[mbhaub]

Maazel is very frustrating. His conducting ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous. Fortunately, Tchaikovsky is one composer who brings out the best in him: Romeo and Juliet on Telarc is one of the best ever of that overplayed work. Staggering playing from the Clevelanders (what else?) , superb sound, and a reading that plays it to the hilt. It's a weird pairing, to be sure. But a great buy from Telarc.

 

[Doc Sarvis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wower /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sorry to bump this thread: I'm looking a good performace of his 5th. I've poured over most of this thread and am familiar with most of the major versions but can't come to a conclusion as to which is the best. The only helpful suggestion I can offer is that I perfer well recorded pieces as opposed to a darker, more closed-in recording. Who should it be? Rostropovich and the LSO? Haitink? Bernstien? Anything else?

If you happen to have a vinyl rig, the 1958 Bernstein (my favorite 5th) was just re-released in a wonderful vinyl edition.

 

[DarkAngel]

Xmas bump

I placed my holiday order with HMV Japan and finally put the Rozhy/Venetia complete set in the checkout basket......now the wait begins

 

[wower]

Ok. Bump again. Sorry.

Checking with Amazon Japan, they say Maazel's 5th will take 5 weeks to get here. hehe. I don't want to wait that long. (I really wanted it because I wanted the Tch R&J too.) I guess they sold all the copies in Japan over Christmas. Is Bernstein's 5th on CD a good substitute? I'm kind of stuck with the choices of Levi's 5th and 9th or Bernstein's 5th and 9th.

Amazon.co.jpF Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Symphony No. 9: ‰¹Šy: Dmitry Shostakovich,Yoel Levi,Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Amazon.co.jpF Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9: ‰¹Šy: Dmitry Shostakovich,Leonard Bernstein,New York Philharmonic


In head-fi we trust!!

 

[Henry Flower]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wower /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm kind of stuck with the choices of Levi's 5th and 9th or Bernstein's 5th and 9th. [/url] In head-fi we trust!!

Do it right, like DarkAngel: get the whole Rozhdestvensky set. The playing is second only to Kondrashin, and the sound is OK. (Considering). Plus you get 14 other symphonies to play with too.

 

[wower]

hehe... I wish I wish I could - if wishes were horses - but there's too much good music in the world to get before I get the complete Shostakovich cycle.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Xmas bump I placed my holiday order with HMV Japan and finally put the Rozhy/Venetia complete set in the checkout basket......now the wait begins

My Rozhy set arrived from Japan several days ago and am almost finished with my initial list to complete set..........

 

[Facade19]

I am interested to know which 2-3 symphonies, works of Shostakovich would be a good introduction to a newbie and which particular recording (if available). Thanks!

Edit: I know asked before regarding Shostakovich, but it was a complete set. I rather not hammer myself with an entire set, but instead 2-3 symphonies to get the feeling of Shostakovich.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Facade19 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am interested to know which 2-3 symphonies, works of Shostakovich would be a good introduction to a newbie and which particular recording (if available). Thanks! Edit: I know asked before regarding Shostakovich, but it was a complete set. I rather not hammer myself with an entire set, but instead 2-3 symphonies to get the feeling of Shostakovich.

For relative easy melodic listening S6 + S9, for more depth/intensity S5 + S8.
A popular coupling is Shosty 5 + 9, here are some good CDs cheap used:

Bernstein/Sony
Levi/Telarc
Gergiev/Phillips
Haitink/London

 

[stevenkelby]

Haven't read the whole thread but I downloaded his Piano Concerto 1 and 2 from in Flac from The Philadelphia Orchestra.

I'm impressed with the music, quality of the recording and the performance. Nice ambient noises, coughs etc, add to the illusion.

 

[JayG]

The 5/9 coupling is a good place to start, but if you want to really hear what Shostakovich is all about, I'd also get 4/10/11.

 

[Facade19]

My school library has a few recordings of Shostakovich's symphonies, such as the 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 13th. Haitink, Karajan and Bernstein. So once I have a chance I am going to check them out and see how I like them. Thanks for the recommendations btw!

 

[Facade19]

Yesterday, finally, my complete Shostakovich cycle arrived (Haintink/RCO and LPO on DECCA).
I got it new for $53. Just could not say no.
So far listened to the 5th, 7th and 9th. Of course the 5th has to be my favorite so far.
I would have listened to more symphonies of Shostakovich, but I purchased a complete set of Nielsen's symphonies Wednesday night (Blomstedt/Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra/EMI Classics). Dang I am in symphony heaven right now. Not only that, but Bax's complete cycle around here too and some Vaughan Williams I think I will refrain myself from buying any cd's for a very long time.

 

[scompton]

The other day I found at a thrift store, Shostakovich's 5th by the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. It's a really nice recording. It's OOP, but available used on Amazon. I don't have anything to compare it to. The only other Shostakovich symphonies I've heard is the Bernstein 5th and 9th that have been recommended. I got those out of the library a year ago or so.

 

[Facade19]

My library has the Ashkenazy set of Shosty's symphonies and other orchestral works. I checked it out for a few days now and some of these performances are great. Need more listening time before I can fully compare Ashkenazy and Haitink. However I still want the Gergiev set, really for # 4, 7 and 8. I also noted that my library carries Bernstein's 7th and Karajan's 10th. Have to check them out once I have returned the Ashkenazy set.

Before I press the post button: Shostakovich's symphonies are are absolutely fascinating and tense. Exactly what I love. I cannot really explain it, but when I listen to Shostakovich's symphony I feel as if I am hearing Mahler. Especially, I think so at least, the way Shostakovich uses the woodwinds to mess with time and uses the strings to alter once perception of space. I get this out of Mahler and I am getting this feeling from Shostakovich as well. Just some brilliant stuff.