BBC MM CD May 2014 - Shostakovich 5

[Petrushka]

I highlighted this on the 'What are you listening to now' thread but think it deserves greater prominence.

I must admit that when I saw what the following month's disc was to be I inwardly groaned. I've got a multitude of recordings of the Shostakovich 5 from the likes of Jansons, Gergiev, Maxim Shostakovich, Kondrashin, Barshai, Rostropovich, Haitink, Bernstein etc, etc, and surely I don't need another one! And it's the BBC Welsh, hardly the New York Philharmonic is it?

How wrong can you be?

This live performance from Cardiff in February 2013 under Tadaaki Otaka is absolutely electrifying in every respect. Stunning playing, great sound and interpretively up there with the very, very best. To be honest, it wipes the floor with many of the big name rivals listed above and left me reeling in disbelief. If this had been an international commercial issue it would have been nominated for all kinds of plaudits.

Even if you don't want the magazine, get it anyway for the disc alone. You won't regret it.

[BBMmk2]

Thanks for the heads up on this recording, Pets! It has to be a very special one for us guys o obtain another. Although I don't have as many as you! I have Jarvi, Jansons, Barshai. and Previn.

[Petrushka]

Thanks for the heads up on this recording, Pets! It has to be a very special one for us guys to obtain another. Although I don't have as many as you! I have Jarvi, Jansons, Barshai. and Previn.

I think it is special enough and well worth acquiring. Nowadays, we really are spoilt when the BBC National Orchestra of Wales can more than hold its own with any orchestra on the planet and give a performance of this quality. I do urge all to investigate.

[amateur51]

I think it is special enough and well worth acquiring. Nowadays, we really are spoilt when the BBC National Orchestra of Wales can more than hold its own with any orchestra on the planet and give a performance of this quality. I do urge all to investigate.

Otaka conducts the student orchestra at RAM in London every other season, it appears, and they always play out of their collective skin for him, including a tremendous Shostakovich symphony no.5.

Thanks for the alert, Pet

[pastoralguy]

[QUOTE=Petrushka;

Even if you don't want the magazine, get it anyway for the disc alone. You won't regret it.[/QUOTE]

And a wonderful full page picture of Nicola Benedetti...

[visualnickmos]

And a wonderful full page picture of Nicola Benedetti...

Good job there are no male violinists who could be seen as sex objects!

[richardfinegold]

Thanks for the recommendation. My shelves are currently groaning under Shostakovich 5s, but getting the magazine along with it allows me to justify another extravagance.

[Ferretfancy]

I saw it conducted by Oramo a couple of weeks ago, so I'm postponing the pleasure of hearing the BBCMM disc for a while. I won't pre-judge, but have to say that I usually find Otaka just a workmanlike conductor, but to be fair I haven't seen him for some time.

[Petrushka]

Thanks for the recommendation. My shelves are currently groaning under Shostakovich 5s, but getting the magazine along with it allows me to justify another extravagance.

I think you'll be bowled over by this one. Most of the Shostakovich 5s I have on my own groaning shelves fall short in one respect or another. To my complete surprise Tadaaki Otaka avoids all the traps and is electrifying from first note to last. I'm not about to throw away my Rostropovich, Haitink, or Mravinsky etc, etc, but Otaka must now be considered my benchmark and, frankly, I'm astonished.

[Bryn]

Hmm. It is quite good, I will agree.

[amateur51]

I saw it conducted by Oramo a couple of weeks ago, so I'm postponing the pleasure of hearing the BBCMM disc for a while. I won't pre-judge, but have to say that I usually find Otaka just a workmanlike conductor, but to be fair I haven't seen him for some time.

How was the Oramo performance, Ferrret? Generally I find his 'live' performances to be increasingly impressive.

Gramex is 'on the move' soon btw - just along Lower Marsh, Roger said, and to be completed in one day with the assistance of trolleys from the local Iceland supermarket. They shall not close!

[visualnickmos]

.....Gramex ........They shall not close!

This is very good news indeed.

[Flosshilde]

Gramex is 'on the move' soon btw - just along Lower Marsh, Roger said, and to be completed in one day with the assistance of trolleys from the local Iceland supermarket. They shall not close!

& I was told that they will continue to trade while they move - stop me & buy one while they trolley down the road?

[amateur51]

& I was told that they will continue to trade while they move - stop me & buy one while they trolley down the road?

You know Roger - a sale is a sale wherever it's made

[Petrushka]

Gramex is 'on the move' soon btw - just along Lower Marsh, Roger said, and to be completed in one day with the assistance of trolleys from the local Iceland supermarket. They shall not close!

We seem to have wandered way off topic but never mind. Is that lower down Lower Marsh or up towards Waterloo? I'll no doubt be going there again at some point in the summer and would be good to save time and head scratching.