Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos.1 - 15 [Box set] [Import]

Track Listings

1. Symphony No 1- Allegretto - Allegro Non Troppo

2. Allegro

3. Lento

4. Allegro Molto - Lento - Allegro Molto

5. Symphony No 3- Allegretto - Allegro

6. Andante

7. Allegro - Largo

8. Moderato- 'V Pervoye Pervoye Maya'

9. Symphony No. 2 In B Major- Largo - Allegro Molto

10. My Shili, My Prosil Raboty I Khleba

11. Symphony No 10 In E Minor- Moderato

12. Allegro

13. Allegretto

14. Anfante - Allegro

15. I. Allegretto Poco Moderato

16. Presto

17. Ii. Moderato Con Moto

18. Iii. Largo

19. Allegro

20. I. Moderato

See all 85 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

I. Allegretto / Allegro Non Troppo
II. Allegro
III. Lento -
IV. Allegro Molto
I. Allegretto
II. Adagio -
III. Allegretto
IV. Adagio / Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

Brash in one and spectral in the other.......2003-04-25

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975) arguably made the most significant contribution to the twentieth century development of the symphony after the work of Gustav Mahler. Like Mahler, he never avoided the popular appeal of near-cinematic drama or tunefulness and, again like Mahler, he sought to integrate folk material with the forms of the polyphonic tradition stemming from Bach. Shostakovich wrote fifteen symphonies in all. Two of them, the Second and the Third, deviate strongly from the norms of the genre and have been described as "poster-art symphonies" (later in life, their composer preferred to ignore them); but all the others correspond to expectation: they are in three, four, or five movements (or multiple movements in the case of the Fourteenth, a song-cycle with chamber orchestra) and the opening movement is usually an expanded sonata. Indeed, Shostakovich's breakthrough came with a symphony, his First (1925) in F-Minor, submitted as his graduation exercise from the then Petrograd Conservatory, where he studied with the world-weary but avuncular Alexander Glazunov. Shostakovich's early work shows the influence partly of Stravinsky and partly of Hindemith. We thus hear echoes of "Petrouschka" on the one hand and of the various "Kammermusiks" on the other. Present in embryo, so to speak, is the irony that pervades the composer's much later work, and a good performance of the First Symphony succeeds by bringing this element to the foreground. Jesús Lopez-Cobos and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra perhaps bite less ferociously than they might, but they do discover a brooding quality in the slow and quiet passages of the second and third movements that suggests another powerful Shostakovich affinity - the Alban Berg of "Wozzeck," which had been performed in Russia in the 1920s. The Third Movement (Lento) benefits especially from this treatment. Listening to the Lopez-Cobos traversal of this score, I am made aware of how closely it forecasts the same composer's Ninth Symphony (1945). From the other end of Shostakovich's symphonic career, Lopez-Cobos offers the Fifteenth Symphony (1972) in A-Major, one of the last scores that the composer completed. The classic recording of the Fifteenth is the first, from 1974 or 75 (if I am not mistaken), with the composer's son Maxim leading the Moscow Philharmonic: the raw sound of the Russian orchestra, especially the rattling brass and sharp-voiced, satirical woodwinds, fits the music beautifully. Non-Russian orchestras invariably bring a smoother sound to the interpretation (with this score and with every other by the composer) than do Russian ones and the present case is no exception. What Lopez-Cobos lacks in mocking raspberry, however, he more than makes up for in dark luminosity. The Fifteenth - with its network of encoded musical and autobiographical allusions - belongs with the last three String Quartets in its gnomic and entirely "personal" quality. Lopez-Cobos takes the opening Allegretto quietly, in a way that distinguishes his reading from others and emphasizes the "interior" character of the music. The obvious quotations from Rossini (the "William Tell" Overture made famous for Americans by its association with the cowboy character of the Lone Ranger) and Rimsky-Korsakov ("The Golden Cockerel") acquire a ghostly, phantasmagoric quality; the bizarre fugato passages seem especially nocturnal and alienated. The longish Adagio, which follows, includes prominent parts for solos, such as the cello, the trombone, and the flute; Lopez-Cobos builds to the great climax in the brass most effectively. Between the slow movement and the Finale comes a typical Shostakovich scherzo, full of irony and weird turns. The Finale itself is a set of variations on the "Fate Theme" from Wagner's "Ring." It bears some resemblance formally to the variations-finale of Carl Nielsen's Sixth (and last) Symphony. As in the Fourteenth Symphony, percussion are to the fore, especially the xylophone, with its skeletal, hence mortal, implications. Telarc's engineering is superb. It well serves the conductor's entirely valid interpretation of the work. For a more mordant view, one might seek out Maxim Shostakovich or Mstislav Rostropovich. But Lopez-Cobos can stand on his own merits. No one coming to the Fifteenth Symphony would do badly by this disc.

