I don't have a set, as I bought them all individually. Initially, I thought I'd get just the most popular, then I decided to get the greatest, then I decided to get the controversial ones, and finally, I got the last couple to complete the set
Some of the performances that I think stand out:
Haitink/Concertgebouw
Järvi/Gothenburg
Rostropovich/National
Polyansky/Russian State
Shipway/Royal
I think you have a very fine collection, and one could object that more recordings aren´t really particularly necessary; better perhaps to investigate more symphonists ...
For possible-possible supplements, perhaps check out some of the major Russian conductor names that are missing - some Mravinsky (no.10 maybe in particular, but not no.15, which is rather poor), Kondrashin, Rozhdestvensky (the late Melodiya cycle, such as no.8 for example), and Maxim Shostakovich (no.15 for instance).
I haven´t heard any Petrenko recordings, some people mention them as good.
Kirill Kondrashin with The Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra on Melodiya (today) is generally my basic recommendation for a first complete Symphony Cycle. I generally feel that Haitink is a bit to safe and uninvolved, he coincidently got the gig with Decca to record the complete symphonies because of Kondrashin's (who was contracted to conduct) untimely death, the little I have heard of Kondrashin's work with the Concertgebouw this would have been a dynamite cycle!
If You want to mix and match there are loads of good recordings, here's my top ten list of this moment:
1: Andrey Boreyko/RSO Stuttgart (Hänssler)
2: Neeme Järvi/Gothenburg SO (DG)
3: Neeme Järvi/Gothenburg SO (DG)
4: Kirill Kondrashin/Staatskapelle Dresden (Hänssler Profil)
5: Istvan Kertesz/l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Testament)
6: Yuri Temirkanov/St. Petersburg PO (RCA)
7: Mariss Jansons/Concertgebouw Orkest (RCO Live)
8: Semyon Bychkov/Berliner Philharmoniker (Philips)
9: Vasily Petrenko/Royal Liverpool PO (Naxos)
10: Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra (CBS)
11: Semyon Bychkov/Berliner Philharmoniker (Philips)
12: Yevgey Mravinsky/Leningrad Philharmonic (Erato)
13: Kirill Kondrashin/Vitaly Gromadsky/Moscow PO (Russian Disc)
14: Rudolf Barshai/Margrita Miroshnikova/Jevgenij Vladimirov/Moscow CO (Melodiya)
15: Kurt Sanderling/Cleveland Orchestra (Erato)
I've only heard the 11th from it and thought it was a bit tame. With such an extreme range of emotions throughout the 15 symphonies, it would be hard to find one conductor who does it all. I had such high hopes for the Gergiev set, but all the ones I've heard (5,7,8, and 11) have been very disappointing, both sonically and musically.
Leiferkus is great, and a wonderful performance. The balance between the solo and orchestra could have been better. I saw this performance with Masur/Leiferkus and the NY Phil back in the 90's (Yevtuchenko recited "Babi Yar" and "The Loss"). I kinda' recall Leiferkus being placed amidst the orchestra toward the front. Anyway, I wish his beautiful voice was more forward in the recording.
The live Shostakovich 8 from the Royal Festival Hall in 1960 with the Leningrad Philharmonic orchestra under Mravinsky still available from BBC Legends CD. It was recorded by the BBC transcription department in stereo. What foresight as the BBC did not begin to broadcast in stereo until the mid sixties. As a filler for disc two is Mozart Symphony no 33, which opened the concert.
This has to be one of the greatest concerts at the RFH in its history.
check it out.
I'm surprised to see Ormandy repeatedly boosted as the best 15th Symphony. His was my first and for a long time only 15th. But now I would hold Kondrashin higher, or the more recent Petrenko.
1. Ormandy/Philadelphia or Jarvi/Scottish National
5. Mravinsky/Leningrad or Jarvi/Scottish National
6. Jarvi/Scottish National
7. Jarvi/Scottish National
8. Haitink/Concertgebouw or Mrvinsky/Leningrad
Bernstein with the Chicago Symphony for Symphony #1 is not to be missed; a subtle, probing interpretation that realizes all the early shades of Shostakovitch's style present in this Symphony. More delicate than many, that also reflects the French aspects of Shostakovitch's music; there is more affinity between Shostakovitch and Stravinsky particularly early on than many tend to assume. You'll hear that in this performance.
Interesting compilation some of which I have yet to hear. However, I disagree with you re. Jansons for the 7th and would recommend trying to get hold of the magnificent Paavo Berglund recording with the Bournemouth SO; it was last released on an EMI Classics 'double forte' "CD set with his equally superb recording of the 11th, and it's still availble on Amazon.
It is not easy to be perfect all the time, still I'm overjoyed that You do not disagree on more points of my list! But as You know, lists and what ends up on them comes and goes, Jansons was the choice of the day!
Today I might have chosen Ashkenazy or Ancerl or Segerstam or Kubelik or any of the something like 25 Seventh's I have on my shelf...
I really enjoy discussing Shostakovich. I will limit my discussion to number 8, such a fantastic piece. I have many. I love Previn LSO DG, Rostropovich National SO (Warner Classics)(Have not heard others by Rostropovich), Gergiev on Philips has a more laid back approach but very nice. Haitink of course excellent also. Jansons is a little less good. Jarvi great. I have to add Ashkenazy and Bychkov (Philips, not heard Avie) as very good ones. If I had to choose one maybe Previn DG but all the ones I mentioned here are at least good. I dont remember the Barshai one, sorry.
Other great ones are the 5th, 10th, 11th. Still warming up to the 15th and 4th. The 14th is more of a song. The 7th while maybe not as advanced is nice, and I enjoy it.
. . . that late-fifties Russia Disc Stokowski/Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra Shostakovich 11 is the most intense Shostakovich performance I heard of any symphony of his ever done. It's a live performance, and you can just FEEL the intensity. Stokowski was really striving to impress with this one-- and boy did he!!!!
I really enjoy discussing Shostakovich. I will limit my discussion to number 8, such a fantastic piece. I have many. I love Previn LSO DG, Rostropovich National SO (Warner Classics)(Have not heard others by Rostropovich), Gergiev on Philips has a more laid back approach but very nice. Haitink of course excellent also. Jansons is a little less good. Jarvi great. I have to add Ashkenazy and Bychkov (Philips, not heard Avie) as very good ones. If I had to choose one maybe Previn DG but all the ones I mentioned here are at least good. I dont remember the Barshai one, sorry.
I too enjoy discussing Shostakovich - particularly the symphonies. In relation to No.8 I have the Barshai, Ashkenazi and Kitajenko recordings as part of their respective box sets; as stand-alone recordings the Petrenko / Royal Liverpool PO on Naxos is a must-hear and I also have the following:
Of these, the Herbig on Berlin Classics is well worth listening to as he takes a somewhat different feel to the symphony - not better or worse than more familiar recordings, but in some ways more despairing. I didn't get along with the Rostropovich / LSO recording at all, but much earlier Previn recording with that orchestra (see picture above), which I have on vinyl, is absolutely superb.
Liking Shostakovich so much, I really SHOULD like the fifth more than I do-- but for some inexplicable (and unforgivable?) reason, it doesn't resonate with me; except for the last movement. I'm pretty Switzerland otherwise.
It is not easy to be perfect all the time, still I'm overjoyed that You do not disagree on more points of my list! But as You know, lists and what ends up on them comes and goes, Jansons was the choice of the day!
Today I might have chosen Ashkenazy or Ancerl or Segerstam or Kubelik or any of the something like 25 Seventh's I have on my shelf...
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