BBC MM CD May 2014 - Shostakovich 5

[Ferretfancy]

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!

The Oramo Shostakovich 5 was part of a BBC concert with the premiere of Salonen's violin Concerto. It was a fascinating evening,you can see my comment on the Last Concert thread, message 786 ( Where do I find hash on my keyboard? )

Gramex on the move eh ! Stooping over those tables does my back no good, nor my pocket ! I hope Roger keeps well and the move is a success. If in doubt of the exact location, no doubt they can tell us in Iceland!

[Flosshilde]

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.

It's on the opposite side of the road, I think only a couple of shops down to the right (coming out of the present shop) - towards the Old Vic. But don't quote me on it.

[richardfinegold]

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.

I also find that my collection of 5ths is filled with performances that seem wonderful but usually have 1 deficiency that I tend to find bothersome on repeat listening. Then the next 5th that I purchase tends to compensate for the problems of the last one but introuduces new issues. For example, I remember finding the Bernstein deficient in the Largo, and after hearing the Jaarvi Largo being bowled over and then subsequently purchasing it, but I don't find the jaarvi completely satisfying elsewhere. My favorite all around 5th is karel Ancerl and the Czech PO.

[amateur51]

I also find that my collection of 5ths is filled with performances that seem wonderful but usually have 1 deficiency that I tend to find bothersome on repeat listening. Then the next 5th that I purchase tends to compensate for the problems of the last one but introuduces new issues. For example, I remember finding the Bernstein deficient in the Largo, and after hearing the Jaarvi Largo being bowled over and then subsequently purchasing it, but I don't find the jaarvi completely satisfying elsewhere. My favorite all around 5th is karel Ancerl and the Czech PO.

The first recording i got to know, on LP from the public library. That was a lucky choice

[Petrushka]

Yes that Ancerl recording is excellent and makes a very good all round recommendation for this work.

Returning to Otaka, I'd agree with FF that his performances can, on the whole, be described as 'workmanlike' but there is a Walton 1, also on a BBC MM CD, that is very fine indeed and gives the celebrated Previn a run for its money. A Mahler 5, also on a BBC MM CD, is certainly a lot better than workmanlike. I also remember an excellent Elgar 1 on R3. Perhaps he really comes alive for these big romantic symphonies.

[amateur51]

Yes that Ancerl recording is excellent and makes a very good all round recommendation for this work.

Returning to Otaka, I'd agree with FF that his performances can, on the whole, be described as 'workmanlike' but there is a Walton 1, also on a BBC MM CD, that is very fine indeed and gives the celebrated Previn a run for its money. A Mahler 5, also on a BBC MM CD, is certainly a lot better than workmanlike. I also remember an excellent Elgar 1 on R3. Perhaps he really comes alive for these big romantic symphonies.

He conducted Rachmaninov symphony no.2 at RAM with the student orchestra in a towering performance, with the final movement taken at a fair lick which is just how I like it