Repertoire: The IDEAL Shostakovich Symphony Cycle
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2020
- Fifteen symphonies, 14 conductors, and all of the performances vie with the best. Here is a "dream" cycle of Shostakovich symphonies for you to savor, think about, and build your own collection around. Enjoy!
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Wunderbar, danke ! You're pushing me into ruin! Since I discovered your channel, I've bought more CDs than in the last 20 years of my life. 😀
Enjoy!
I have just discovered this channel despite owning your book on Shostakovich. All your videos (I admit I am focused on my beloved Shostakovich but excited to listen to what you have to say on Mahler and Hindemith). I was an operatic basso years ago so the 13th and Michelangelo lieder are especially dear to me. Wow Petrenko!! Just listened to 10th and 9th and now Babi Yar. Wow wow wow. Talk about someone (you AND Petrenko) who "gets'" it! Thank you thank you thank you!!
This chat has been watched even more than the Mahler ideal symphony chat
You are one of the very few who give to the trumpet section the credit due. Of all the instruments, other than the triangle, the trumpets are essentially ignored by the critics. Thanks again.
I’m so glad I found your channel. These videos are fascinatingly interesting.
Thanks, David.
I saw Jarvi perform the Leningrad with the RSNO in Edinburgh several years ago. Jeezo! It was an extraordinary experience. We were sitting in the stalls, about 10 rows back from the stage and I noticed that some of the ladies in front of us had their fingers in their ears.
After, as we were making our way to the exits, I heard one of the old lads say,
“Ma ears are pure ringin’. I can barely hear a bloody thing, noo.”
That was the idea!
Thanks David . Wonderful talk . Loved your friends divorcing after giving them tickets for a performance of the 14 .Fun aside , a very interesting introduction to Shostakovich
Yay this is just what I was waiting for!!!!!
David (and my fellow listeners) I've only recently discovered this channel so here is my homework a year late. 1-Ancerl (actually all Ancerl's Shostakovich are high on my lists) And breaking the first rule, I heard Andre Previn live with the NYPhil and waited for him to record it, which he never did. 2-Rostropovich 3-Rozhedestvensky 4-Salonen 5-Previn,LSO 6-Bernstein,NY 7-Slatkin,NHK(DVD) 8-Svetlanov,London 9-Gergiev,MTO 10-Stokowski,Chicago (this version woke me up to the 10th in every detail) 11- Kondrashin,Moscow (Actually this is my favorite complete cycle, I like fast so shoot me) 12- Neeme Jarvi,Gothenburg 13-Aleksashkin Slobodeniuk Radio Filhamonisch Orkest you can watch on RUclips (breaking the 2nd rule) 14-Barshai MoscowRadio Vishnevskaya (the first imprinted on my memory forever) 15-Another RUclips but it also introduces a candidate for great living conductor Andres Orozco Estrada hr-Symphony (another break for it) or you can have Mravinsky Leningrad with a great Stravinsky Agon. This was great fun. I will play again.
SO glad i found this channel
Sir, you are a valuable resource!
So glad you picked the Previn 4 and Berglund 11!!! I adore 15 and, even though the Haitink is terrific, my fave remains Maxim Shostakovich on Melodiya - I have it in that wonderful EMI box set of LPs of the complete symphonies, all different conductors, one of my most prized record box sets. Must try and find that Maxim 5th.......
Wow! I had absolutely no idea Christophe Huss and you knew each other! For the past 8 years, the two of you have been an invaluable source of information in my discovery of classical music. What a small world! 🌎😁
That's great. Christophe and I have been great friends for decades. He is a brilliant critic and a fantastic person.
Thank you for doing this; it gives us a lot to consider and think about.
Interesting, excellent choices. So happy you included the classic Maxim Shostakovich 5th symphony, a favorite of mine ever since I purchased the original LP issue back in 1975 (!). My "ideal" list, following the rules, might be as follows:
1 - Stokowski
2/3 - Haitink
4 - Petrenko
5 - Previn/LSO
6 - A Nelsons
7 - Bernstein/CSO
8 - Mravinsky (live, Phillips)
9 - N Jarvi
10 - Ancerl
11 - Berglund
12 - Barshai
13 - Masur
14 - Rostropovich
15 - Ormandy
Your "ideal cycle" is very judicious. congratulations!!
"it is death!" love it!! Fantastic recommendations!
I've just discovered the Nelsons/ Boston S O Shostakovich symphonies, some ( all?) taken from live performances ( though not a single audible cough from the audience- a miracle!). I've only listened to a few of them so far, including the fifth and the eighth ( which I have loved deeply since my teens). I've never heard such beautiful, heartbreaking playing and conducting of these works. My admiration of Nelsons and this magnificent orchestra has climbed even higher than it already was. Can't wait to discover more of them.
Have fun! Most of them are indeed terrific. Check out my reviews on ClassicsToday.com, if you're interested.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks David- I sure will. Your videos have been quite recent discoveries for me too, and compulsive viewing- thank you! Greetings from New Zealand.
I picked up the Michel Sanderling cycle with the Dresden. I think I prefer it to Petrenko in most places for a newer release. This channel is so appreciated thanks.
YES! I can go with your cycle at all points - a fantastic sounding selection - as long as it follows a 1-conductor cycle which for me would undoubtedly be Kondrashin's.
Thanks for again opening up this game to your legion of devoted viewers.
1. Karel Ancerl -- Czech Philharmonic
2. Maxim Shostakovich -- Prague Symphony (I know you forbade mention of this cycle, but: (1) this is MY list, (2) I can actually hear the first 90 seconds of the opening, and (3) he uses sirens instead of horns.)
3. Mark Wigglesworth -- Netherlands Radio Philharmonic
4. Leonard Slatkin -- St. Louis Symphony
5. Leonard Bernstein -- New York Philharmonic (the first one)
6. Andrew Litton -- Dallas Symphony
7. Kurt Masur -- New York Philharmonic
8. Oleg Caetani -- Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppe Verdi
9. Malcolm Sargent -- LSO
10. Herbert von Karajan -- Berliner Philharmoniker
11. Paavo Berglund -- Bournemouth Symphony
12. Michael Sanderling -- Dresdner Philharmonie
13. Eugene Ormandy -- Philadelphia Orchestra
14. Vasily Petrenko -- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
15. Kurt Sanderling -- Berlin Symphony
I like this list very much!
You crack me up!
I would love to see this about the string quartets!
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Oy! That's a better talk to do by complete sets because they tend to be very consistent all the way through (they are also a much less highly variable series of works).
