Shostakovich Second Violin Concerto - any recommended recordings?

[Cellini]

I've just realised that I can't find my Oistrakh version of the Shostakovich second concerto, so I will have to go and buy a copy. I can only find No 1 although I was sure I had two as well ... must be my loss of brain cells.

[Bryn]

Oistrakh's first recording, with Kondrashin, coupled with the 15th Symphony, is available on Regis, I think, at bargain price. That's the recording, in its LP manifestation, coupled, IIRC, with The Execution of Stepan Razin (Gromadsky), which introduced me to the work.

[Cellini]

Oistrakh's first recording, with Kondrashin, coupled with the 15th Symphony, is available on Regis, I think, at bargain price. That's the recording, in its LP manifestation, coupled, IIRC, with The Execution of Stepan Razin (Gromadsky), which introduced me to the work.

Hi Bryn

Thanks for the info. I couldn't find the concerto on the Regis website, and in the end I've ordered from Amazon a BBC CD of both concertos plus Ysaye Armitie for two vlns with Igor Oistrakh - and Svetlanov and Rozhdestvenky conducting. £10.99 all in. (Philharmonia and a Russian orchestra).

[Bryn]

Hi Bryn

Thanks for the info. I couldn't find the concerto on the Regis website, and in the end I've ordered from Amazon a BBC CD of both concertos plus Ysaye Armitie for two vlns with Igor Oistrakh - and Svetlanov and Rozhdestvenky conducting. £10.99 all in. (Philharmonia and a Russian orchestra).

Oops, sorry it's on the "Alto" label (same company as "Regis") and costs £4.99 including p&p from amazon.co.uk:

[BBMmk2]

What a combination of compositions and artists!! Spoilt!!

[Cellini]

Maybe I'll get the Alto one as well!

I've just listened to the first concerto with Oistrakh and the New Philharmonia with Maxime Chostakovitch (as they spell it on a French EMI label of 4 CD's). 1972 Abbey Road, London.

Beautiful recording and absolute mastery from David O.

I'm going to compare with my other recording (Columbia) with NY Phil and Mitropoulos - 1956 Carnegie Hall.

I've now listened to the NY Phil recording and David Oistrakh is pretty much the same, but I prefer the New Philharmonia with Maxime Chostakovitch because the sound is better, and the orchestral playing is better. For instance the opening of Mvt 1 is more misterioso in the basses and cellos.

I have noticed that in the NY Phil and Mitropoulos - 1956 Carnegie Hall recording in mvt 1 - D O is slightly sharp in places against the orchestra, and I consider that he's spot on, but the orchestra is flat. So not such a good band as the NP on that occasion.

[salymap]

I realise as a mere pianist, [and not a very good one] that violin concerti can be difficult in different ways. A simple looking Mozart or Bach pose their own problems. But the Shost. 2 must be the most full of problems surely. What do the fiddlers think?

[Cellini]

Well, Sally, it (No 2) sounds almost unplayable, but there you are, people do it! No 1 sounds playable if not too easy.

I can't wait to hear Oistrakh in No 2 when it arrives.

[Cellini]

The recording mentioned above arrives this morning!! I only ordered it on Saturday, with free postage.

It (the second concerto) was recorded at a Prom on 22 August 1968, with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra under Svetlanov, and so there is poor sound and its all a little distant. The playing is pretty good, and Oistrakh makes it sound easier than Khachatryan the other night, whch may have been due to Khachatryan's excessive vibrato effect. I would like to hear Khachatryan again so I might see if its on the iPlayer.

I have now listened again and I still find Khachatryan very good, I prefer too Oistrakh who is more expressive and more violinistic. Khachatryan can sound a bit viola like in the lower registers and listening on headphone I found it quite different to the other night and he was bit shakey in places (understandably I might add!). I also found his vibrato mainly less obvious than before, but he can still overdo it at times leading to smeared intonation high on the G string for example.

Superb orchestral playing with much tighter rythms than the Russian State Orchestra in 1968.

[mikealdren]

Cellini,
I made a CD up for one of my wife's pupils who was going to hear Khachatryan at the Barbican. They preferred Vengerov to Oistrakh - heathens! I've just noticed that I have 3 Oistrakh different performances, Svetlanov, Kondrashin and Rozhdestvensky, all recorded within a year, I'm intrigued and I'll have to do a comparison. The Vengerov is good but too knowing and it lacks Oistrakh's amazing intensity. I've got Sitkovetsky too, some weekend listening ahead.

Mike

[Cellini]

Cellini,
I made a CD up for one of my wife's pupils who was going to hear Khachatryan at the Barbican. They preferred Vengerov to Oistrakh - heathens! I've just noticed that I have 3 Oistrakh different performances, Svetlanov, Kondrashin and Rozhdestvensky, all recorded within a year, I'm intrigued and I'll have to do a comparison. The Vengerov is good but too knowing and it lacks Oistrakh's amazing intensity. I've got Sitkovetsky too, some weekend listening ahead.

Mike

Yes, it is Oistrakh's sound and intensity, plus great musicianship that I always find compelling.

[Panjandrum]

I made a CD up for one of my wife's pupils who was going to hear Khachatryan at the Barbican. They preferred Vengerov to Oistrakh - heathens!

I suspect the quality of the recorded sound was a major factor in their preference.

[Bryn]

Indeed that it quite likely. The orchestra in the Oistrakh/Kondrashin 1967 studio(?) recording is not that well served by A. Grosman (the recording engineer) but I am more than happy to put up with that for the opportunity to hear Oistrakh's gripping performance (and the percussion has a special impact in that recording, even if it is a distorted impression of the sound as it would be in a live concert hall acoustic).

[3rd Viennese School]

As a listener who loved Dmitri to bits may I say the finale of Violin Concerto no.2 is cxxx.

3VS

[Bryn]

Don't forget the 1st concerto is on Afternoon on 3 today, with the vivacious Alina Ibragimova as soloist: