DSCH orchestral songs

[Guest]

These are woefully under-represented on my shelves so would appreciate recommendations from MBers (especially the Michelangelo settings). This Decca box looks tempting - anyone have it?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shostakovich-Songs-Lady-Macbeth-Mtsensk/dp/B000FG4KBY/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1303470455&sr=1-6

[umslopogaas]

I'm not competent to make critical comparisons between versions, but I have, and have been happy to keep, a Decca LP of the Michaelangelo poems sung by Shirley-Quirk (the Ashkenazy item in that CD set) and a double HMV LP which includes the Michaelangelo poems sung by Yevgeny Nestorenko and conducted by Maxim Shostakovich. Its the latter that sticks in the memory, Nestorenko has a magnificent, snarling Russian bass. Its one of HMV's series of Melodiya (Russian) recordings, so presumably there are Melodiya issues out there somewhere. I've also accumulated several other Shostakovich vocal works on Melodiya LPs: the quality is very good, but they are not too easy to use, because the sleeve notes are entirely in Russian, which I cant read, though mercifully the opus numbers are in western script.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have the HMV double-LP set of the Michelangelo settings that umslopogaas endorses with every justification. Being impressed with Shoster's vocal settings I've also bought the 5 Delos CDs of songs with piano (pianist Yuri Serov is the mastermind and constant presence(*) in the recordings, all with Russian singers). He includes the Michelangelos (sung by Fyodor Kuznetsov) and this is well worth hearing. But go for the orchestral version first. You won't be disappointed by the Nestorenko/Maxim Shostakovich if you can still find it.

(*)In fact, looking at all the Delos discs, Kuznetsov is also there on each, whenever a bass - rather than a baritone - is needed. Serov uses 4mezzos, a couple of sops, one baritone but NO TENORS AT ALL. Didn't Shoster like tenors???

OOPS, suddenly remembered there's a tenor in the Jewish Folk Poetry cycle, but that's all - no tenor & pf songs by Shoster apparently. Good lad Shoster

[Roehre]

These are woefully under-represented on my shelves so would appreciate recommendations from MBers (especially the Michelangelo settings). This Decca box looks tempting - anyone have it?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shostakovic...3470455&sr=1-6

I've got it, and I strongly recommend it.
Lady MacBeth of Mtinsk is IMO slightly preferable in the Rostropovich EMI-version, but this one has certainly its own merits, e.g. the better recording.
The Michelangelo-songs are represented twice in this set, as piano-version (the Ashkenazy/Shirly-Quirk which umslopogaas mentions) as well as the orchestral version.

[Mahlerei]

Thanks Roehre, umslopogaas et al for your feedback. I wasn't sure I need another Lady Macbeth - I'm very happy with Rostropovich - but this Decca set is a bargain at under £18. Too good to miss, really.