@@DavesClassicalGuide Ok! Would love to see a video of it then ;)
Instead of duplicating and listing off my classic preferences, I tried to reach for more recent releases or off-the-beaten path options if I could. Here we go:
1. Eugene Ormandy (Sony Great Performances)
2 & 3. Mark Wigglesworth (Bis)
4. Myung-Whun Chung (DG)
5. Yuri Temirkanov (RCA w/ St. Petersburg)
6. Sir Adrian Boult (Everest) I surprised myself here!
7. Andris Nelsons (DG)
8. Gennadi Rozhdestvensky (LPO)
9. Leonard Bernstein (Sony Bernstein Century)
10. Herbert von Karajan (DG Originals)
11. Simon Bychkov (Philips)
12. Neeme Jarvi (DG)
13. Sir Georg Solti (Decca Eloquence)
14. Bernard Haitink (London/Decca)
15. Kurt Sanderling (Berlin Classics)
The thing about the finale of the 5th that gets me is that even if you grant that it's supposed to represent "forced happiness", that doesn't mean that you have to play it slowly! For me, some of those slow performances with really slow codas just sound so unsubtle, like someone who tells a joke and then explains the punchline and goes, "It's a joke. Do you get it? It's funny. Get it? Get it?" I listened to the 5th recently with a friend who'd never heard it before, and we listened to the Bernstein recording with the fast coda - and she said, "Oh, this is a parody of a happy ending, isn't it?"
That is an excellent and very smart observation! Thank you.
Ok I couldn't resist having a go but being lazy I'm only mentioning those that differ:
1st Philharmonia, Kurtz
2nd Vienna Symphony, Inbal (I really like the experimental nature of the work; and this is generally the only good part of Inbal's lousy Vienna cycle!).
3rd RPO, Ashkenazy
4th RSNO, Jarvi
5th LSO, Previn
7th CBSO, Nelsons
8th Concertgebouw, Haitink
9th Atlanta, Levi
10th BPO, Karajan (1969)
12th Gewandhaus, Durjan (ancient but enough)
13th WDR, Barshai
15th LPO, Jansons (I know it's cheating but I also want to include the Gidon Kremer and friends chamber arrangement of the 15th - which gives a different perspective on this fascinating work). Cheers
I LOVE classical music. I have many different works by many composers but they're mainly single recordings of any particular work. I hope a casual listener stumbling upon this video don't think that listening to classical music is necessarily about treating it in an esoteric pedantic way. It doesn't have to be, just sayin'. To those who do, enjoy your search for the best version of any particular piece of music!
Thanks for sharing! ...and keep on listening. We're with you.
Thank you once again. My choices are
1 Bernstein 2 & 3 Jansons 4 Chicago, Previn 5 London Symphony, Previn, 6 Haitink, 7 Bernstein, NYPO, 8 Chicago, Previn, 9, Barshai, 10, yes, Ancerl, 11, Jansons. That’s mine so far.
Thanks for mentioning Stokowski and the 6th symphony! When I was 19, I walked into a room to the 5th symphony directed by Leopold and it blew me away! And I still have it performed by the Stadium Symphony Orchestra (what?) on the Everest label.
a.k.a. The New York Philharmonic
Thank you Mr. Hurwitz for another entertaining and informative video.
The only selection that you made that I have strong reservations about is Petrenko with the 8th. I’ve listened to that disc and have tried to like it, but it leaves me unsatisfied. I also saw him conduct the 8th with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra a few years back, and again it didn’t send chills down my spine, like the 8th usually does.
My favorites for the 8th are Jansons with Pittsburgh, and Järvi with the Scottish National.
Definitely I like Järvi for the 7th! And I like Haitink for the 15th.
Love your videos. J
Fair enough!
On the 7th, my first listen was the famous Bernstein/Chicago recording - so I just can’t hear it fast. It was great to hear Spano lead Atlanta (with extra brass players from Pittsburgh, mostly) in the piece because he pulled off a slow performance. One of the few great concerts of his I’ve been to.
Haitink performed the 15th with the Concertgebouw around 10 years ago, which is issued on the RCO's own label. I joined one of the performances (before the break Brahms Violin Concerto wit Peter Zimmermann) but the recording of the 15th is more than fabulous.
Great talk! By some luck I already have about 90% of the ones you mentioned (and I agree with your choices!) but do not have and have never heard Ancerl's 10th or Rostropovich's 14. (Two I will definitely get my hands on ASAP!)
I was just playing the Ancerl and yes the Cechs do seem somewhat motivated
Hello, here Gilles from France. Sometimes in my musical life (not often, only some few times) during a concert, it happened i totally forgot what happened around me to immerse in music. I remember the first time : for a "Romeo and Juliet" ouverture directed, in Paris, by Leonard Bernstein, when i was 15 (now i am 71 years old) and, more recently, for the 8th of Chostakovitch directed, in Salle Pleyel, by Esa pekka Salonen. About one full hour to be present only for music : do you unsderstand why i love so much the music of Chostakovitch ? I thank you for your work here
I need to recommend my own "sleeper" performance of the Shostakovich 10th and that is by Frank Shipway with the Royal Philharmonic ... outstanding from beginning to end with an insanely violent second movement.
I heard Frank Shipway conduct the EROICA in December, 1987 with the Icelandic Symphony in Reykjavik (Iceland..where else?). It was darn' good! LR
Thank you Mr. Hurwitz for getting me interested in Shostakovich. I’m going through the symphonies now with your owner’s guide and it’s a revelation even if some of the works are challenging at first (e.g., adagio first movements). I can’t wait to listen to the concertos and string quartets eventually. I saw the Cello Concerto No.1 live (Yo Yo Ma) many years ago but I was too young to understand!
what is this owners guide you speak of?
The problem is that while I listen to your talks, I can’t listen to music. Bummer.
Started going on listening to Dave H's choice soon after the video was posted - some terrific performances I hadn't heard and heard of! I got distracted at the 6th by the rest of the content in the RCA Stoki box which contains it (I particularly loved the fast exciting Brahms 4 recorded when he was about 92) and am now on to Petrenko's 8th. Sadly I can't engage in the ideal cycle construction myself because I only know enough recordings to do this for about hald the symphonies. No strong disagreements with Dave so far - the one I really was not expecting to supersede other favourites with Previn in the 4th (another great ClassicsToday tip was Kondrashin live in Dresden in the 4th.)
Thank you for giving me a lot to think about as far as Shostakovich recordings are concerned and a chance to put together an ideal list.
1. Ormandy
2 & 3. Barshai
4. Kondrashin 1966
5. Ancerl
6. Jarvi
7. Svetlanov
8. Haitink
9. Rozhdestvensky
10. Karajan 1967
11. Stokowski
12. Mravinsky
13. Previn
14. Rostropovich
15. M. Shostakovich 1972
I can echo your live Bernstein seventh. I saw Jarvi and the SNO play the Leningrad live and it was every bit as great as the recording. My socks were knocked off that night and I’m still looking for them.
Buy another pair?
Omg Do a Shostakovich 5 Video already!!!
Friscay and the RIAS in the 9th! Unbeatable. As you pointed out, this is a very uneven body of work. Forget 2 and 3. 13 and 14 can lead you to suicide. 11 and 12 are weaker and 15 is fragile and requires special attention. Thank you for getting me to dig back into my collection and reacquainting with some old friends.
Glad to see Kosler's 9th here. I've been beating its drum for years. It almost outshines the 'fraudulent' (but terrific) Mravinsky 5th on the same disc.
I tried an experiment: to list my ideal Shostakovich cycle BEFORE I watched your video. Here goes. I've tried for no repeats.
1: LSO/Martinon (Decca, originally RCA).