A 15th to rival Haitink (and better than all others).......2003-04-16

Wasn't sure what to expect apart from great sound. The sound is certainly good as well as realistic. Perhaps the last ounce of sparkle (e.g. on triangles and cymbal) is missing, but i may just be being picky.

Certainly, the performances have rapidly grown on me. I'm a big fan of the (seemingly unfashionable) Haitink recording of the 15th. because of its sanity, but this version adds a touch more flair to the sanity and also seems more organic and possibly even more coherent as a performance. To my surprise, this goes to the top of the heap (very easily over Rostropovich but also over Kondrashin and even over Maxim Shostakovich) and after a few more hearings may even supplant Haitink.

And, of course, you get the bonus of a very good recording of the 1st symphony, which is probably more approachable to most people than Haitink's coupling of the songs from jewish folk poetry).

Recommended, though if you wait a little longer it will probably come out on SACD, being a DSD recording and maybe that ultimnate sparkle in percussion may be there after all.

Astonishing 15th Symphony.......2001-08-06

If we consider there is a time span of 45 years between the conceptions of Shostakovich's symphonies no. 1 and no. 15 (his last) it is incredible to ascertain that everything that made him a great and universal composer was present right at the beginning of his career. In most of his symphonies (which, as in Mahler's case, can be considered as a gesammtkunstwerk with numerous repetitions and interweaving threads) the sense for jocular esprit and brooding melancholy are a consistent factor, the rhythmic use of the instruments and above all, the great melodic parts for the solo instruments, never stop to surprise. In comparison with Bernstein's interpretation of the first Symphony on Sony Classical (SMK 47614) in SBM-format (recording of 1969) the Lopez-Cobos interpretation is played with less vigour and stamina, but the details of the composition blend more accurately with the totality of the work.
Due to the exeptional recording quality of this Telarc disc in DSD and a total playing time of almost 77 minutes you can't go wrong with this one!

Schostakowitsch: Symphonies Nos. 1,5,6,8, 10, 15 [Box Set]

Average customer rating:

Schostakowitsch: Symphonies Nos. 1,5,6,8, 10, 15 [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Berlin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 15 [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

"Exquisite Groundbreaking Performances"

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 15 [Hybrid SACD]
Shostakovich , Orch Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi Di Milano , and Oleg Caetani conductor
Manufacturer: Arts Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Customer Reviews:

"Exquisite Groundbreaking Performances".......2007-01-11

Finally we have a recorded performance of Shostakovich's competent and extremely credible First symphony! I've always known that this composition had so much going for it but every other orchestra/ conductor and label/production failed to pull off an inspired performance. Recorded live in 3/2004 Oleg Caetani and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi give us a recorded performance with swirling woodwinds and string solos that will give you chills.
The composers 15th symphony recorded in the same venue in 6/2005 receives yet again an exquisite performance with a consistent precise tempo and solos.
Recorded orchestral balance is superb with both symphonies. To this date I have never heard these two symphonies with such grandeur!

Frank Pandel

Average customer rating:

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 14 & 15

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000023ZS8
Release Date: 1998-01-01

Dmitry Shostakovich Symphonies Nos. 1 & 15

Average customer rating:

Best I've heard on these two symphonies

Dmitry Shostakovich Symphonies Nos. 1 & 15

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1, Op. 10: I. Allegretto
Symphony No. 1, Op. 10: II. Allegro
Symphony No. 1, Op. 10: III. Lento - attacca
Symphony No. 1, Op. 10: IV. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 15, Op. 141: I. Allegretto
Symphony No. 15, Op. 141: II. Adagio - attacca
Symphony No. 15, Op. 141: III. Allegretto
Symphony No. 15, Op. 141: IV. Adagio

Customer Reviews:

Best I've heard on these two symphonies.......2006-01-25

The 15th is often an overlooked symphony, seeming so light and short, coming after a series of hour-plus symphonies.

