Dmitri's Dacha

[Mirror Image]

Well, it was rather serious business, actually, and (not to seem to brow-beat you) I'm not sure amusement is quite an apt response. It would not be until Stalin had died, that Dmitri Dmitriyevich would write another symphony. In that interval, he eschewed that genre for a reason.

Yes, I know it was serious business, but what I don't know about is the level of suffering Shostakovich had to endure. None of us know unless we were there with him or knew him. All we can do is read about his life and try to wrap our minds around what it was like for him.

[Sergeant Rock]

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2012/05/gergievs-munich-shostakovich-symphonies_11.html

Re the Ninth: "Imagine collective expectations of a high-holy paean to Stalin, vanquisher of evil and preserver of the people. And then you get the symphonic equivalent of "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead."

Brilliant, Jens 

Sarge

[not edward]

I find it amusing that the Soviet authorities reacted so negatively towards it. The whole work is a joke and cartoonish, but this, of course, doesn't make it any less fun to listen to. I need to revisit it. I've neglected it for too long, although it's a work I've always enjoyed.

I'm not sure it's all a joke, though. Much of the 9th may be light-hearted but my favourite performances tend to be ones that let the listener know that yes, we're having a good time, but nonetheless there's something nasty in the woodshed. (Kosler would be a prime example of this--IMO one of the great DSCH recordings.)

[Mirror Image]

I'm not sure it's all a joke, though. Much of the 9th may be light-hearted but my favourite performances tend to be ones that let the listener know that yes, we're having a good time, but nonetheless there's something nasty in the woodshed. (Kosler would be a prime example of this--IMO one of the great DSCH recordings.)

The Presto movement of the 9th is a perfect example of this flamboyant light-heartedness but with some grim touches.

[nesf]

Noob question:

Recommended listening order for Shostakovich's String Quartets?

[Conor71]

Quote from: nesf on Today at 03:44:02 AM

Noob question:

Recommended listening order for Shostakovich's String Quartets?

I listened to them in sequence (1, 2, 3 etc..) - theres a nice progression in style and mood from somewhat playful/traditional in the early works to more serious/experimental in the later quartets. If you want to start with highlights for me that would be 8th and I also like the 15th too

Edit: Have you heard the Piano Trios yet? - I think you would find them appealing as well and both are very worthwhile!

[nesf]

Edit: Have you heard the Piano Trios yet? - I think you would find them appealing as well and both are very worthwhile!

Just no. 2.

[Conor71]

Quote from: nesf on Today at 04:09:55 AM

Just no. 2.

I have this set which i think very highly of - it has both Piano Trios, the Quintet, Cello Sonata and a couple of String Quartets as well and is only 5 quid off the Amazon marketplace if you are interested.

I would recommend a full set of the String Quartets in future though - they are wonderful works and work exploring in full! 

[asin]B002ZBTWMO[/asin]

[nesf]

I have the Emerson Quartet set of the string quartets already.

[North Star]

I have the Emerson Quartet set of the string quartets already.

Listen to that in order, then. No bad pieces there, and nothing composed just to please Stalin.

Piano trio no. 2 is a masterpiece, and the violin & viola sonatas, too.

[jlaurson]

Noob question:

Recommended listening order for Shostakovich's String Quartets?

From the top. (Or bottom, depending on how you look at it.) In any case: might as well start with No.1 and work your way through them chronologically... they're masterpieces all and No.1 starts off particularly strong.

[Mirror Image]

Hey Jens,

You mentioned in a post to me that you really enjoyed this recording:



The only thing holding me back from this recording is the expensive price tag.

[jlaurson]

Hey Jens,

You mentioned in a post to me that you really enjoyed this recording:



The only thing holding me back from this recording is the expensive price tag.

I did, I did... but I'll go over it again and compare to another one (Gergiev / Matsuev) that stood out of recent DSCH-PC recordings (incl. Gulda / Gramola and yet two more that don't come to mind) to see if one has a clear edge over the other.

[Mirror Image]

I did, I did... but I'll go over it again and compare to another one (Gergiev / Matsuev) that stood out of recent DSCH-PC recordings (incl. Gulda / Gramola and yet two more that don't come to mind) to see if one has a clear edge over the other.

No need to do that Jens. I see that the Matsuev/Gergiev isn't very highly recommended. Of recent Shostakovich PC recordings, I like this one the best:



But my favorite recording of these two PCs comes from Hamelin/Litton on Hyperion.

As for the VC No. 1, I would seriously like to have a pristine recording of the Repin/P. Jarvi YouTube video I posted a page or so back. That was an intense performance. Jarvi exerted himself rather well in that performance (I'm not a big fan of his conducting).

[jlaurson]

No need to do that Jens. I see that the Matsuev/Gergiev isn't very highly recommended. O

Hmm... for what it's worth, I think it's one of the few Matsuev-and-or-Gergiev recordings that I think are quite outstanding. Also best coupling since Hamelin / Litton.

[Mirror Image]

Hmm... for what it's worth, I think it's one of the few Matsuev-and-or-Gergiev recordings that I think are quite outstanding. Also best coupling since Hamelin / Litton.

I'll check it out, Jens. Thanks for your help.

[PaulR]

any one familiar with Gianandrea Noseda with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the cellist Enrico Dindo's recording of the cello concertos on Chandos?  I'm thinking about getting that CD. 

[Mirror Image]

any one familiar with Gianandrea Noseda with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the cellist Enrico Dindo's recording of the cello concertos on Chandos?  I'm thinking about getting that CD.

Haven't heard this Noseda recording but I haven't heard much feedback about it either. Anyway, I'm curious which performances do you own of Shostakovich's VCs?

[PaulR]

Haven't heard this Noseda recording but I haven't heard much feedback about it either. Anyway, I'm curious which performances do you own of Shostakovich's VCs?

Venegrov/Rostropovich/LSO (Both), Oistrakh/NYPO/Mitropolous for #1, Oistrakh/Kondrashin/MPSO for #2, Hope/Maxim Shostakovich/BBC Symphony Orchestra, Khachatryan/Masur/ONF

[Mirror Image]

Venegrov/Rostropovich/LSO (Both), Oistrakh/NYPO/Mitropolous for #1, Oistrakh/Kondrashin/MPSO for #2, Hope/Maxim Shostakovich/BBC Symphony Orchestra, Khachatryan/Masur/ONF

Everybody talks about how great Oistrakh's performance was and honestly I don't think much of it. I'm beginning to dislike Vengerov's approach altogether to the violin. I haven't heard Hope/M. Shostakovich yet, but I didn't like Hope's recording of Berg/Britten concerti. His tone just isn't there. Khachatryan is one of my favorites. Outstanding performance IMHO. Josefowicz/Oramo was awful. I'm beginning to dislike Mullova/Previn. Steinbacher/Nelsons, aside from the Khachatryan/Masur, is another top choice of mine. I also just listened to Batiashvili/Salonen and was incredibly impressed with it. I'll be listening to this one a lot as well.