2 & 3: WDR S Koln/Barshai. (Brilliant Classics. Repeats, but there's not a lot to choose from here.)
4: Boston SO/Nelsons (DG. Very good, and so is Rattle in Birmingham but I don't dare say so.)
5: Czech PO/Ancerl (Supraphon. Such character in the wind solos!)
6: Estonian Festival O/Paavo Jarvi (Alpha. A very exciting performance.)
7: CSO/Bernstein (DG. It's drawn out, but still... wow.)
8. LSO/Andre Previn (Warner. One of his best LSO recordings.)
9. LPO/Haitink (Decca)
10. Royal Liverpool PO/ Petrenko (Naxos. Hard to choose a Tenth, there are so many good ones, eg. Karajan's first, Efrem Kurtz etc.)
11. Bournemouth SO/ Berglund (Warner. Frozen wastes for days.)
12. Gotenburg SO/ Neeme Jarvi (DG. He moves it along, which it needs.)
13. Concertgebouw O / Haitink (Decca. I know this is a repeat, but at least it's a different orchestra. Also, I like how Haitink smooths the edges a little.)
14. Philadelphia O / Ormandy (RCA. The first recording in the West, with great singing from Phyllis Curtin and Simon Estes. Ormandy's 15th is great too.)
15. Moscow PO / Kondrashin (Alto. A 1974 Melodiya recording, and coupled on Alto with Oistrakh in the Second Violin Concerto. Bargain!)
So, how did I go?
Ah. Got one of yours, the 11th. Ancerl is a great 10th too, I'd forgotten about it but went rushing to play it straight after. Haitink's 15th is fabulous too, as you say. .
I agree with you on Rattle in the 4th symphony!
Shostakovich 5 Yakov Kreizberg is amazing as a slow bombastic sarcastic ending. Haitink Concertgebouw is great but my all time favourite is Bernstein’s DVD recording with the BSO, boston pops all in white xD, him sweating and conducting like the world was ending.
Regarding the finale of the Fifth, I always perceived it as sarcastic. There was also a problem with the metronome mark that got lost in the translation.
Let me add my contribution regarding my favorite Shostakovich´s three symphonies.
4. Philadelphia Orchestra - Myung-WhunChung
5. NYPO - Dimitri Mitropoulos
10. Philharmonia Orchestra - Efrem Kurtz
Interested in your choice for the 4th - I have it and whilst I think the Philadelphia sound fantastic Chung's interpretation for me misses by a considerable margin. Overall it's not nearly manic enough (the central frenzied string fugue in the 1st movement for example doesn't amount to anything). Hey that's just me though. Cheers
@@curseofmillhaven1057 I totally agree, Keith. Good recording and playing, but that's it. Misses everything this symphony is about.
Terrific video, David. Just one remark: Haitink did do the 15th with the Concertgebouw. It is on their own label (RCO Live).
You're right!
Great as usual. I'm not knowledgeable enough to do a complete list, but my favorite 4th is indeed Previn/Chicago. I did guess that you would pick Bernstein/Chicago in 7, for the incredible brass. You may disagree totally, but I find Tilson Thomas' take (not my favorite complete version) on 5 to be convincing. In his Keeping Score video he does the final cadence of the last movement in two ways. By changing one note in one chord (from B flat to B natural) he shows what Shostakovich could (would?) have done to make it a really happy ending. Looks like the Kosler 9 isn't readily available (at least not on ArkivMusic), but in keeping with the idea of Shostakovich as a closet subversive is it a work of "stature" or nose-thumbing to those who wanted a "great" 9th to celebrate the end of the war? I love the Karajan 10. Haitink does manage to make 12 seem like a reasonably well-structured, cohesive work. Yes to Haitink 15. A good sleeper version of 14 is Yuli Turovsky and I Musici de Montreal on Chandos.
Glad you mentioned the Turovsky. It is terrific.
Hi David, please keep up the great work which is both informative and entertaining. If I may make a small suggestion, perhaps you could install a higher resolution camera in the room with the tam tam, as the current picture is soft and slightly fuzzy, especially when viewed on a large screen.
Thanks for the suggestion. I am using whatever comes with my MAC computer, but I will look into it. Maybe I'm just a fuzzy kind of guy?
All right, I'll bite. We're in agreement regarding nos. 1, 7, 8, 11, 13 & 14, so I won't include them in the list below. As for the others, I go with the following:
2) Kondrashin
3) Osmo Vänskä (on a now hard-to-find CD of a live perf. from the 1996 Proms with the BBC Scots - pre-Minnesota Osmo really caught the score's wildness!)
4) Rozhdestvensky (harsh sonics and all)
5) Bernstein (the live 1979 rec. from Tokyo)
6) Barshai (who's very nearly as good as Berglund, and as I have the latter in 11 already.........)
9) Sargent (no, I'm not kidding! The first DSCH record I ever bought, and it still holds up very well)
10) Haitink (*not* the Decca studio rec., but a 1986 Prom perf. which the LPO issued on its own label - vastly better!)
12) Ogan Durjan (which has been hard to find for ages now, but as Järvi already has the Leningrad..........)
15) Sanderling w. the Clevelanders: I'd heard him live in this work with the Philharmonia a few years earlier and the slow tempos never bothered me - he inhabits the work like no one else.
Now, if only Morton Gould's RPO recordings of 2 and 3 would finally get on CD - yeah, I know, fat chance! But still.......
I'd have put Mitropoulos' no.10 on the list, but that one CD issue from the late 1980s sounded so dreadful that I wonder if it had been an act of sonic sabotage - it never sounded that bad on vinyl!
My ideal cycle that I will complete as I remember all the interpretations I have heard is:
1- Rozhdestvensky, Ormandy
2-Kondrashin, Rozhdestvensky, Barshai. Haitink ..
3-Rozhdestvensky...
4-Kondrashin Staatskapelle Dresden, Previn, Rozhdestvensky, Gergiev, Nelsons...
5- Temirkanov RCA and WARNER, Mravinsky 1973 studio and Tokyo Live ERATO and Russian Disc ´65, Tilson Thomas, Rozhdestvensky, Kurt Sanderling, Haitink, Previn London and Chicago, Svetlanov, Fedoseyev, and others that I will remember and add.
6-Temirkanov Live WARNER, Kondrashin Concertgebow...
7-Kondrashin, Rozhdestvensky, Svetlanov, Bernstein DGG, Jarvi, Berglund...
8- Kondrahin ORTF and Tokyo Live ALTUS and MELODYYA BMG, Mravinsky ´82 and BBC ´60, Haitink, Previn EMI and DGG, Kurt Sanderling, Rozhdestvensky URSS and LSO, Petrenko...
9- Kondrashin/Concertgebow...
10- Mravinsky ´55, Karajan first and second interpretation for DGG and Russia ´69 (poor sound, great perfomance!), Kurt Sanderling Live France, Rozhdestvensky, Temirkanov´70s, Fedoseyev, Mitropoulos, Petrenko and others that I will remember and add.
11- Rostropovich Warner, Mravinsky, Berglund, Nelsons...
12- Mravinsky ERATO...
