BaL 29.06.13 - Shostakovich Symphony. No. 5

[LeMartinPecheur]

Jansons/VPO 'won'

Oh dear, silly money if like me you don't do downloads http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...hony+5+jansons

[Phileas]

Or on Spotify:
Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 etc
Mariss Jansons/Wiener Philharmoniker

http://open.spotify.com/album/41ciObewkwDmxu8OtHKWnQ

[umslopogaas]

Previn didnt get a mention but he's not on the list in #1, so presumbably RCA have not transferred him from the LP. Pity, I've got the LP and as I recall it is very good.

[Petrushka]

Jansons/VPO 'won' - Ancerl, Haitink, Mravinsky (can't remember which one) and Kondrashin were in the running

This surprises me. I've always found it distinctly underwhelming mostly due to the recessed sound but it's a long time since I last heard it and may be wrong.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Previn didnt get a mention but he's not on the list in #1, so presumbably RCA have not transferred him from the LP. Pity, I've got the LP and as I recall it is very good.

It was transferred and is still available second-hand:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/music/dp/B000025W1B

The "chosen one" seems to be only available as a download - or at silly prices.

The constant references to "the" Rostropovich (he recorded it at least twice) "the" Mravinsky (there are at least five available recordings) I found misleading - and, yet again, a recording (this week, Haitink) got favourable comments throughout, only to be forgotten at the final count.

But it was good to hear Kondrashin and Mravinsky in such close proximity, though - the former portraying the victim, the latter shifting the viewpoint back and forth from tormentor to tormented: both very different, both very superb, both with recorded sound a bit worse for the passing of time.

[soileduk]

Oh dear, silly money if like me you don't do downloads http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...hony+5+jansons

Much better to find a forgotten copy nestling snugly amongst it's companions.

[soileduk]

This surprises me. I've always found it distinctly underwhelming mostly due to the recessed sound but it's a long time since I last heard it and may be wrong.

Just played the Allegretto to wake Mrs.S and the Krell doesn't seem to be producing a 'recessed' sound.

[umslopogaas]

Thanks ferney, but I think that must be a different version; it says live, but my RCA LP makes no reference to it being live and in fact the accompanying leaflet shows photos of the studio. As I recall, the sound is extremely good. The CD you show probably also sounds very good, being the same orchestra, conductor and recording company. The LP is an RCA Dynagroove recording, produced by Decca for RCA, all good audiophile stuff.

[LaurieWatt]

Just played the Allegretto to wake Mrs.S and the Krell doesn't seem to be producing a 'recessed' sound.

And I have it on right now - the CD - and the sound is not recessed at all; it is just that the dynamic range is wonderfully wide and needs to be played at a reasonably high level, as explosive as that is at the main climactic points. Wonderful performance and a fine recording.

[Tony Halstead]

From DavidP message #51:

Ferney, that's absolutely right. Shostakovich, I think, even says in the score that if the 'hornist' is unable to play the score as written he can play a lower note (I forget which off the top of my head!)

In the score, and also in the 1st horn part, what it actually says is ( paraphrased) ' if the horn player is unable to play these notes PIANISSIMO ( my capitals) he can play the lower notes'. There are TWO high notes actually; even more tellingly, these high notes
are in brackets! How many times do we ever hear theses note played 'pianissimo' rather than usually a solid, 'safe mezzoforte' ?
(and even louder on some recordings)
The 'unbracketed' notes are a whole octave lower. The high options sound an octave and a third above middle C at concert pitch, then C# (No, please let's not open a can of worms about 'concert pitch' in the Soviet Union etc.)

Shostakovitch's original is certainly not 'easy' to play accurately at 'pp' volume, but composers such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven often wrote these notes to be played softly - admittedly on the rather quieter valveless horn. What does this say about the state of horn playing in the USSR at that time?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks ferney, but I think that must be a different version; it says live, but my RCA LP makes no reference to it being live and in fact the accompanying leaflet shows photos of the studio. As I recall, the sound is extremely good. The CD you show probably also sounds very good, being the same orchestra, conductor and recording company. The LP is an RCA Dynagroove recording, produced by Decca for RCA, all good audiophile stuff.

The "Live" reference is on the Amazon description only, umsloppy - the disc itself makes no such claim and gives the recording date as 1965. As it's unlikely that RCA would record twice the same performers in the same work at the same time, I think it must be the same performance as the LP (which I had in its "Gold Label" reissue), and that the River people made an error.

Unless, of course, anyone knows any different?

[Petrushka]

And I have it on right now - the CD - and the sound is not recessed at all; it is just that the dynamic range is wonderfully wide and needs to be played at a reasonably high level, as explosive as that is at the main climactic points. Wonderful performance and a fine recording.

It's probably this that I'm thinking about. As I say, it's some years since I last played it. I'll give it another spin soon and will bump up the volume.

[umslopogaas]

The LP is UK RCA SB 6651 (the USA RCA equivalent is given in brackets as LSC 2866). Both the disc and the sleeve note are dated 1966 and judging from the notes and photos, the recording is definitely a studio one. It does seem a bit counterproductive for RCA to issue a studio and a live version of the same work by the same forces within a year of each other, especially when the studio version is so good, but maybe the live version has something extra special that is missing from the studio one? Previn looks to me to be the sort of conductor who would relish a live audience. Or, it may be that if those forces were performing the symphony regularly in concerts at that time, RCA initially made a live recording but werent satisfied with it, so didnt issue it at the time, but made a studio version instead. But they would have kept the live recording and would that now be out of copyright? In which case it wouldnt cost them much to issue it. Anyway, whether or not the studio version has also been put out on CD, I'm content to stick with the LP.

The CD should be very good, Previn is a remarkable musician who I sometimes feel is looked down on by classical music lovers because of his more popular music making.

[BBMmk2]

What happened to jarvi, Haitink or Barshai? Although I do have that recording(Jansons/VPO). Seems strange that.

[LeMartinPecheur]

What happened to jarvi, Haitink or Barshai? Although I do have that recording(Jansons/VPO). Seems strange that.

IIRC, Jarvi and Barshai didn't get a mention. Haitink was still up there as the line approached, but either fell or was pulled up by Mr Norris. For no stated reason - see ##59 & 65 above.