But it deserves a full listen on its own, reflecting themes from some of Shostakovich's later string quartets.

Inbal gives a good, clean performance that seems to reflect this symphony's heritage.

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1-15; Orchestral Works (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Rozhdestvensky's excellent Shostakovich cycle
A collection that fills an important gap

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1-15; Orchestral Works (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004TCPW
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Customer Reviews:

Rozhdestvensky's excellent Shostakovich cycle.......2007-03-15

Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's Shostakovich symphony cycle from the 1980s is, in my view, one of the three best cycles. These three are, in my preference order:

1. Kondrashin (originally Melodiya, now Russiandvd - a new remaster, available from Amazon sellers and at Ebay).

2. Rozhdestvensky (originally Melodiya, but it exists now also in a new Russian remaster from the VENEZIA label, in a fine slimline box which you can find at HMV's internet shop in Japan or at Ebay).

3. Barshai (originally Regis, now in a Brilliant Classics box.)

The standard bargain choice is the Barshai box, which boasts very fine playing and fine sound. Kondrashin, my first choice, is quite expensive. But the Rozhdestvensky set should not be overlooked. First, the interpretations are both illuminating and moving, carefully structured and (mostly) beautifully played by a real Russian orchestra in fine form. Second, the new remaster - available at Ebay and at HMV in Japan - is a real bargain. You may grab it for $ 30 or less. Third, the remastered sound is mostly OK, even if Melodiya's original recordings are a bit harsh. However, this is a minor complaint. Kondrashin's set has much worse sound and costs more money. But in both cases, we have excellent, classical, powerful interpretations that hardly can be surpassed.

Shostakovich collectors need all cycles above, of course. But I warmly recommend a serious search for Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's excellent cycle in its new incarnation.

A collection that fills an important gap.......2000-06-27

This collection comes in a box with seven double-discs, each with a booklet describing the work and about the conductor's relationship with the composer and his work by Sigrid Neef. No librettos are enclosed, which does hamper the full appreciation, although fans are likely to have copies of a few of these works lying about. Although all of these recordings have appeared in other guises and formats, this remarkable collection is worthy of consideration. Rozhdestvensky had an interesting relationship with the composer, although never given the opportunity to premier his major symphonic works, the conductor was of critical importance in reviving the "lost" or "unknown" Shostakovich. Rozhdestvensky's excavation into the composer's past resulted in premiering or reviving a vast body of work. An example of this is displayed on, although not limited to, the "Orchestral Works." This conductors travails through the complete symphonies are not likely to be first choice for many, however, this collection does offer a chance to hear a 1980's Soviet run through of one of the most important symphonic cycles of the 20th century.

Average customer rating:

A Standard Set

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos.1-15
Kondrashin , and Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000025EPI
Release Date: 1999-07-15

Album Details

Add. 10 CD Box Set.

Customer Reviews:

A Standard Set.......2005-03-03

Many of the recordings on these discs I first knew on LP. Kirill Kondrashin was always among my favorite Russian conductors and it is wonderful to have his Shostakovich symphonies on CD. Compared to many of the recordings made today Maestro Kondrashin's tempi are fast and the recordings (like those from conductors Mravinsky, Svetlanov and Rhodesvetsky) have a visceral feel. More recently, conductors like Valery Gergiev and Mistislav Rostropovich have adopted slower tempi that seek to probe the drama of the music. This approach rewarding but it is interesting to listen to the work of conductors who worked with Shostakovich.

Disc 1: The First Symphony is very well played and exuberant. It certainly is among the best recordings of the symphony. The Twelfth received a rousing performance.