13- kondrashin Russian Disc and SACD 1962 and his subsequent interpretations, Rozhdestvensky, Previn, Haitink, Temirkanov, Solti and others that I will remember and add.
14- Rostropovich ´73 and WARNER, Barshai Russian Disc, Petrenko.
15 - Kondrashin Staatskapelle Dresden, Mravinsky, Haitink, Kurt Sanderling, Rozhdestvensky...
Hi David! Wonderful rundown. Thank you for mentioning Previn’s 4. Might you have some influence with warner for Previn complete emi?
Thanks again, wishing you well
I have no influence with anyone!
I agree...the Previn 4th is quite good.
My ideal cycle:
1) Ančerl
2) & 3) Jansons
4) Kondrashin
5) Kondrashin
6) Paavo Jarvi
7) Svetlanov (USSR SO)
8) Mravinsky (on Philips)
9) M. Sanderling
10) Karajan (live from Moscow, 1969)
11) Rozhdestvensky
12) Haitink
13) Kondrashin (again 😊)
14) Rostropovich
15) K. Sanderlin (Berlin SO)
Another impossible task, but:
1. Rostropovich/NSO. Gotta have Rostropovich somewhere, and this is one of my favorites in his cycle. Ancerl is so, so close, but Rostropovich has Rudoph Vrbsky on his side here.
2. Slovak//Slovak RSO. This cycle on Naxos has lots of excellent character.
3. Gould/RPO
4. Rozhdestvensky/take your pick. Probably would go with the USSR Ministry recording, but the one on BBC is tempting. He co-owns the piece with Kondrashin, and Rozh is the 400 pound guerrilla of this cycle, so he get's his pick, crowding Previn, Ormandy or Chung.out of the picture .
5. Mravinsky/Leningrad (take your pick). I have no idea which one, but in this case, Mravinsky is the 800 pound guerrilla of the cycle, so he gets his pick. Basically top choice in every one of them he did with the possible exception of 7.
6. Stokowski/CSO. Even better than his Philadelphia recording, and he's a contender in 5, 10 and 11 as well.
7. Bernstein/CSO. I'm still dazed by hearing this in concert (ditto the 1st). Contender in 5 and 6, too.
8. Haitink/Concertgebouw. The best of his cycle, with 1 and 9 close behind.
9. Nelsons/BSO. Maybe I should have thought harder about this one, but it's got all the delicious wind playing one needs.
10. Mitropoulos/NYPO. Sure, Ancerl is great, but he was runner-up only because Mravinsky and Stokowski vacated. Too many stood in his way. Fedoseyev was actually a contender, but basically had no chance to move beyond a bronze, even after Stokowski went to the 6th.
11. DePreist/Helsinki. Sure, Bychkov/BP deserved this. So did MTT/SFS. But Helsinki plays like they won't settle for second.
12. Durjan/Leipzig. Not my favorite work, but a fine recording anyway given Mravinsky chose to go elsewhere.
13. Kondrashin/Moscow Phil. The 600 pound guerrilla gets to choose his branch after the 800 gorilla, so he gets to push Muti/CSO and Masur/NYP out of the tree.
14. Barshai/Moscow CO. By default after Rostropovich's went away.
15. Solti/CSO. Why? Mravinsky is gone, and why not...great playing and sound and a fine interpretation. I agree Cleveland/Sanderling is a tad too slow. I don't respond to his Berlin Classics Shostakovich as much as others. Actually one of the live "pirated" Sanderlings might win if they had better sound;...but they don't.
You're very intriguing ... can't disagree with your analysis, very informative, insightful. Would like to know what your favourite "Symphonie Fantastique" is ... mine Karajan's 1972.
Have a look at the video!
My listening experience is probably not as extensive as others so this list will be a bit smaller:
1 - Lopez Cobos / Cincinnati (Telarc)
2 & 3 - Pass (haven’t heard enough)
4 - Chung / Philadelphia (DG)
5 - Eschenbach / Philadelphia (Ondine) - I heard this one live so I have a soft spot for it (Honneck is good too).
6 - Pass for same reason as 2 & 3
7 - Bernstein / Chicago (DG)
8 - Haitink / Concertgebouw (Decca) I first heard this recording after falling asleep with the radio on and waking up in a cold sweat to the relentless trombones and shrieking clarinets of the 3rd movement.
9 - Levi / Atlanta (Telarc)
10 - Karajan / Berlin (DG - older recording)
11 - Bychkov / Berlin (Philips)
12 - Petrenko (Naxos)
13 - Solti / Chicago (Decca) - I already used Haitink
14 - pass
15 - Jarvi / Gothenburg (DG)
I've always liked Previn's Chicago No.4 and had the original LP.
Nice review and recommendations! I wonder if you have listened to the Shostakovich 110th anniversary edition issued by Melodiya in 2016.
Nope. Too pricey.
I have enjoyed live performances of works by Shostakovich over the years. One of the most memorable was a 7th conducted by Rozhdestvensky in Madrid, around 1991. He led the orchestra in the invasion sequence with his eyes--I was seated behind the orchestra, in the choir stalls of the National Auditorium in Madrid, Spain. By the fourth or fifth repetition I had tears running down both cheeks. I felt like I could have floated up to the ceiling, In the second movement, the guy seated to my left got into a rhythm. He started scratching himself in sequence, left eyebrow, chin, right shoulder, right elbow, left knee, vicinity of the scrotum, and then he would start again, sometimes shifting sides. It was quite annoying. My brain lit up and I took out my ticket and wrote, ¿TIENE USTED PULGAS? (HAVE YOU GOT FLEAS?) and handed it to him. Man, did that piss him off!! He literally jumped over me and the two people seated to my right and sat in an empty seat that was available there. About half a year later I saw him again in a Shostakovich String Quartet cycle by the Borodin Quartet. I'm sure he recognised me, but I never asked him if he had been to the dermatologist.
My ideal cycle is:
1. Kegel / Berlín Classic
2. Haitink / LPO / DECCA
3. Kitaenko / Capriccio
4. Rodezvensky / Melodiya
5. Maxim Shostakovich /URSS/ RCA
6. Bernstein / Viena / DG
7. Svetlanov / URSS /Melodiya (1968)
8. Mravinsky / Leningrad / Philips
9. Jarvi / Scottish/ Chandos
10. Ancerl / Czech/ DG
11. Berglund / EMI
12. Durjan / Leipzig / Phillips
13. Kondrashin / Bavarian / Phillips
14. Bashai / Moscow / Melodiya
15. Sanderling / Cleveland/ Erato.
My favorite 11th has always been James DePriest/Helsinki on Delos.
I know you generally don't like Rattle, but his atomic mad scientist version of Symphony No.4 is wonderful. Fast but lots of texture. Jarvi's is my new favorite, but I grew up with the Haitink and still learned to love that symphony. Haitink for Babi Yar is who I thought you were gonna pick!
Most rules seem to have an exception: Apparently in 1968 Morton Gould did say to his record label (RCA) "Hey guys, I have a great idea. Let's do Shostakovich 2 and 3." As far as I know he recorded no other Shostakovich symphonies. For a long time, his Royal Philharmonic recordings of those works were the only ones in decent sound readily available in the West. I don't think they have ever made it to CD, but perhaps some download source offers them.
