Best Shostakovich Fifth Symphony ?

[prokkyshosty]

Here's some heart-on-the-sleeve Bernstein from a 1979 TV broadcast with the New York Phil (fourth movement only):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogJFXqYEYd8

I'd imagine this was one of Bernstein's first few chances to play this after Shosty's death in 1975, which may account for the waterworks at the end. Bernstein supposedly felt very close to Shostakovich after his USSR visit in 1957. You could also say this is one of the last entirely 'triumphal' versions of the symphony to be played right before the 1980 post-Testimony sea-change in our understanding of the symphony that Petrushka rightly mentions.

(Footage of Lenny and Shosty here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_97ksyOhSXs, featuring the fastest tempo I've ever heard. Perhaps Lenny was trying to get out of town before the cultural thaw was over?)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Here's some heart-on-the-sleeve Bernstein from a 1979 TV broadcast with the New York Phil (fourth movement only):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogJFXqYEYd8

I'd imagine this was one of Bernstein's first few chances to play this after Shosty's death in 1975, which may account for the waterworks at the end. Bernstein supposedly felt very close to Shostakovich after his USSR visit in 1957. You could also say this is one of the last entirely 'triumphal' versions of the symphony to be played right before the 1980 post-Testimony sea-change in our understanding of the symphony that Petrushka rightly mentions.

(Footage of Lenny and Shosty here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_97ksyOhSXs, featuring the fastest tempo I've ever heard. Perhaps Lenny was trying to get out of town before the cultural thaw was over?)

There was a Bernstein TV programme about this work in (I think) the late 1960s. This was my introduction to this fascinating work. I remember Bernstein describing himself as "somewhat Victorian".

[Bryn]

Re.Bernstein in the 5th, I commend this DVD to all. The audio is only in Dolby Digital 2.0, but it's the performance that counts.

[Petrushka]

Just played the Maxim Shostakovich version http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shostakovich...787044&sr=1-72 that so thrilled me on first hearing 36 years ago. Still packs quite a punch and was an ideal introduction. 1970 recording and that means typical Soviet brass sound. I believe the composer was at the recording sessions so a hugely authentic reading all round.

[umslopogaas]

Apologies if I'm just repeating other's thoughts, I've been away for a couple of days and am rushing to catch up on things before attacking the garden, how is that weeds can put on about two week's growth in two days? Anyway:

On CD

Temirkanov, "State Symphony O." Russia Revelation, recorded 1981.
Stokowski, New York Studium (sic) SO. Philips 1989 (recorded 1958 and licenced from Everest, USA).
Mravinksy, Leningrad PO. Melodiya vol. 15. Recorded 1954 (also on Russian Melodiya LP).

On LP

Previn, LSO. 1966, RCA.
Rowicki, LSO. 1967, Philips.
Skrowaczewski, Minneapolis SO. 1962, Mercury.
Svetlanov, USSR SO. 1978, Melodiya (on English HMV).
Kondrashin, Moscow Phil. SO. undated (in any numerals I can read), Russian Melodiya.
Rowicki, Warsaw Nat. Phil. SO. 1959, DG (under licence from Polish Broadcasting).
Sivestri, VPO. 1962, HMV.
Bernstein, NYPO. 1959, Philips (two versions with different covers, but the same recording).
Mitropoulos, Phil. SO of New York (presumably the NYPO moonlighting). early 1950s Columbia, mono.
Maxim Shostakovich, USSR SO. 1970, Engish HMV from Melodiya.

I wouldnt willingly part with any, though I havent played the work for quite a long time. The Mitropoulos I seem to recall is pretty amazing, but the ones that stir the memory most are Previn and Mravinsky. The sound on the Previn is particularly vivid.

[BBMmk2]

I love my Previn, Rudolph Barshai, and Mariss Jansons.

[silvestrione]

I wonder if anyone else remembers, but wasn't Previn LSO a surprise BAL choice some years ago? I know Haitink was dismissed because of some simple flaws in the slow movement.
Just after Volkov's Testimony appeared, Rostropovitch seemed to underline its revelations with a broadcast performance with his Washington Orchestra, that was just exhausting, the bass drum thuds at the end slowed down and truly frightening.

[Hamish MacCunn]

How about Jarvi with the SNO (Chandos 1989)?

[BBMmk2]

Hamish MacCunn, yes, i forgot about that recording! The brass certainly comes through there!

[Barbirollians]

I still have a very soft spot for the old CBS NYPO/Bernstein.

[Barbirollians]

I have finally got round to listening to the Previn this afternoon . A terrific performance I thought especially of the slow movement .

Has that sort of visceral excitement I associate with that early LSO/Previn Walton 1 .

[BBMmk2]

Indeed it does, Barbirollians. If I remember, I think Previn takes the slow movement at a very marked slower tempo than is actually written! I think this could be to hewighten the music, and (if I remember coirrectly), Previn thi nks this is how the movemen's tempo should be(I may be wrong).