BaL 11.11.17 - Shostakovich: Symphony no. 11 (The Year 1905)

[RichardB]

I really must give this work another listen soon as a result of all the enthusiasm shown for it here. My previous experience of it has given me the impression of an interminable, unmemorable sequence of programmatic clichés that's in a different world from the great Shostakovich symphonies like 1, 4, 8, 14 and 15.

[kea]

That was my initial experience of the piece as well. I've never actually given much thought as to why I like it now. It's not political reasons (from a modern Marxist-Leninist perspective, the content of any piece of music is practically irrelevant; only its context matters) and it's not a piece I love-love but it's one I'll listen to with some frequency as a substitute for a caffeinated energy drink. Presumably the only real answer is that my judgment became less discriminating with age and I developed a great affection for kitsch.

For recordings, I've never really looked past Kondrashin (to supplement it with one in modern sound I picked up Järvi, mostly on the basis that the timings were similar, and did indeed prove to enjoy it nearly as much).

[Barbirollians]

I really must give this work another listen soon as a result of all the enthusiasm shown for it here. My previous experience of it has given me the impression of an interminable, unmemorable sequence of programmatic clichés that's in a different world from the great Shostakovich symphonies like 1, 4, 8, 14 and 15.

I think that is why I was so taken by the Stokowski - like a great actor making something of a not brilliantly written play - the “cliches” feel much less like it because of the conviction behind the playing.

[mathias broucek]

Rozhdestvensky is very good in the 11th. I prefer him in the less "polite" symphonies...

[HighlandDougie]

Rozhdestvensky is very good in the 11th. I prefer him in the less "polite" symphonies...

You've lost me there, alas. Not sure which symphonies might be classified as, "polite"? Those symphonies where one feels that DSCH had the might of the Soviet state breathing down his neck - like the 7th, 11th and 12th? Not the 5th which is rather more subversive in its own way. But, if I ever want to listen to one of his symphonies (which is quite often), it would, frankly, never be one of the afore-mentioned trio.

[Barbirollians]

You've lost me there, alas. Not sure which symphonies might be classified as, "polite"? Those symphonies where one feels that DSCH had the might of the Soviet state breathing down his neck - like the 7th, 11th and 12th? Not the 5th which is rather more subversive in its own way. But, if I ever want to listen to one of his symphonies (which is quite often), it would, frankly, never be one of the afore-mentioned trio.

I am rather fond of the 11th - the 12th I must admit leaves me cold .