Elroel
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« Reply #15 on: January 19, 2014, 04:01:07 pm » |
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In itself it is great ho hear there is a new version of the 12th, and a coming 18th.
Both symphonies I have on the Olympia label. I might buy the cd with the 18th when it comes. But listening to it now, the Latvian State Academic Choir sings so glorious, that it can hardly be surpassed. I will give it a listen at the only classical recordshop in the city nearby, when it comes.
I shall not buy the disc with the 12th. The Olympia record is conducted by Maxim Shostakovich. I find it very convincing: the son conducts this work that is in memory of his father. It seems to me a strong combination.
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #16 on: January 19, 2014, 10:02:57 pm » |
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Ultimately however Shostakovich was the greater composer. Symphonies like the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 15th are towering masterpieces (albeit that Nos. 13 and 14 appeal slightly less to me, I can still acknowledge that they too are superb compositions). When one hears the 8th and 10th-in particular-one knows that one is in the presence of a rare symphonic genius which entitles the composer to stand with Mahler, Sibelius, Nielsen, Vaughan Williams as in the very first rank of 20th century composers.
Totally agree! Only three of Weinberg's works-Symphonies 5 and 6 and the Piano Quintet-can even touch Shostakovich's genius IMO. Another IMHO - While comparisions are always a slippy slope, and while the popular Shostakovitch is one of my favorite composers (my favorites are symphonies 1,4,5,7 and 10), I don't think Shosty was any more of a musical genius than Weinberg. Perhaps many try to fit Weinberg's message into Shosty's psyche, and although similar at times, he is certainly not Shosty. I think there are some historians who think some of Shosty's music is derivative of Weinberg, they were friends. I do think Weinberg's message is more personal as he was a holocast survivor and saw his parents murdered. I think several of Weinbergs symphonies,(he wrote 22) once heard, are utterly unforgettable. I also have the original Olympia subset and agree, they cannot be outdone.
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Dundonnell
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« Reply #17 on: January 21, 2014, 12:23:01 am » |
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Much as I admire the enterprise pf both Chandos and Naxos in recording the Weinberg symphonies and other orchestral works, and much as I look forward to these companies getting round to the unrecorded symphonies, I cannot be without those early Olympia recordings-which is no consolation to those who did not get them when they were easily available :(
The performances by Kondrashin of Symphonies Nos. 4(1974) and 6 (!974) and of No.12 by Maxim Shostakovich(1979) are, in my opinon, unsurpassable. Kondrashin was a wonderful conductor and the raw intensity with which he conducts the Moscow Philharmonic simply cannot be equalled by the newer recordings. If sound quality is a major issue then by all means go for the Chmura on Chandos or Lande on Naxos. These are fine performances but, with respect, the Polish National Radio SO and the St. Petersburg State SO are not the Moscow Philharmonic or the USSR Radio SO of the 1970s and the genuine sense of authenticity which Kondrashin and M. Shostakovich brought to these powerful works remains for me irreplacable.
However....if you don't have the Olympia recordings then ignore my comments :)
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guest377
Guest
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« Reply #18 on: January 21, 2014, 05:31:30 am » |
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I miss those days at Tower Records.... you could walk over to the classical area.. and they had a stand set up with almost every Olympia CD that was released... and a new releases section for Olympia also....
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Elroel
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« Reply #19 on: January 21, 2014, 10:31:43 am » |
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Exactly. That's where many of my Olympia's (and Lyrita's, BTW) came from. My visits to London started there. Already earlier, in the 60s and 70s of last century London was for me the capital of the recording world, and much cheaper than in my own country.
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #20 on: January 22, 2014, 08:58:13 am » |
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I've never heard no. 18. Let's hope Naxos or Chandos records it in due course (I don't doubt they will)!
it is here (in 3 parts)
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