Thanks for the info
Wow, that’s wild. I like the Leninist futurism of 2 & 3 and Morton Gould, I may have to pick up a used LP.
I've given up waiting for the Gould 2&3 to be released on CD. Probably the best #2 ever recorded (a work with which I have a special connection). Interesting to note the the Royal Philharmonic Chorus
sounds so AMAZINGLY like a REALRUSSIAN chorus; they were trained by Igor Buketoff, who was able to totally change their basic sound and timbre.
I can't take #3, no matter how hard I try. Too bad they're always lumped together, because #2 is FAR superior. LR
Khachaturian 3 is a guilty pleasure. Love that lyrical middle section. But maybe this is just a phase.
Everything has its moments, even terrible pieces like that.
Actually one conductor recorded Symphonies 2 and 3, but none of the rest:
Morton Gould, Royal Philharmonic, RCA early '60s.
I think both were stereo premieres.
Already mentioned a couple of times. Have a look at the comments.
1 Jansons
2 and 3 Rozhdestvensky. He was also good in Prokofiev's propaganda works, so I think it was just a genre he excelled in.
4 So many good performances!
I can't pick one, but almost any will do.
5 Svetlanov
I am not able to pick single recordings for the later works, except I'll mention Rostropovich for 11 and perhaps 12 as well.
The big problem with 12 is the banal repetitions of the finale. If some conductor could figure out how to make that work, the symphony might be redeemed.
Dear Mr Hurwitz!
I wonder if you have made a separate talk about recordings of Shostakovich's 5th symphony.
I have searched for it but can't find any.
If you don't have made a talk about it I hope you would consider to make it soon.
Best wishes Fred (Sweden)
Not yet, but I'll get to it.
Shostakovich’s Symphonies are a bit of a blind spot for me, so that I doubly appreciate your guidance and list of reference recordings. He is not as frequently performed as one would like and his 15 symphonies can feel somewhat daunting without prior exposure or a framework in which to place live experiences. I was unable to trace Kosler’s Ninth. Is there a runner-up with which I could substitute it? I recently saw a Karajan documentary in which he stated that the music he hears in his head - imagining himself as a composer - sounds a lot like Shostakovich’s Tenth. It is interesting that he then also features among your favourites.
wow! In his book on Shostakovich, Dave compares Shostakovich to Haydn and Mahler which is a serious compliment coming from Dave. I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering Dave's incredible enthusiasm for Shostakovich's music. I too have considered Shostakovich vs Mahler (too myself of course, because many would consider this to be sacrilege). Obviously, Shostakovich was heavily influenced by Mahler's music. Above all, I appreciate Shostakovich's variety of genres: the largest body of chamber music in the 20th century, ballet music, piano music, a full length opera, and songs in addition to his symphonies. That said, Shostakovich has a few clunkers in his symphonic output, while Mahler's are all generally recognized to be masterpieces in the standard, popular repertoire these days.
Fantastic! Thanks David. What about Maxim Shostakovich's 5th with the LSO?
Not as special, if I recall.
If that’s the one on Collins Classics, it sounded tame. This reminds me of a Neville Cardus story...told to him by another critic on his first impression of Siegfried Wagner “the same wide forehead, the piercing eyes and prominent jaw as the master, but something was missing, like a deserted shrine”...that would be my comparison between the LSO and the the USSR version by Maxim. Also invariably this reminds me of the extended story published in the former Soviet magazine “Sputnik”, around the premiere of the 13th written by Kondrashin himself, including how Shostakovich was disappointed that Maxim did not win the Conducting competition. Triggered marvellous memories....thank you David Kelly and a warm thank you again Dave H
I think Maxim's Collins recordings were great! Not spectacular but very concentrated. And of course they sound much better than the Supraphon cycle.
I know I said I might weigh in with an actual list once you covered my very favorite symphonist, Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich - but 15 symphonies are a lot and I didn’t have a chance to do my homework! Nor do I have any spare volumes hanging out in a Brooklyn apartment. Happily, you made choices congenial to my own. If the material below breaks the rules, feel free to beat me with a wet noodle.
I love Symphs No. 2 & 3 actually - they’re curiosities, but fun ones, and Janssons does them as well as any. (except Haitink maybe). I would have given Symphony 4 to Ormandy, if only because there are so many worthy contenders for 1. Previn’s 4th is very, very good though, as is his Babi Yar. Previn was an inexplicably great Shostakovich conductor considering his mild-mannered approach to things. Good call on the 5th with Maxim and his Russian band - Max really did Papa proud with that one. (But NOT in the 2nd cycle with Prague Symphony Orchestra, although I’ve probably heard worse). Stokowski’s 6th is gorgeous - he articulates the case for it being a colorful and quietly convincing symphony. Ancerl 10 is another fantastic choice, and it is a bit like he and the Czechs are mocking their former masters. I’ve never thought of it that way before.
I’ve blown a lot of sunshine around, so let me quibble with a couple of choices. Barshai’s 14th is unparalleled in my mind - an ideal disc from possibly the best overall Shostakovich cycle. I’d plug him in there I think, and Bernstein with Chicago for the 7th. Sanderling with Cleveland might be my choice for 15 - I think it’s the right kind of slow. I also appreciate all of your wonderful anecdotes here - Shostakovich is smiling down upon you from the non-existent heaven created by the running dogs of capitalist imperialism , constantly feeding the opium of religious hokum to the masses. I highly recommend your wonderful Shostakovich listener’s guide to any unfortunate souls reading my entire comment. I still reach for it when I’m trying ever more obscure recordings of Shostakovich symphonies and concerti. I’ll keep on listening, and I’ll certainly be watching your ideal cycle video as I do. Wonderful stuff, Dave. Thanks!
Thanks for the videos! Am I right that the Shostakovich cycle conducted by Maxim Shostakovich was your reference cycle in 2006? In addition to the cycle by Barshai? What happened?
15 years.
My list of great Shostakovich recordings:
1. Rostropovich, National Symphony Orchestra (Teldec) - one of the most exciting recordings (especially 2nd movement), great brass section (especially trumpets) - very hot performance.
2. and 3. I totally agree with Dave. Bavarian Radio is the most appropriate sounding orchestra for these neglected works. Also, I like Barshai, Rostropovich too. I suppose Thomas Sanderling is very good, too.
4. Haitink, London Philharmonic (DECCA) - my first listening of this monstrous piece, I will never forget. I like Rattle with Birmingham - his best Shostakovich recording.
5. Kondrashin, Jansons (Wiener), Haitink (Concertgebouw), Rostropovich (National SO) - I really can not decide.
6. Kondrashin (Concertgebouw) from live performance - I also love the applause at the end. For long, meditative and beautifull Largo - Bernstein (Wiener)
7. Jansons (Concertgebouw) - great sound, unsurpassed. But, I did not listen Bernstein with Chicago. My first listen was Haitink (London Philharmonic) and I was blown away.
8. Haitink (Concertgebouw) - this will never be surpassed! Powerfull horns, trumpets, percussion, cor Anglais, strings, acustics...
