Shostakovich Symphonies

[scottder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Too bad there is very little Bernstein Shosty available because the 5,7,9 that I have are all just great.......if only he had done a complete 1-15 set

Yeah the 6 and 9 are kind of oddballs in the Shosty line-up, but I think that's why he picked them. Excellent DVD, well worth the rental anyway

 

[eyeresist]

Bernstein recorded only 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, & 14 - all of them twice (except 14). I wonder how he chose these particular ones and excluded the others? (Including 8 & 10, my favourites.)

 

[scottder]

I look forward to hearing about the Kondrashin set from HMV, it's a great price even with $13 shipping.

 

[JayG]

I really like HMV Japan. It's a source I'm able to go to for many hard-to-find recordings at a reasonable price even though they are import titles for Japan and even including shipping. And at least they provide fast shipping for the money that you pay. Once the titles are ready and are shipped, the transit time is very impressive. Makes you wonder why some U.S. companies charge almost as much shipping to deliver the product 1/4 as far in twice the time.

I make a point to check out the major foreign online music stores before I make any purchases. It's surprising how often recordings can be found significantly cheaper from retailers outside the country even after shipping costs.

-Jay

 

[scottder]

Plus some lables (Naxos for example) don't release some historical recordings in the US for fear of US copyright law (though the letter of the law is their side they don't want to take the chance apparently).

Scott

 

[JayG]

Indeed. Naxos Historical recordings used to be distributed in the U.S., but I believe there was a lawsuit that they lost (or maybe it just scared them away), and they pulled all those titles out of the U.S. market. I completed my Naxos Schnabel LvB cycle through HMV since it was the cheapest place that many of the volumes were available.

-Jay

 

[seacard]

Tyson -

Have you received the Kitajenko set? I'd love to hear your impressions as I'm strongly considering buying it.

Jay -

How is the sound quality on the Kondrashin set you got from HMV? I'm considering that one as well (although I'm waiting for the Wand/Bruckner symphonies to be released on SACD and pick those up at the same time).

 

[scottder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacard /img/forum/go_quote.gif (although I'm waiting for the Wand/Bruckner symphonies to be released on SACD and pick those up at the same time).

Are these being released in SACD? If so I may need to get those.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Sarvis /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have the Litton 8th, and it is a sonic marvel. It is bettered sound-wise only by the Kitajenko in terms of versions I've heard.

The Litton/Delos 8th is very good with great sound, Litton does not get much press and stays low profile in Shosty circles, but I like these two Delos CDs (8 & 6/10) better that the Jansons/EMI versions for instance.

At the very cheap prices used at Amazon these are easy recommendations.

 

[Tyson]

Still working my way through the Kitajenko set, but my initial response is lukewarm.

Very good sound, and he is stylistically similar to Barshai. But so far I prefer Barshai in that style, the big issue for me is that Barshai's interpretation has the winds/brass cutting through the strings much more clearly, and Kitajenko has a more blended, corporate sound. With Shostakovich, a lot of the madcap/sarcasm/biting music is conveyed by the winds/brass. The result is that Kitajenko doesn't bring out these qualities as much, and ties shostakovich more strongly back to a more traditional classical style. Similar to what Bertini does with Mahler, but I think Bertini was more successful since Mahler's music more easily lends itself to this type of backward glance, where shostakovich sounds best with a forward looking glance.

But I've only heard about 1/3rd of the symphonies so far, so I reserve the right to change my opinion over the next few weeks. Plus I like to hear any new performance at least 3 or 4 times before drawing a firm conclusion about it.

 

[seacard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are these being released in SACD? If so I may need to get those.

Yup, but only in Japan. CD Universe is selling them for $30+; HMV will have them for around $20. They are releasing 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 with Berlin.

 

[Tyson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson /img/forum/go_quote.gif Still working my way through the Kitajenko set, but my initial response is lukewarm. Very good sound, and he is stylistically similar to Barshai. But so far I prefer Barshai in that style, the big issue for me is that Barshai's interpretation has the winds/brass cutting through the strings much more clearly, and Kitajenko has a more blended, corporate sound. With Shostakovich, a lot of the madcap/sarcasm/biting music is conveyed by the winds/brass. The result is that Kitajenko doesn't bring out these qualities as much, and ties shostakovich more strongly back to a more traditional classical style. Similar to what Bertini does with Mahler, but I think Bertini was more successful since Mahler's music more easily lends itself to this type of backward glance, where shostakovich sounds best with a forward looking glance. But I've only heard about 1/3rd of the symphonies so far, so I reserve the right to change my opinion over the next few weeks. Plus I like to hear any new performance at least 3 or 4 times before drawing a firm conclusion about it.

That said, I'm listening to his Symphony 12 for the first time right now and it's pretty darn good, much better than Barshai's somewhat underpowered version.

 

[Doc Sarvis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson /img/forum/go_quote.gif Very good sound, and he is stylistically similar to Barshai... But so far I prefer Barshai in that style, the big issue for me is that Barshai's interpretation has the winds/brass cutting through the strings much more clearly, and Kitajenko has a more blended, corporate sound. With Shostakovich, a lot of the madcap/sarcasm/biting music is conveyed by the winds/brass. The result is that Kitajenko doesn't bring out these qualities as much, and ties shostakovich more strongly back to a more traditional classical style. Similar to what Bertini does with Mahler, but I think Bertini was more successful since Mahler's music more easily lends itself to this type of backward glance, where shostakovich sounds best with a forward looking glance.

I think that's an accurate description of what's happening in the Kitajenko pieces. For me, though, the interpretation is more of an alternative approach (equally valid) than something like Kondrashin, as opposed to being better or worse per se. That, combined with the extremely good sonics on Kitajenko, make it a good choice for one of my complete Shosty sets (I also own Kondrashin and Barshai, plus lots of singles).

 

[Doc Sarvis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Litton/Delos 8th is very good with great sound, Litton does not get much press and stays low profile in Shosty circles, but I like these two Delos CDs (8 & 6/10) better that the Jansons/EMI versions for instance. At the very cheap prices used at Amazon these are easy recommendations.

Glad you like it. Interestingly, I noticed that a high-end amplifier manufacturer (Simaudio) recommends this recording as a demonstration disc.

http://www.simaudio.com/recordings_classical.htm

 

[JayG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacard /img/forum/go_quote.gif Jay - How is the sound quality on the Kondrashin set you got from HMV? I'm considering that one as well (although I'm waiting for the Wand/Bruckner symphonies to be released on SACD and pick those up at the same time).

The sets I bought from HMV have not arrived yet. One of them was listed as not shipping for 5-7 days, so the order was delayed until that title was ready. I will report back here as soon as they get here and I have a chance to do some listening.

-Jay