BaL 9.11.13 Shostakovitch Symphony no. 8

[Sir Velo]

I expect many boarders have Mravinsky's electrifying 1982 live account with the Leningrad PO. My 80s Philips CD is a semitone sharp, something which later pressings corrected I believe.

[Tapiola]

I expect many boarders have Mravinsky's electrifying 1982 live account with the Leningrad PO. My 80s Philips CD is a semitone sharp, something which later pressings corrected I believe.

Yes, Sir V, a blistering performance. My copy is of the Regis reissue, with correction applied to the pitch.

[BBMmk2]

Nobody's mentioned Mariss Jansons?

[verismissimo]

I expect many boarders have Mravinsky's electrifying 1982 live account with the Leningrad PO. My 80s Philips CD is a semitone sharp, something which later pressings corrected I believe.

I still have Mravinsky/Leningrad PO live on Melodiya LPs probably from the late 1960s (and acquired then). Is that the same recording as above or an earlier one, I wonder?

It was my first Shostakovich symphony, completely electrifying - and converted me then to the notion that recordings of live performance could have a vibrancy often missing from ones made in the studio.

And I wonder if it's a semitone sharp?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Apart from the already well-aired 'Superdrug' Barshai and the Haitink, Kondrashin and Previn, my shelves yield a version not on EA's list: the 'Grand SO of State Radio and Television' under Alexander Gauk (rec. 7/11/59) on the Russia Revelation label, issued 1996. Can't say I've been particularly thrilled by it so far - any contrary views?

[Petrushka]

Apart from the already well-aired 'Superdrug' Barshai and the Haitink, Kondrashin and Previn, my shelves yield a version not on EA's list: the 'Grand SO of State Radio and Television' under Alexander Gauk (rec. 7/11/59) on the Russia Revelation label, issued 1996. Can't say I've been particularly thrilled by it so far - any contrary views?

Ah yes, I have that Gauk disc and have completely forgotten about. As far as I can recall I've only played it once. Incidentally, my copy says 7 October 1959 not November.

I also have a 1947 recording from Mravinsky and the Leningrad PO in addition to the rightly praised 1982 account and also the live 1960 RFH performance on BBC Legends (sadly ruined by a bronchial audience - such a shame).

[Bryn]

Apart from the already well-aired 'Superdrug' Barshai and the Haitink, Kondrashin and Previn, my shelves yield a version not on EA's list: the 'Grand SO of State Radio and Television' under Alexander Gauk (rec. 7/11/59) on the Russia Revelation label, issued 1996. Can't say I've been particularly thrilled by it so far - any contrary views?

See message #3. I have a soft spot for the way he used portamenti in the second scherzo.

[Barbirollians]

I have that 1982 account on cassette - superb albeit I am sure i rwad somewhere a suggestion it was transferred a semitone sharp - not quite sure how one would do that !

[pastoralguy]

It is still available new on Amazon! - and when did deletion ever stop BAL considering a fine recording?

Well, there was an 'incident' with the Britten violin concerto and one Ida Haendel...

[Barbirollians]

Well, there was an 'incident' with the Britten violin concerto and one Ida Haendel...

Except it wasn't deleted ! It was Piers Burton Page again . At least with the Walton it was poor Kyung Wha Chung and her recording that Walton himself adored - that got the " treatment " .

[Ferretfancy]

I have versions by Previn, Haitink, Rozhdestvensky, Mavrinsky, Barshai, and both Rostropovich recordings. Of these my favourite is the Haitink, which also gets a stunning recording. I did buy the Naxos Pretrenko with the RLPO, but was disappointed by it, and I found the Jansons complete symphonies oddly unsatisfying.
I've heard some marvellous live performances of Shostakovich by Jansons, but the set never really takes fire for me. Again, the Petrenko performance, spectacular in its heavily mixed down way doesn't penetrate the music as deeply as Haitink.

I did do some direct comparisons between Haitink and Petrenko, using the last twenty minutes of the symphony. Haitink finds depth and subtlety in the quieter passages, particularly in the lower string details where Petrenko generalises. Perhaps the recording engineers are partly to blame.

After all my pontificating, what's the odds that Stephen Johnson picks Petrenko ? It will be fun to find out. Incidentally his recent Barbican performance of the 15th Symphony with the RLPO was quite wonderful, so this isn't prejudice on my part.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have versions by Previn, Haitink, Rozhdestvensky, Mavrinsky, Barshai, and both Rostropovich recordings. Of these my favourite is the Haitink, which also gets a stunning recording. I did buy the Naxos Pretrenko with the RLPO, but was disappointed by it, and I found the Jansons complete symphonies oddly unsatisfying.
I've heard some marvellous live performances of Shostakovich by Jansons, but the set never really takes fire for me. Again, the Petrenko performance, spectacular in its heavily mixed down way doesn't penetrate the music as deeply as Haitink.

I did do some direct comparisons between Haitink and Petrenko, using the last twenty minutes of the symphony. Haitink finds depth and subtlety in the quieter passages, particularly in the lower string details where Petrenko generalises. Perhaps the recording engineers are partly to blame.

After all my pontificating, what's the odds that Stephen Johnson picks Petrenko ? It will be fun to find out. Incidentally his recent Barbican performance of the 15th Symphony with the RLPO was quite wonderful, so this isn't prejudice on my part.

I started a thread a while back on the Petrenko Shoster 8 http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...o+shostakovich There would appear to be a fair few boarders who will take a rapid unauthorised exeat should Stephen J pick this one...

[Ferretfancy]

I started a thread a while back on the Petrenko Shoster 8 http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...o+shostakovich There would appear to be a fair few boarders who will take a rapid unauthorised exeat should Stephen J pick this one...

Thanks for that, I'd rather forgotten the earlier thread on this subject, time passes !
Bws Ferret

[Petrushka]

My final verdict would be Haitink/Concertgebouw with the live LPO/Rozhdestvensky as runner up.

[Barbirollians]

Missed it - who won ?