Jurowski Shostakovich 15

[Nick Armstrong]

Been away for a couple of weeks - the concert I want to catch up with is this, from last Wednesday

Edison Denisov: Symphony No.2
Berg: Violin Concerto
Shostakovich: Symphony No.15

Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski, conductor

The couple of reviews I've seen redouble my urge to hear it:

https://www.ft.com/content/418307cc-f9ad-11e6-bd4e-68d53499ed71

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/23/lpo-vladimir-jurowski-review-royal-festival-hall-patricia-kopatchinskaja

Quite surprised there seems to be no comment about it on the Forum - did no one listen, or attend?

[Richard Tarleton]

Quite surprised there seems to be no comment about it on the Forum - did no one listen, or attend?

That's what Pet is always saying

[Bryn]

I have listened to the Berg twice, trying to get to grips with what Pat Kop is up to with it. I will try again but with Suk/CPO/Ancerl as my benchmark it is not proving easy. The Denisov I have only listened to once, in less than ideal conditions (it was late, and I was very tired). The Shostakovich I am saving for listening to with full attention.

[EdgeleyRob]

I have now listened to this.
The Berg and DSCH were great I think,but I couldn't get the Denisov Symphony out of my head.

[Nick Armstrong]

but I couldn't get the Denisov Symphony out of my head.

In a good way...?

[Pulcinella]

I have listened to the Berg twice, trying to get to grips with what Pat Kop is up to with it. I will try again but with Suk/CPO/Ancerl as my benchmark it is not proving easy. The Denisov I have only listened to once, in less than ideal conditions (it was late, and I was very tired). The Shostakovich I am saving for listening to with full attention.

I don't have the same benchmark, but the Berg certainly sounded different and not what I am used to hearing. Not sure I liked it. Missed the Denisov (might try to catch up) and enjoyed the DSCH, though didn't think it as desolate as I usually think of it as being.

[jayne lee wilson]

Sum total of a week's listening: half a Bruckner 8, half an Ives 2, one Schumann Trio and.... the first movement of this DSCH 15. I needed sleep - more, even, than music. Grabbed a cat and a cushion.
It did sound sharp and uptempo in the way I prefer.... will try to catch up but
Time is the Evil. Evil....

[Nick Armstrong]

enjoyed the DSCH, though didn't think it as desolate as I usually think of it as being.

I've now had a chance to have a proper listen. First thoughts - I think there were pros and cons to the fleet tempi chosen by VJ. On the plus side, there was a sense of coherence in the slow movement which was different from other performances I've heard - yes, perhaps less desolate, but also compelling. Unfortunately I found there were more cons to the pacing of this performance - some of the solos were simply too fast for even these players to make sense of (the final flute solo before the ticking coda) or indeed get lips/fingers around (the xylo in the first movement). Being picky, there were a few other wrong notes too (one bassoon awry in the final chord before the clarinets come twittering in for the scherzo).

Will have another listen or two, to see if first impressions were too harsh.

[EdgeleyRob]

In a good way...?

Oh yes,I was very impressed.
Overshadowed the rest of the concert for me.

[Petrushka]

That's what Pet is always saying

It never ceases to amaze me that those on the R3 Forum never seem to catch or comment on stand out concerts like this.

I was unfortunately unable to listen live to this concert as Wednesday night is when my sister comes round but this looked to me to be a cracker of a programme and a concert I would have liked to have attended. Just as well I didn't really as I've been feeling most unwell recently with one truly terrible cold after another in addition to which I've had computer problems for the past week. I will listen tonight.

[HighlandDougie]

I'm still trying to get to grips with Pat Kop's way with the Berg VC. She certainly made me listen to it in a different light to, say, Anne-Sophie Mutter but I'm not sure that I liked it very much. Am I being unfair or is there an element with her of being different for different's sake?

Having been listening over the past few days to, inter alia, Maxim Shostakovich's pioneering recording of the 15th, VJ's briskish approach (not unlike that first recording) sounded about right to me. And I'm very much with ER on the Denisov - I listened to it twice as I was so taken with it first time around. Good on VJ and the LPO for programming it.

[DracoM]

The Denisov I simply could not cope with at all. Skill of band undoubted.
Shostakovich 15 very finely done.
Berg....well, yes, soloist OK, but I thought missed the electricity in the piece. Seemed just a bit non-committal.

[Bryn]

Though I have listened to Pat Kop's Berg twice, that was without listening to her introductory comments and singing. Having now done so I will listen to her performance again, perhaps better prepared.

[Nick Armstrong]

Shostakovich 15 very finely done.

Having listened a second time, I still ha'e me doots...

[Pulcinella]

Though I have listened to Pat Kop's Berg twice, that was without listening to her introductory comments and singing. Having now done so I will listen to her performance again, perhaps better prepared.

I thought those comments etc particularly enlightening, and they certainly coloured her interpretation.
I couldn't help thinking, rather poignantly, of the little chap at the end of Wozzeck, having a lullaby sung to him.