Shostakovich symphony 11

CD Review

Comparisons:
Barshai/Brilliant Classics
Fedoseyev/Moscow Studio Archives
Mravinsky/BBC Legends
Kondrashin/Aulos

Summary: Not Among The Better Versions

The Music – Shostakovich's Symphony #8 is generally considered a musical depiction of the horror and devastation to Russia from World War II.

With its extra-musical themes, a highly concentrated tension permeates this five-movement work punctuated by a host of tremendous climaxes. Of course, Shostakovich's biting and grotesque satire rears its head as well, particularly in the 3^rd Movement Allegro non troppo.

Recorded Competition – Although not one of Shostakovich's most popular symphonies, the 8^th is not lacking for exceptional recordings.

Those from legendary conductors Eugen Mravinsky and Kiril Kondrashin have been the standards for decades. For comparison listening, I have also included the excellent versions from Rudolf Barshai and Vladimir Fedoseyev. In addition, there are stirring interpretations from Bernard Haitink on Decca, Mariss Jansons on EMI, and Mstislav Rostropovich on Teldec.

Suffice it to say that any new performance of the 8^th Symphony needs to display many of the qualities of these superb alternative recordings and/or present new insights into the work.

Dmitri shostakovich biography Follow us on. Bychkov's Recording — This performance does not offer new insights or match the best aspects of alternative recordings. In some ways I find it the most patriotic symphony. It conveys an inhuman and relentless force that could well symbolize a very unattractive futurist society as well as the horror of war.

Bychkov's Recording – This performance does not offer new insights or match the best aspects of alternative recordings. It is true that the orchestral playing is exceptional and the soundstage splendid in all respects; further, Bychkov's climaxes have tremendous power. However, the coiled tension of the best versions is lacking, and Shostakovich's biting satire has little sting in Bychkov's interpretation.

Examples – The 3^rd and 4^th Movements readily highlight the strengths and weaknesses that Bychkov brings to the music.

8 sinfonie shostakovich biography wikipedia Books Music. And then the war came and the sorrow became a common one. Of course, Shostakovich's biting and grotesque satire rears its head as well, particularly in the 3 rd Movement Allegro non troppo. Recorded Competition — Although not one of Shostakovich's most popular symphonies, the 8 th is not lacking for exceptional recordings.

The 3^rd Movement is in ABa form with a tremendously powerful coda. The first section is built on a machine-like ostinato in toccata form that travels from the violas to the first violins, and eventually to the entire orchestra. It conveys an inhuman and relentless force that could well symbolize a very unattractive futurist society as well as the horror of war.

The addition of shrieking winds and grinding bass only serves to support the grisly picture. The second section involves a circus-like atmosphere where Shostakovich seems to mock the serious themes presented in the first section.

The first section needs to convey an unstoppable power that has no soul.

8 sinfonie shostakovich biography This left audiences confused and led to attacks and censorship from the Soviet authorities. Recorded Competition — Although not one of Shostakovich's most popular symphonies, the 8 th is not lacking for exceptional recordings. The solo horn, flute, and clarinet emerge as distinct, lamenting voices. Evacuated to the village of Ivanova, he saw how the women suffered and struggled on.

Bychkov doesn't get to this point, because his machine rhythm is not sharply etched and the concentration of energy is too diffuse. His second section is even less successful, sounding like an exuberant day at the park with brass solos not having nearly the bite found in the Mravinsky performance. Essentially, and this applies to the entire work, Bychkov offers us a war of sane proportions, while Shostakovich's score captures its wild, dysfunctional, and inhuman properties.

The 4^th Movement, marked "Largo", is a passacaglia having a series of diverse variations over a ground bass. Featuring solo parts for horn, piccolo, and clarinet, this is the one movement in the work that thrives on poignancy and understatement. Reflecting the despair and desolation of war, Bychkov conducts the 4^th Movement excellently with a keen sense of its extra-musical associations and the dialogue among the musical lines.

Yet, the comparative versions display a greater intensity of desolation, especially the Fedoseyev account.

Don's Conclusions – Unfortunately, Bychkov does not delve into the heart of the 8^th Symphony's themes.

8 sinfonie shostakovich biography pdf This is is especially true of the Symphony No. Evacuated to the village of Ivanova, he saw how the women suffered and struggled on. The concluding Allegretto contains a measure of hope—perhaps a sense of rebirth—though not without reminders of the horrors that preceded. For comparison listening, I have also included the excellent versions from Rudolf Barshai and Vladimir Fedoseyev.

Given the wealth of the recorded competition, his recording is superfluous unless excellent sonics are your primary consideration. The premium AVIE price only solidifies my recommendation to take a pass on this disappointing disc.

© /, Don Satz