Shostakovich Second Violin Concerto - any recommended recordings?

[HighlandDougie]

This concerto is one I have avoided over the years (don't quite know why) but, having attended a performance yesterday by Sergei Khachatryan, I was impressed by the music and his performance (he played beautifully). Any favourite recordings - or any to avoid?

[Norfolk Born]

I have Ilya Kaler on Naxos 8.550814, and share the enthusiasm of those who have reviewed it on the Amazon website.

[Bryn]

This concerto is one I have avoided over the years (don't quite know why) but, having attended a performance yesterday by Sergei Khachatryan, I was impressed by the music and his performance (he played beautifully). Any favourite recordings - or any to avoid?

ALC1062 (Oistrakh and Kondrashin)

Or better still:



Which, I believe, also includes the same recordings.

[BBMmk2]

I like Maxim Vengerov's!!

[Petrushka]

I like Maxim Vengerov's!!

Yes, I too like Maxim Vengerov with Rostropovich and the LSO. Self-recommending issue I would have thought. I also have Daniel Hope/BBCSO/Maxim Shostakovich but lacking Oistrakh in the second.

[HighlandDougie]

Many thanks, all, for the recommendations. I'm ashamed to say that I have the Kondrashin symphonies box but, because I only ever listen to some of the symphonies in it (1 - 4, 8, 9, 10 & 13 - my fault for being narrow-eared), I hadn't realised that it also contains the Oistrakh recording. It's in Scotland rather than here in France so will rectify my short-sightedness - and relative ignorance of the work - when I return to the frozen wastes of the north next month

[umslopogaas]

Oistrakh was the dedicatee and gave the first performances, so I guess he is essential listening. I have the Oistrakh/Kondrashin recording in its original LP version (HMV ASD 2447). It was originally a Melodiya recording, issued in the UK by HMV under their collaboration agreement with the Russian company. However, The Penguin Guide 2010 recommends another Oistrakh performance, recorded live at the Proms in 1968 (only a year after the first performance). Their top recommendation is Vengerov/Rostropovich. I'm happy to stay with Oistrakh and Kondrashin.

[Nachtigall]

I've had the two Shostakovich violin concertos played by Lydia Mordkovitch on Chandos with the RSNO under Neeme Järvi for quite some time and find the performances and recording very satisfying, so that would be a strong recommendation. I also have Oistrakh's recording with the Moscow Philharmonic under Gennady Rozhdestvensky (part of a boxed set of all the Shostakovich concertos issued by Brilliant Classics). But if you enjoyed Sergey Khachatryan's performance of the Second why not buy his CD with the Orchestre national de France under Kurt Masur on naïve? I'm a great fan of Khachatryan ever since seeing him play the First Shostakovich Concerto at the Proms about five or six years ago. He's a wonderful violinist.

[HighlandDougie]

Thanks, Nachtigall. Khachatryan's performances of both concertos duly downloaded from Qobuz - and 2nd playing as I type. The orchestral playing is, happily, rather better than the - pretty execrable - Orchestre Regional de PACA on Sunday. As the French do like their encores, he wasn't allowed to escape until he'd played a Bach Sarabande. Beautifully - and unshowily played. I will certainly go out of my way to hear him again.

[bluestateprommer]

For HD and others, you may be interested in Khachatryan''s recent performance of this concerto in Washington, DC with the National Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Kirill Karabits, reviewed here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011307383.html

[Nachtigall]

Thanks, bluestateprommer, for that interesting review. Khachatryan will tomorrow (Sunday 23 January) be playing the Shostakovich Second Violin Concerto with the LSO under Gergiev at the Barbican. The Karabits/Khachatryan combination will be touring with the Berg Violin Concerto (Poole, Cheltenham and Basingstoke) in March and Khachatryan will be playing the First Shostakovich Concerto at the RFH on 31 March with the Philharmonia under Tugan Sokhiev.

[Cellini]

It's on R3 tonight (27th Jan) at 7.00pm with Sergei Khachatryan - LSO - and Mr Gergiev. Could be good.

[Cellini]

It was bloody good, but most people seem to have cloth ears so why bother.

[Bryn]

It was good. Indeed it was more than merely good, but I felt it was a bit too, how should I put this, polite, too polished, compared to the various Oistrakh performances from the late '60s which are available on CD (with Kondrashin, Svetlanov and Rozhdestvensky), which all had more bite. I thought Khachatryan preferable to Mordkovitch, however. I find here particular brand of vibrato just too sickly for such a work. Oistrakh uses plenty of vibrato, of course, but not to sugar the pill. Today I ordered the 11 disc set of concertos with Vengerov. I already have 4 of them, but it still worked out the sensible option. I can always sell the duplicates on Amazon or ebay. I like his performance of the 1st DSCH concerto, so want to hear what he did with the 2nd (which I got to know long before I ever heard the 1st).

[Cellini]

I appreciate your in depth analysis Bryn. I will have to listen to the Oistrakh versions again. Of course, I always think he's one of the finest.

I thought that Khachatryan's vibrato was at times quite excessive, but he did vary it a lot, both in speed and width. But yes, with maybe repeated hearings it would become too much.

I didn't find Khachatryan too polished and I thought his sound quite rough at times, although it was rough in the right way.

I have to confess that I don't know this work that well, which is a guilty admission, being a violinist.

Vengerov, yes, I must listen to him more, especially in Russian music.