauseam the symphonies besides me. 

Hands up! I find his chamber works, the string quartets in particular, more interesting then then the symphonies in most cases.

[krummholz]

Hands up! I find his chamber works, the string quartets in particular, more interesting then then the symphonies in most cases.

Definitely agree! (the 14th and 15th Symphonies being notable exceptions)

[vandermolen]

FWIW, the tyranny began with Lenin and Dzerzhinsky, not Stalin.

Yes, I understand that. But FWIW I think that for Lenin, tyranny was a means to an end, rather than, as in the case of Stalin, and end in itself. Of course this in no way justifies the 'Red Terror' under Lenin. There is, I think, a genuine historical debate about the extent that Stalinism was a continuation of Leninism or was something quite different.

[Irons]

Definitely agree! (the 14th and 15th Symphonies being notable exceptions)

Over-exposure and familiarity does not alter the fact the 5th is a great symphony. To a lesser degree the same can be said for the 8th String Quartet.

[krummholz]

Over-exposure and familiarity does not alter the fact the 5th is a great symphony. To a lesser degree the same can be said for the 8th String Quartet.

I certainly didn't mean to slight the 5th, or for that matter the 4th, the 6th, the 8th, or the 10th. IMO all great symphonies as well. I just find the string quartets, on the whole, to be more interesting than the symphonies, on the whole.

[Irons]

I certainly didn't mean to slight the 5th, or for that matter the 4th, the 6th, the 8th, or the 10th. IMO all great symphonies as well. I just find the string quartets, on the whole, to be more interesting than the symphonies, on the whole.

I agree. Each symphony you mention is great, I have a fondness for the 11th too. But to get to the heart of DSCH I would plump for the quartets. Or to whittle it down further and get to the very essence, 24 Preludes and Fugues?

[Karl Henning]

Over-exposure and familiarity does not alter the fact the 5th is a great symphony. To a lesser degree the same can be said for the 8th String Quartet.

Both great pieces, indeed.

[krummholz]

I agree. Each symphony you mention is great, I have a fondness for the 11th too. But to get to the heart of DSCH I would plump for the quartets. Or to whittle it down further and get to the very essence, 24 Preludes and Fugues?

So far I've only heard the C Major P & F... a real gem. I definitely need to listen to all of them!

And I neglected to mention the 13th Symphony, another one I would consider a great work, though I think of it more as a cantata than a symphony (I guess that's true of the 14th too, though).

[TheGSMoeller]

new thread idea -  Shostakovich Battles Shostakovich: Symphonies vs String Quartets!

I've always been a symphonic-first, chamber-second type listener with composers, so I'm just now getting through the quartets of DSCH. I'm very familiar with several of them but there are at least 7 or 8 that I've never heard a note from. I just recently ordered this cycle from Quatuor Danel to help remedy this.




I would also like to add that the 2nd Piano Trio has broken into my Dimitri's Top 5 in the past year!

[Karl Henning]

new thread idea -  Shostakovich Battles Shostakovich: Symphonies vs String Quartets!

I've always been a symphonic-first, chamber-second type listener with composers, so I'm just now getting through the quartets of DSCH. I'm very familiar with several of them but there are at least 7 or 8 that I've never heard a note from. I just recently ordered this cycle from Quatuor Danel to help remedy this.




I would also like to add that the 2nd Piano Trio has broken into my Dimitri's Top 5 in the past year!

It earns its place there!

[Madiel]

It's inevitable that the symphonies and quartets will give you different pictures of Shostakovich because the chronologies are weighted so differently. There aren't any 'early' quarters, only some middle ones and a lot of late ones.

[relm1]

This is such a paparazzi shot.

[relm1]

You know who doesn't get enough love?  Maxim Shostakovich.  His Collins semi-cycle with the LSO is terrific!  Those are excellent performances, very well recorded, and distinctive interpretations well worth hearing.  Sadly, he didn't complete the cycle.  He did do a full cycle with the Prague Symphony which are good, but the orchestra and recording aren't as good.  Maxim was a very, very good conductor of his fathers (and other Soviets) music.

[Irons]

It's inevitable that the symphonies and quartets will give you different pictures of Shostakovich because the chronologies are weighted so differently. There aren't any 'early' quarters, only some middle ones and a lot of late ones.

Very true. The 1st Quartet was written after probably his most famous work the 5th Symphony.

[aukhawk]

And the 8th Quartet fits in right next to - wait for it - the 12th Symphony.