Shostakovich 4,5 & 6 Oslo PO/Makela

[Pulcinella]

Ok, but not sure what you mean by 'no comparisons' ? Anyways a glowing review in particular the 4th which he says has the best sound of currently available recordings.and he takes a dig at others who called it 'shapeless' The 5th praised but not to the same degree.But he raves about the 6th which is common in the other reviews seen. Apart from some bearded noises off American . https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/...nos-4-6-makela

Mention is often/sometimes given of other recordings, which are then listed at the end of the review.
Following Petrushka's comment, I skimmed through this latest Gramophone, and there are indeed fewer examples of where this is the case.

[oliver sudden]

Four tuning forks in the current Diapason from Patrick Szersnovicz. (October, pp- 75–76.)

Ce double album au programme passionnant est un véritable crève-cœur. Car à la tête d'un Philharmonique d'Oslo très en forme, Klaus Mäkelä impressionne par l'époustouflante virtuosité de la réalisation factuelle, par sa rigueur analytique, mettant en valeur les moindres détails et les plus surprenants agrégats de timbres. Quant à l'élan visionnaire, le tension dramatique, le respect de la ligne intérieure et la simple expression, c'est une tout autre affaire. Distillant l'énergie à chaque instant, le chef finlandais en déséquilibre trop souvent la distribution sur de longues périodes.

[Pulcinella]

Four tuning forks in the current Diapason from Patrick Szersnovicz. (October, pp- 75–76.)

This is what Google Translate makes of that!

This double album with its exciting program is a real heartbreaker. Because at the head of a very fit Oslo Philharmonic, Klaus Mäkelä impresses with the breathtaking virtuosity of the factual realization, with his analytical rigor, highlighting the smallest details and the most surprising aggregates of timbres. As for the visionary momentum, the dramatic tension, the respect for the inner line and the simple expression, it is a completely different matter. Distilling energy at every moment, the Finnish conductor too often unbalances its distribution over long periods.

[richardfinegold]

Four tuning forks in the current Diapason from Patrick Szersnovicz. (October, pp- 75–76.)

Is Four tuning forks a good or bad thing?

[HighlandDougie]

Diapason's rating system is as follows (my translation of the rubric which accompanies each level):

Diapason d'Or - Exceptional: can be acquired with one's eyes closed
5 forks - Superb: Go on - you can take the risk
4 forks - Recommendable: wouldn't disgrace your collection
3 forks - Half-way: for fans above all
2 forks - Not recommended: what's the point of this disc?
1 fork - Execrable: don't fall into the trap of buying it

They are fairly sparing with their Diapasons d'Or - and you get a CD with excerpts of some of them with the magazine so that you can agree or not with their pronouncements. The October issue's 'Golds' include the Rameau 'Les Boréades' ( from me, too) and Jean-Guihen Queyras's second recording of the Bach Cello Suites. 5 forks include Joanna Mallwitz's Kurt Weill disc (which, IMUO, is excellent), 4 forks the DSCH 4, 5 & 6, 3 forks the Nathalie Stutzmann Atlanta SO Dvorak (very hmm) down to the 1 fork for a Blu-Ray of Verdi's 'I due Foscari'. 1 fork ratings are, happily, rather uncommon.

[ucanseetheend]

What is any of this to do with Oslo Phil /Makela DSCH. 4 5 6?

[oliver sudden]

What is any of this to do with Oslo Phil /Makela DSCH. 4 5 6?

I quoted the Diapason review and its accompanying rating (which to be honest I found a bit generous given the text of the review!)

[Barbirollians]

I feel sorry for Mr Makela - he was bound to face tall poppy syndrome at his age. He is a very good young conductor from what I have heard - I just fear he has been over promoted too early.

[LHC]

Diapason's rating system is as follows (my translation of the rubric which accompanies each level):

Diapason d'Or - Exceptional: can be acquired with one's eyes closed
5 forks - Superb: Go on - you can take the risk
4 forks - Recommendable: wouldn't disgrace your collection
3 forks - Half-way: for fans above all
2 forks - Not recommended: what's the point of this disc?
1 fork - Execrable: don't fall into the trap of buying it

They are fairly sparing with their Diapasons d'Or - and you get a CD with excerpts of some of them with the magazine so that you can agree or not with their pronouncements. The October issue's 'Golds' include the Rameau 'Les Boréades' ( from me, too) and Jean-Guihen Queyras's second recording of the Bach Cello Suites. 5 forks include Joanna Mallwitz's Kurt Weill disc (which, IMUO, is excellent), 4 forks the DSCH 4, 5 & 6, 3 forks the Nathalie Stutzmann Atlanta SO Dvorak (very hmm) down to the 1 fork for a Blu-Ray of Verdi's 'I due Foscari'. 1 fork ratings are, happily, rather uncommon.

I saw an advert on YouTube for that new recording of I due Foscari a few weeks ago and feel that the 1 fork awarded to it may be a bit generous; the 'highlights' included some of the most unpleasant singing I can ever remember hearing.

[Petrushka]

I feel sorry for Mr Makela - he was bound to face tall poppy syndrome at his age. He is a very good young conductor from what I have heard - I just fear he has been over promoted too early.

And yet... I came across a bill post on Facebook the other day advertising a performance of Verdi's La Traviata given in the National Theater, Munich, in January 1923. The conductor? Karl Bohm who was just 28!

[richardfinegold]

Diapason's rating system is as follows (my translation of the rubric which accompanies each level):

Diapason d'Or - Exceptional: can be acquired with one's eyes closed
5 forks - Superb: Go on - you can take the risk
4 forks - Recommendable: wouldn't disgrace your collection
3 forks - Half-way: for fans above all
2 forks - Not recommended: what's the point of this disc?
1 fork - Execrable: don't fall into the trap of buying it

They are fairly sparing with their Diapasons d'Or - and you get a CD with excerpts of some of them with the magazine so that you can agree or not with their pronouncements. The October issue's 'Golds' include the Rameau 'Les Boréades' ( from me, too) and Jean-Guihen Queyras's second recording of the Bach Cello Suites. 5 forks include Joanna Mallwitz's Kurt Weill disc (which, IMUO, is excellent), 4 forks the DSCH 4, 5 & 6, 3 forks the Nathalie Stutzmann Atlanta SO Dvorak (very hmm) down to the 1 fork for a Blu-Ray of Verdi's 'I due Foscari'. 1 fork ratings are, happily, rather uncommon.

That seems about right for this Shostakovich collection. I wouldn’t make a case that it’s perfect, or the best out there, but it’s certainly an entertaining listen. If it were to serve as baseline for KM, and he were to grow from here, he will have quite a legacy and justify the hype. My fear is that his frenetic schedule and commitments won’t allow for artistic growth