Disc 2: The Second Symphony comes in at a fast 16:45 as compared to Haitinck at 20:26 but the symphony looses nothing in the way of sharpness of detail. The Second is paired with the Fourteenth, which is nicely played but does not approach the performance of Rudolf Barshai (who conducted the premiere). The recording of the Fourteenth by Benjamin Britten (the Western premiere) is also very fine and has Galina Vishnevskaya, who performed at the Russian premiere. The bass Evgeny Nesterenko is very dramatic and wonderful in the symphony while Evgenya Tselovalnik sings well but is not quite in the caliber of Vishnevskaya. The Kondrashin performance is very good but not a first choice.

Disc 3: This Third Symphony is nicely performed, well recorded and played at a fast tempo. This recording ranks alongside Haitinck's acclaimed reading as one of the best of this symphony. The Fifth is characterized by quick tempos that severing to increase the tension in the first movement. At times, there seems to be some strain in the playing. But quiet passages are nicely played and the third movement has all of the depth one would want. The final movement comes off nicely with Kondrashin using the slower tempo for the conclusion as a forced triumph but somehow it does not seem as convincing as other Fifths I have heard. The quicker tempos increase the intensity in this movement at the expense of making it more superficial. This is a reading with some beautiful moments but ultimately it is not among the best.

Disc 4: The Fourth Symphony is the premiere recording of this music, on that I had when it was on LP. Maestro Kondrashin plumbs the depths of this emotional symphony in a performance that has stood the test of time. Certainly, this recording has not been surpassed for conveying the triumph and dark anger underlying the music. It is a please to have it again. Disc 5: The Sixth Symphony is conducted with a fast tempo sounding more angry than bleak. The Allegro and Presto, the dual opposites of the first movement, are played with precision and charm. The Tenth Symphony is given a solid reading with close attention being paid to the dynamics of the score. Disc 6: The Seventh Symphony is beautifully performed with an expansive first movement that captures the essence of the struggle against evil. The Moderato movement is a nicely played respite from the somber atmosphere and the final two movements are magnificently played presenting a real struggle as opposed to a showpiece.

Disc 7: This is a powerful reading of the Eight Symphony that ranks among the very best. The anger of the first movement is astonishing; the difficult Allegretto and Allegro non troppo movements show the fantastic playing of the Moscow Philharmonic at their best. The gray mood of the Largo is superbly captured as is the renewed conflict in the final movement. Disc 8: I had the Ninth on an LP and grew up with this vibrant recording. Kondrashin takes an energetic and thoughtful approach to the music, bubbling with enthusiasm and introspection in the Moderato. The Fifteenth Symphony may have been better served by Maxim Shostakovich (who premiered it in 1972) but I find Kondrashin's performance a delight. This recording has been criticized for lacking in quality but I think it is a great performance played with attention to detail and enthusiasm. Disc 9: The Eleventh Symphony is played fast with a lot of power and is equal to Mravinsky's premiere recording (on Russian Disc) in expression. Disc 10: The Thirteenth was premiered by Kondrashin under the disapproving eye of the Soviet government. This is a studio recording from 1967 but retains all of the anger of the very first recording (on Russian Disc). This is a symphony that was close to Kondrashin and nobody conducts it as he did.

The CDs are packaged in a hard box with each in a paper sleeve. There is a booklet that discusses the life of Kirill Kondrashin but does not include the texts. The sound is good and the re-mastering process excellent but there is some occasional distortion. Still, this is a rare opportunity to have all of the Kondrashin Shostakovich symphonies and should not be missed.

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1. Symphony No 1- Allegretto - Allegro Non Troppo
2. Allegro
3. Lento
4. Allegro Molto - Lento - Allegro Molto
5. Symphony No 3- Allegretto - Allegro
6. Andante
7. Allegro - Largo
8. Moderato- 'V Pervoye Pervoye Maya'
9. Symphony No. 2 In B Major- Largo - Allegro Molto
10. My Shili, My Prosil Raboty I Khleba
11. Symphony No 10 In E Minor- Moderato
12. Allegro
13. Allegretto
14. Anfante - Allegro
15. I. Allegretto Poco Moderato
16. Presto
17. Ii. Moderato Con Moto
18. Iii. Largo
19. Allegro
20. I. Moderato