9. Barshai (WDR) - this recording makes sense from whole concept of this interesting work.
10. Jansons (Philadelphia) - I think the first movement can never be too short (21:49). This is the reason why I HATE Rattle (26:32!!!).
11. Rostropovich (National) - Very slow tempo, but never drags. Dark and serious interpretation. For the sound I prefer Haitink (Concertgebouw) - great, great acustics and fourth movement coda. I am curious to hear Bychkov (Berlin Philharmonic).
12. Hatink (Concergebouw) - Picturesque and holds attention. Great sound, of course. I think Bavarian Radio sound fits perfectly for this work, too (Jansons).
13. Barshai (WDR) - I perfectly agree with Dave's friend. I would add more that Strahi (Fears) sounds really, really threatening. My house trembles when I listen to Strahi!
14. Rostropovich (Academic Symphony Orchestra Moscow) - what a Malaguena!
15. Haitink (Concertgebouw or London Philharmonic) - full of substance, perfectly paced, recorded. These recordings and interpretations have no flaws. I am curious to hear Sanderling (Cleveland).
Thank you so much Dave...Shostakovich was such a revelation for me as during my school going years here in Kolkata, India (then Calcutta), there was so much of Russian and Soviet literature that we were exposed to. India was generally pro-Soviet in the Cold War and in the 80s, there used to be a profusion of cheap publications and wafer thin Melodiya records. Of course we had 28 years of democratically elected Communist Party of India rule in the state of West Bengal...anyhow Svetlanov and Rozhdestvensky were staples. I am curious to know if (a) was there a Svetlanov cycle that you are aware of and (b) what about Rozhdestvensky? No mention in your list...thank you so much for all your warmth Dave...a really pugnacious beacon of hope...Shostakovich would have appreciated
Thank you for your message. There is no Svetlanov cycle that I am aware of. I think Rozhdestvensky's cycle is excellent, and I discuss it in the talk on available symphony cycles (you can have a look), but it's recorded with absolutely lacerating early digital sonics and the playing, while certainly exciting, is often crude.
"wafer thin Melodiya records" - I love it!
@@DavesClassicalGuide have you heard the Venezia remaster of the Rozh set? Sounds pretty good to me and people say it's an improvement over the original Melodiya or BMG versions, but I don't have the earlier ones to compare.
@@jdoc1357b9g No, I haven't heard it.
When do we get to hear your BROOKLYN ideal Shostakovich symphony cycle?\
Actually, I don't think I could do it with different conductors for each work; I don't put things in the overflow room because I like them less--it was just for reasons of space. Anyway, I mentioned a lot of what the alternatives would have been in considering each.
1. Petrenko (Naxos)
2. Haitink (Decca)
3. Jansons (EMI)
4. Haitink (CSO Resound)
5. Tilson Thomas (SFS Media - companion CD - Keeping Score series)
6. Barshai (Brilliant)
7. Petrenko (Naxos)
8. Solti (Decca)
9. Bernstein (Sony)
10. Petrenko (Naxos)
11. Ashkenazy (Decca)
12. Jansons (EMI)
13. Masur (Teldec)
14. Haitink (Decca)
15. Jarvi (DG)
Impossible not to duplicate, but here goes:
1 Ormandy definitely! (Horvat/Zagreb on LP was also great fun)
2 & 3 Who cares, but I’ll go along with Jansons tho I have Järvi for both with a terrific Bolt Suite on the same CD
4 Barshai (Petrenko is great too)
5 Ashkenazy (or Urbanski or Petrenko)
6 Stokowski/Chicago (totally agree on the Khachaturian, but Stoky also includes a terrific Age of Gold Suite)
7 Bernstein/Chicago
8 Previn/LSO on EMI, though my first choice would be Haitink
9 Järvi
10 Petrenko (also Karajan’s later DG)
11 Karabits/Bournemouth (BBC Music cover disc)
12 Haitink
13 Muti/Chicago (but also Masur and Petrenko)
14 Rostropovich definitely (Barshai and Petrenko are almost as good)
15 Maxim Shostakovich/Moscow Radio if it were available on CD. I have it only on LP and have Järvi and Sinaisky/BBC on CD. I don’t like the really slow versions of this work, so have ordered Ormandy now available at an unbelievably low price from Amazon!
My list, like Hurwitz no duplicate conductor (it's hard)
1.Celibidache (EMI)
2 & 3. Neeme Järvi (DG)
4. Inbal (Denon) I know Hurwitz doesn't like
5. Haitink (Decca)
6. Bernstein (DG)
7. Berglund (EMI)
8. Previn (EMI)
9. Rozhdestvensky (Melodiya)
10. Karajan (DG/1966)
11. Rostropovich (Teldec)
12. Mravinsky (Melodiya)
13. Kondrashin (Melodiya)
14. Currentzis (Alpha)
15. Sanderling (Erato)
Dave, are you going to review the Shostakovich String Quartets?
Not soon (for the millionth time!). Most available sets are excellent. I may discuss them individually as works, not worrying about specific performances.
My choices are (OK I've cheated and confined it to the ones I listen to) :
1 Philadelphia, Ormandy
4 Royal Liverpool Philh, Petrenko
5 London Symphony, Rostropovich
6 Boston SO, Nelsons
7 Czech PO, Ancerl
8 Bournemouth SO, Barshai
10 USSR State Symphony, Svetlanov
11 Bournemouth SO, Berglund
13 Moscow PO, Kondrashin
14 Concertgebouw, Haitink
15 Berlin SO, Sanderling
I know you say you don't like historic recordings for their own sake, but the Svetlanov recording of the 10th is a live recording from the BBC Proms concerts in August 1968, on the day after the Russians/Warsaw Pact had invaded Czechoslovakia to put and end to the Prague spring. (Rostropovich performed Dvorak's Cello Concerto at the same concert.) The atmosphere was extremely tense and emotional, you can hear protestors at the start of the recording, and it's reflected in the performance. These ideal cycles are a lot of fun, Dave!
You should ALWAYS confine it to ones you listen to!
How comforting to know that someone hates Khatchaturian's 3rd Symphony even more than I do!
Shostakovich blew past the "curse of the tenth." But I have an unrelated question. Given the massive number of recordings you have, I'm curious about the method you use to organize them (besides the obvious alphabetical one). I'm especially interested in how you organize collections where you have a mix of performers and/or composers, etc. Is there a simple system you think is completely foolproof? Thanks.
P.S. I knew one of the trumpet players who was hired to play on the Khatchaturian 3rd recording with the CSO when I was in college.
I have no system other than to file collections according the reason I got the collection in the first place--either a specific work or the artist.
@@DavesClassicalGuide
Thanks.
Occasionally, I found one recording of 2 and 3 without a whole cycle. It seems that Neeme Järvi did so for DG. Or was this part of a cycle, which never was finished?
It was part of a cycle, but it was broken up between DG and Chandos, which was very odd.
@@DavesClassicalGuide That's really strange! Thanks, I didn't know these circumstances.
