Shostakovich Symphonies

[DarkAngel]

Jansons/EMI set has arrived.......

 

[Tyson]

Awesome, I'm really looking forward to your impressions of this set, it's pretty high on my acquire list.

 

[lwd]

It's a great set, considering the price amazing. Interesting to hear the different orchestras throughout.

 

[Tyson]

lwd, how does it compare to Barshai, Mravinsky, Kondrashin? Those are my 3 reference sets. I'd like something between the slower, centered, rounded approach of Barshai and the razor blades & music box interpretation of Kondrashin.

 

[lwd]

Tyson - From what your saying my guess is you'd like it. And of course the orchestral playing and sound is on a much higher and more consistent level than the sets you mentioned. You're right, 'razor blades' is a very good description for Kondrashin!

 

[DarkAngel]

I had 2 Cds from the Jansons/EMI set already from yourmusic.com:
-4
-2 & 12
and can tell from these that they are more dramatic readings vs Barshai and Haitink (as are the Jarvi Chandos/DG set) perhaps most similar in style to the Gergiev/Phillips Cds with very good modern sound, so like LWD says do what must be done.......push the buy button.

The Jansons set CDs come in cardboard sleeves with hard outer box, each CD sleeve has 1/2 size image of artwork from original CD, 71 page booklet. There are only a couple short filler suites included in this set, which is too bad because I really enjoy Shostys dance and film scores and wish we had more room here. Need to hear entire set but from the 2 Cds I have cannot say I prefer Jansons to Jarvi Chandos/DG set so far.

Still think Kondrashin and Mravinsky despite compromised sound are step above the others performance wise for my tastes in Shosty......plus both worked closely with composer and have that true Russian spirit.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel I had 2 Cds from the Jansons/EMI set already from yourmusic.com: -4 -2 & 12 and can tell from these that they are more dramatic readings vs Barshai and Haitink (as are the Jarvi Chandos/DG set) perhaps most similar in style to the Gergiev/Phillips Cds with very good modern sound, so like LWD says do what must be done.......push the buy button.

After listening to 1/2 the set I was expecting a bit more excitement from Jansons, starting to sound more similar to Barshai than I had thought from just the two Cds I owned, great sound but a bit reserved compared to Kondrashin/Mravinsky, there are some spots where Jansons lets his hair down but overall performance not as vigorious or sharply contrasted. Perhaps this is not the ultimate set Tyson seeks........onward I must go

So far I think the style Tyson seeks is closer to Jarvi and Gergiev although neither has complete set (jarvi only lacks 2,3)

 

[JayG]

DA - Has the Maxim Shostakovich set arrived yet? If so, how does it stack up?

-Jay

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayG DA - Has the Maxim Shostakovich set arrived yet? If so, how does it stack up? -Jay

Should arrive any day now........took a bit longer than Jansons even though ordered same day.

I may be going overboard with Shosty sets since I really only listen to
5-12 & 15 symphonies on regular basis

 

[JayG]

Does anyone know how the sound quality compares on the Kondrashin sets released by Aulos and Venezia? Also what about the newly released Melodiya set? Is it simply a repackaging of the older BMG/Melodiya set, or has it been remastered to compete with the Aulos?

-Jay

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayG Does anyone know how the sound quality compares on the Kondrashin sets released by Aulos and Venezia? Also what about the newly released Melodiya set? Is it simply a repackaging of the older BMG/Melodiya set, or has it been remastered to compete with the Aulos? -Jay

Wish I knew since HMV Japan has the Kondrashin Venezia set for $40-45 about 1/2 what I paid plus has 12 CDs vs 10 for Aulos

 

[JayG]

Yeah, that's exactly why I want to know. I would snap it up immediately if I knew the sound quality was comparable. Any info on the new Molodiya set? it is priced in between the Venezia and the Aulos.

-Jay

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayG Yeah, that's exactly why I want to know. I would snap it up immediately if I knew the sound quality was comparable. Any info on the new Molodiya set? it is priced in between the Venezia and the Aulos. -Jay

Why not take one for the team and make the purchase of Venezia set and report back to us?

I know nothing about new Kondrashin Melodiya set......

The Maxim Shostakovich/Supraphon set has arrived........

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel So far I think the style Tyson seeks is closer to Jarvi and Gergiev although neither has complete set (jarvi only lacks 2,3)

Tyson have you heard the Jarvi/Chandos & DG Shosty series?
This is really what you want I think, just to make sure my memory wasn't going bad just compared Jansons/M Shostakovich/Jarvi 10th and belive me the Jarvi is much more vigorous and free spirited while still preserving all the subtle shadings with better sound than even Jansons.....unfortunately used CDs of Jarvi's Shosty go for high prices as you might expect. You can tell from Jarvis excellent Prokofiev Symphony set that he has a good feel for modern Russian sound.

 

[JayG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel Why not take one for the team and make the purchase of Venezia set and report back to us? I know nothing about new Kondrashin Melodiya set...... The Maxim Shostakovich/Supraphon set has arrived........

I'm thinkin' about it. Problem is, I haven't heard the Aulos set to compare it to. And if the sound quality sucks, I don't want to have to lay out another $100 to correct my mistake.

Then again, the Venezia price is so tempting...

-Jay