Thread: Favorites of Shostakovich Symphonies

I see there was an old poll on here that didn't have all the choices or allow for multiple choices. I'd thought I'd update it to allow for more choices and selections. Since the poll allows 15, why not have them all up there? Preferably 3-7 selections at most.

Shostakovich is one of those composers where I really can't complain about any of their symphonies, so I think that choosing more than one for me will just lead to checking off every single one.

My absolute favorite has to be 10, though...it's such a lively, spontaneous piece, and I've come to be entranced by it on multiple occasions.

If you don't vote ten, you don't have a soul.

5 and 10, followed by 1.

3, 5, 7, 11, 13 .. though I haven't listened to all post-7s yet.

4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 15 but I actually like to listen to 4 through to 10 as a cycle because during this timeline (1936-1953) the composer himself was often under enormous pressure from Uncle Joe and his band of merry men - it's like a sonic chronicle of not just Shostakovich's woes and anxieties but also those of the USSR itself.

7, 10 and 14 stand out for me. Also voted for 1 and 5. But I like them all.

Nos.7, 11 and 14 for me.

No.7, I love the beautiful recapitulation after the invasion section in the first movement most of all. The invasion ostinato is also very moving as well as the second movement, while the third movement is a real tragedy.
No.11 was the first Shostakovich I heard when I was 13 or 14 years old. I love the entire work but the fuge section in the second movement is terrific, well-matched to the Odessa Steps sequence in Eisentein's Battleship Potemkin. Final is also great !
No.14 is one of the darkest works ever written, it's so effective, especially when soprano sings Three lilies, three lilies, lilies three grow on my grave, without a cross ... each time I listen to it, I can't sleep well for at least 2 or 3 nights after, seriously !

I love no. 7. The first movement is like a better version of Bolero.

#4 The finale is cataclysmic, crushing and ultimatly, cathartic

I actually haven't listened to all of them, so I won't vote, but I really liked the 5th.

Why does everyone dislike the 12th? It's so beautiful and Glazunovian!!

And the 6th and 9th are so humorous!

I've only listened to Nos. 5 and 9, so I had to vote for No. 5. I just love that third movement, Largo. Although, there's something about his compositions that just turns me off them. However, maybe this will change in the coming years.

For me, it has to be S13! I guess only when you have the experience under an oppressive government can you truly appreciate the powerful music!

BTW, S1 is really really excellent, so it is very tough choice!

When you dig below the surface of the symphonies you find alot of protest and anger at the Soviet world and especially at Stahlin. He danced on the edge and almost ended up in the gulags or dead like many of his compatriots.