My ideal cycle:
1. Celibidache (EMI)
2. Rostropovich (Teldec)
3. Rostropovich (Teldec)
4. Boreyko (Haenssler Classics)
5. Rostropovich (LSO Live)
6. Sanderling (Berlin Classics)
7. Svetlanov (Scribendum)
8. Mravinsky (Melodiya)
9. Kurtz (
Columbia)
10. Mravinsky (Melodiya)
11. Jansons (EMI)
12. Meister (Capriccio)
13. Kondrashin (Melodiya)
14. Barshai (Melodiya)
15. Serov (Praga Digitals)
1 - Wigglesworth/Netherlands
2 & 3 - Haitink
4 - Ormandy/Philadelphia
5 - Bychkov/Berlin
6 - Rozhdestvensky/USSR
7 - Bernstein/Chicago
8 - Previn/London EMI
9 - Yoel Levi/Atlanta
10 - Karajan/Berlin 1966
11 - Stokowski/Houston
12 - Pretre/Philharmonia
13 - Masur/New York or Solti/Chicago
14 - Rostropovich/Moscow
15 - Kondrashin/Moscow
The Execution of Stepan Razin is also essential listening - Kondrashin/Moscow
I have avoided Maxim Shostakovich’s Prague cycle because you said in this very video that it isn’t worth talking about but, I am revisiting Shostakovich after a long time and I saw your video of the 15th Symphony where you recommend Maxim Shostakovich’s recording from the live Prague (Supraphon) cycle. I am a little confused if not bewildered that you say that the Prague cycle was not a great one, yet on the Classics Today website you yourself have rated it a 9/9 😅 The last sentence of your review reads, “This is a cycle to live with-a true reference for anyone wanting a baseline view of how each work ought to go, and what it expresses.” This was in 2006. Have your views changed over the years?
Yes, they have. I still like the interpretations, but in terms of playing and sonics there have been some pretty spectacular cycles since. It's all about comparisons. Also, regarding the 15th, I believe the version I recommend was the Melodiya recording.
Would a harder challenge be to propose a Haydn Paris or London symphony cycle using the same rules? Although there are fewer symphonies, I think Paris might be harder because their are fewer recordings. In any event, it might keep me from just lazily listening to Nikolaus Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus Wien for the Paris and Frans Brüggen/Orchestra of the 18th Century for the Londons.
I was thinking about that. I'll have to think some more!
I don't think it would be so much a challenge to come up with 6 different conductors for the Paris symphonies (or even 12 for the Londons). Indeed it would be fun. Some of us might be challenged to listen more closely at subtle successes and failures in these interpretations
But..the big challenge is motivation: can you significantly "improve" your cycle and call it "ideal" by having 6 or 12 different conductors? You may be far better off being lazy with great sets like Harnoncourt and Brüggen than reaching into the well to plug in a Beecham, Herbig or Kuijken.
In Shostakovich the pieces are variable in scale and mood. It's at least plausible that the same conductor who is good at the 9th might be weak at the 14th. While one conductor's Haydn 94 might have a special moment or two, a conductor is probably going to be consistently good throughout the cycle if they're good at any one symphony. If you do minuets well, you'll do all of the minuets well. The orchestra is not going to sound bored in one and committed in another. The variation is small.
I think the results of the recent lists show that the "ideal" premise works better for Shostakovich than for Sibelius. In the latter, the lists are a bit less plausibly "improved" over complete cycles. Many Sibelius conductors (Davis, Bernstein, Segerstam, Karajan, Berglund, Ashkenazy) were named in almost every one of the symphonies they recorded.
@@jeffrosenfeld5781 I guess this is why I was thinking it would be more of a challenge for the picker, even if the benefits are not as great for us listeners. If one conductor has the best touch for classical minuets, in which Paris symphony is the minuet most important? Use your conductors wisely.
@@stephenkeen2404 I agree... Very difficult, and clearly my memory is not good enough to do this off the top of my head. Same with Sibelius, Mendelssohn, actually; I'm sure I would adjust my Shostakovich list, given more time to re-listen for the purpose of such choices. How quickly could you construct a list of Paris symphony choices? It would take a number of hours of listening again to many versions before I could make a half-way intentional/intelligent set of choices.
What do you think of the two Muti Babi Yar recordings? I know the early one is in Italian but he gets everyone to buy in and the play the craps out of it. Sound isn't great, but omg the performance just sizzles. The new one with Chicago I haven't heard. I love the Solti recording too, and Sir Anthony Hopkins reads the poems. If there's one thing I've learned from your video, Chicago does the best Shostakovich.
Check out my review on Classicstoday.com.
Hate to disagree with you Benjamin but the Solti recording is an absolute atrocity. Why? As a percussionist in a former life like David, I really have a good ear for that section and during the climax of the 1st movement, the section gets lost, comes in too early, then drops out completely to find their place. It’s jarring and renders the entire performance null, void, and irredeemable as far as I am concerned. That said, the new Muti recording is glorious by all accounts. It’s savage. I say it’s well worth the purchase. You also can’t go wrong with the Haitink RCO and Rostropovich NSO for my ear.
Sidenote- as we were on the subject of Solti and Shostakovich, late in his career he conducted a number of the symphonies and i’d say that on the whole they are average recordings (not that the engineering is subpar or anything, just the interpretations leave something to be desired). That said, of his recordings of the 1, 5, 8-10, 13, and 15, here’s how i would rank them from most to least effective.
8- CSO
1- RCO
10- CSO
15- CSO
9- VPO
5- VPO
13- CSO
@@phidelt2 The Chicago symphony men’s chorus sings this piece better than anyone and they’re better on the Solti than they are on the new Muti recording, as fantastic as it is, because it was made just after Margaret Hillis retired, so if you care about a chorus, Solti is the one. Sir Anthony Hopkins reads the poems in English which makes it worth owning regardless of what happens with the percussion in the first movement.
The NSO in the 80’s was nothing more than a glorified community orchestra, they play it as well as they can...I wish Rostropovich had a chance to remake it with the LSO, that would have been something.
Haitink is beautifully played and sung, but it didn’t move me as others have the first time I heard it, shall give it another try.
I’d add Masur to the list of good Babi Yar recordings...and the original Muti recording when he did the italian premiere is obviously in a world of its own (due to the Italian recording) but it’s still a performance worth hearing at least once.
@@djquinn4212 disagree and it’s okay to not agree on personal preference. For me, The poems add nothing special to any recording of Babi Yar for my taste. Who cares if it’s Yevtushenko with Masur or Hopkins in the Solti reading.
For me- the NSO in the 80s as a ragtag orchestra produced quality Shostakovich recordings early in that cycle. All of the London versions and especially the remakes under the LSO Live label are vastly inferior and in horrible sound.
Since it’s been a while in listening to the Solti 13, I will go back and give it another listen for the chorus to see if my opinion changes.
Thanks David,
Just when I think you are running out of ideas...
#1 Philharmonia Kurtz
#2&3 Kondrashin
#4 Chicago Previn! Who would have thought that Previn could unleash such fury?
#5 Maazel with Cleveland on Telarc remains my absolute fave, with a bruising and vicious first movement and the fast major key ending is as ambiguous as you could ask for.
#6 Estonian Paavo Jarvi
#7 Lennie!
#8 Leningrad Mravinsky on BBC
#9 LPO Haitink
#10 NYPO Mitropoulous (old) or RNSO Jarvi (new)
#11 Bournemouth Berglund
#12 Philharmonia Pretre
#13 Kondrashin studio
#14 old or new Barshai
#15 Berlin Sanderling
Petrenko, or Liverpool Phil, sounds underpowered throughout his cycle to me. Not a fan.
I just don't get Shostakovich symphonies. I love his concertos,string quartets. There is a famous. Szell quote about Shostakovich symphonies and I dare not paraphrase because Szell might come after me. I'll have to research it.
No one says you have to "get" them; the time will come, or it won't. I think in these cases the worst thing you can do is try to force it. When you're in the right mood and receptive to their special message, it will hit you.
Goodness! It would be impossible to come up with my definitive listing. One day it would be "this," the next day, "that". Rostropovich seems to be incredibly 'variable' in his conducting of Shostakovich, is one thing I have discovered over the years.
I'm not yet that familiar with Shostakovich and, given your lack of enthusiasm for some of the symphonies, I don't feel the need for a full set. What are the essential Shostakovich symphonies for someone who wants to explore his music?
All except 2, 3 and 12.
If you're just starting to explore, it helps to sample Shostakovich's range first, then fill in. The 5th is deservedly quite popular, big and romantic. Another in this vein, for follow up, would be 10 or 4. The 9th is compact, and generally more impish; 1 and 6 might follow. The 8th has some "over the top" bombast, and a lot of brooding. It's another tendency of Shostakovich, and you could follow up with 11, 7, and 12, for example. For the dark and death-obsessed,, including a vocal part, try 13, follow up with 14. For the pastiche and heavy sarcasm, perhaps 15. In short, starting with 5, 8, 9, and 13 is a manageable way to jump in. To get an even more intimate peak at Shostakovich, branch out into the string quartets, like 4, 8, and 15. Try the Cello Concerto No. 1. As with Beethoven, the symphonies only tell part of the story.
@Don P Thank you all for your helpful replies
I saw the set conducted by his son for $20 but didn't get it! 😔
Kurt sanderling did a 3rd Shostakovich 15 with the Berlin Phil which the orchestra issued some 20 years ago. It's a bit faster than his other two. FYI
People here apparently haven't listened the cycle conducted by Alexander Sladkovsky and that's a shame.
No it isn't.
David, I have a boxed set of all Shostakovich symphony's, conducted by Rostropovich, my son gave to me. Please don't say anything bad about it. Just kidding
It has some wonderful performances, and a dud or two (especially No. 10). Otherwise, you're in pretty good shape.
I like Previin/C.S.O. in S4 also. Plus, that particular 'twofer' is very handy. Yes, I LOVE Maxim/U.S.S.R. in S5 too!!! Yes, Stoky/C.S.O. for S6! I've not liked Andris Nelsons' Boston Shostakovich all that much, but I did like his 'twofer' of S6 & S7. He didn't take the "Leningrad' too slowly at all. In fact, that's why I like Nelsons' more than Bernstein/C.S.O. in S7. There are a ton of S8 recordings I like, but I can easily live with the Petrenko. I like Jansons/Pittsburgh very much in S8 too. That one is very powerful. I had no idea there was an Ancerel/DG recording of S10. I always liked my old LP of Svetlanov/USSR doing S10 (never transferred to CD). For S12, I can tolerate that Philips one with Ogan Durjan/Leipzig Gewandhaus. It came coupled with a nice "Stephen Razin" conducted by H. Kegel. I'm kind of surprised you like the K. Masur/N.Y. Phil. S13. I like it too, but I was thinking you would place your Haitink here (S13), and use Ormandy in S15. I love that fancy remastering of Ormandy doing S15 - it sounds so much better than the LP ever did. I also like that rather perverse Sanderling/Cleveland S15. David, you did very well with a difficult and diverse set of 15 symphonies.Anyone could easily with those choices, I think.
The end of the 5th always felt hollow to me, like the end of Das Rheingold: loud, brutal, and empty. I still don't like the last few minutes, regardless of how it's played. Up until then it is a brilliant piece. The slow movement is so beautiful, lonely and haunting... the Scherzo has such Mahlerian tinges...
Have you heard the Mravinsky or Jansons (who follows the same idea as his mentor)? For me that approach is the one that convinces the most. Jansons with the VPO (they sound great in Shostakovich!) is a great version.
Svetlanov
Let's have a try.
1) Bernstein (DG), because he doesn't try to polish the short breath elements and shows this work's experimental character. and how it flirts with and destroys at the same time the tradition of the bourgeoise.
2+3) Rozhdestvensky (Melodija), because he seems to understand, how new and radical this music can sound even today.
4) Very difficult for me! I would want to nominate Kitajenko (Capriccio), but the Gürzenich Orchestra doesn't have the ferocious qualities of the heavy brass and the percussion. So I must be conservative: Kondrashin. (Melodija).
5) Kurt Sanderling (Berlin Classics) - I know, he does a triumphant finale, but I don't buy the subtext. Or better said: I don't buy it in all cases, when one tries to excuse Shostakovich for writing socialist realism.
6) I don't like this work - or I don't understand it. So, I listened rarely to it. The best recording I know is Litton (Delos) with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, because he manages that the 2nd and 3rd movement don't seem so lightweight as in many of the other recordings.
7) Temirkanov (RCA) with the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The brass is really great, and the strings in the slow movement are fantastic! Also, Temirkanov seems to understand the expression of pressure and sadness, which dominate most of the work, and the finale is light with much shadow.
8) Jansons, although not Mariss but his father Arvid (Weitblick). I must use the jiddish word "brenn" for this recording. The tension is incredible.
9) Neumann (Supraphon), light and witty - but with a fine sense for the slavic form of satire: laughing with tears in the eyes.
10) Ancerl without question, although Karajan ist very good. but I like the sound of the Czech Philharmonic better.
11) There is just one recording, in which the finale doesn't bother me, because it is conducted cool, driving forward but without that triumphant habitus, and that's Cluytens (Testament). The Orchestre de la Radiodiffusion makes a perfect job with a clear and crisp sound. That's the recording I use when someone calls the work bombastic.
12) Maybe, Cluytens would have rescued this one, too, but, alas, he didn't conduct it. Vasily Petrenko (Naxos) seems to make a good job in underplaying the pathos and shifting the work near to Mussorgskis russian tunes. I think that's the best one can do with the work.
13) The great 13! Masur was a surprise, but he is really very good. But I prefer Kondrashin (Melodija), because the fight for the work gives the recording a fire and a power, which is for my taste unsurpassed.
14) Britten (BBC). The most intense performance of the work. Afterwards, one needs a handful of antidepressants.
15) I balance between Mariss Jansons and Barshai. Both seem to understand the work as a comedy of death and the last bars with the mechanic ticking somewhat as Anti-Mahler-Ninth, not really anti-, rather a the other possibility for death expressed in music. I think I prefer Jansons, but I cannot explain why, just emotion.
I will find the Jarvi -- I have always disliked the 7th. But I will give it another try.