Repertoire: The BEST Shostakovich Symphony No. 1

[@LordHaveMercy]

I adore Sanderling's Shosta. Glad to see him represented here. His Shosta 6th is probably my favorite recording of the work.

[@franklehman8677]

Shostakovich's 1st is quite possibly the best, most impressive freshman outing of any major symphonist. What an absolute knockout of a work.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Mahler's First and the Symphonie fantastique are pretty hard to beat.

[@TheScottishoats]

BRAVO! Yes-now that's what I call a review well done. Informative, entertaining, and most importantly, helpful.

[@maxwestler1498]

I'm glad you mentioned Bernstein's appearance conducting that youth orchestra in Germany. It's clear the young musicians haven't a clue what kind of animal the Shostakovitch First is, and Bernstein teaches it to them in an intense, thoroughgoing manner: not just how to play the notes, but what the notes mean, how the symphony coheres from the first movement to the last, and also the historical context that informs the music. He is indeed very strict, but the message is one these young musicians need to learn: they have to rise to the level of the music they're performing. And they do. There's a moment, I think it's close to the end of the first movement, when they realize they're participating in a great performance, and everything changes. Bernstein realizes it too. Toward the end, some of them are in tears (maybe of relief). They've accomplished something they couldn't have imagined themselves doing. That's the end all teachers wish for their students. In many years of concert going, I've noted this phenomenon: there's a moment in every great performance when everybody---musicians, conductor, audience---all know for sure they're participating in a great performance. And suddenly no one's there anymore; they've all been transported to that luminous place that all such performances take us to. And after the last note sounds, in the silence that precedes the first "Bravo," there's the sense of waking from a dream. My one question: what in God's name does Bernstein wear to that first rehearsal? Some kind of leisure suit? Well, I guess a genius can wear anything and get away with it, especially when he's facing down a bunch of terrified teenagers.

[@patrickgroenendijk8434]

Another great video, Dave! I loved your story about Rozhdestvensky’s handling of the piano chords. I once heard him conduct this symphony in Amsterdam with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. A few people in the audience burst into laughter at this point in the symphony. Rozhdestvensky turned around looking very angry before he proceeded with the rest of the piece.

[@john1951w]

Great choices. Two more that always do it for me: Markevitch on the 10 bargain box you reviewed some time ago and Stokowski on the United Artists label - now on EMI icon.

[@kellyrichardson3665]

Agreed, ten million times -- you hit all my favorites, and in the correct order. (Haven't yet heard Ancerl...) The program notes of the Rostropovich set state that Shostakovich & Rostropovich celebrated the date of the premiere ("in some way or another...") every year from that date on, because it was the day that Shostakovich became a famous composer overnight. I was delighted to read about it because on that VERY day that my own mother was born. More recently, my grandson was born on (the anniversary of) that date. So, we will continue celebrating, forever more!

[@richardwilliams473]

Being a timpanist myself having played the scary solo, I find that you have to be deadly accurate in the tuning of the 3 timpani drums C to D to Eflat. If your even slightly out of tune it will be noticed. Fortunately when playing this important solo ,you as the timpanist are given the latitude to interpret the solo at your own tempo discretion albeit a slower tempo at that. Very scary indeed !

[@bingbongtoysKY]

i would love your take on the friendship Britten and Shostakovich had later in their lives discussing the works that they made influenced by each other, like Shostakovich' 14th symphony! i love the thing Shostakovich said, something like ' You're a real composer, im a little composer!' Shostakovich, what a Juggernaut

[@Nyssa337]

Yes! I love that Bernstein/NY recording! I actually originally got it for the 6th (which is also a great recording) and was knocked over by that rendition of the 1st. Thank you for all of these marvelous and very helpful videos.

[@danieldroppa3170]

Great! So when you finish shostakovich symphony talks, I would love to do Piano Concerto 1 and 2 talks

[@Musicamansa]

Great list. I love the Sanderling semi circle, with most of the purely orchestral symphonies. When I first heard this symphony, I was so surprised! I find it magnificent. It has an attractiveness that he only recovered about the 5th.

[@bingbongtoysKY]

getting into a Shostakovich mood again! kind of out of season! I usually like him in fall and winter, 😅😅😅 thank you for these suggestions! I love this work, also reading along with your Owners Manual again, an absolute blast! 🎉

[@technik-lexikon]

I suffer from depression and my therapist suggested that I should visit classical concerts (like I used to until Covid came). Luckily, I soon discovered that Shosta 1 will be played in January here in Dresden (together with Khatchaturjan's Masquerade Suite). On top of that, the second Cello Concerto will be played next year, too (btw, could you also make "The Best" videos on his concerti, please?). As Shostakovich, or more precisely, his Cello Concerto No. 1 has induced my love for classical music, I'll absolutely begin to visit the Dresden Philharmonic.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

The Dresden Phil or the Staatskapelle are terrific. I have a box of Reger with them. Is the Phil the same as the Staatskapelle ?

[@stevenbugala8375]

Golschmann had a fun one with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra that I treasured. Unfortunately, I had to sell my record collection. No one seems to have uploaded it to KZbin...but I'd sure love to hear that one again to re-evaluate it.

[@davidmayhew8083]

Thanx so much Dave!

[@guillaumechabason3165]

I discovered this symphony with the Neeme Jarvi version on Chandos The sound was terrific

[@petertaplin4365]

I'm so glad you mentioned the Ancerl, it's often overlooked. It's so quirky and characterful which I guess is why you like it. And you're right about the side-turn, that's why the snare drum crescendo is missing

[@sjc1204]

Bernstein, Jansons and Petrenko are my favorites. I have to admit to being lazy about Shostakovich and just reach for Petrenko these days. I have that Martinon Decca box; time to go listen to his first.

[@vincentspinelli9995]

Enjoyable analysis. I have loved the Bernstein forever. I will check out the others you mention that I don't know. Glad you mentioned the Toscanini. One of the first I heard.

[@SimonMackUK77]

New subscriber from Liverpool UK. Love love love your knowledge passion and insights. P.s I ve been fortunate to see several performances of DSCH over the years. Petrenko and Rostropovich included . Thks again.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks for joining the party! Enjoy!

[@stevenmsinger]

Such a valuable video! I knew of Bernstein's Chicago version but didn't even know he recorded another in New York. I listened to it on your recommendation and it absolutely blew me away! I only wonder if it doesn't smooth over the rough edges a bit too much in the first movement. However, with such power and emotion, it is one of my new favorites. That and the Ormandy.

[@dartel1981]

Great review, as always. Please, do Shostakovich 5th, tough as it may be.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'll get there!

[@Andrew87394]

Your talk took me back to Masur's live performance with the LPO (2004) - coupled with a phenomenal No 5 - and on hearing it again I was impressed with that very "continuity" and "coherence" you speak about in the First Movement. And of course I had to be alert for that "crepuscular passion" - marvellous! - which again I think Masur evokes successfully. A sleeper perhaps?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

He usually does very good Russian music, and this was no exception.

[@dmntuba]

I remember sitting in my college library with headphones on getting ready to listen to Bernstein/NYPO and OH BABY!!! I thought someone came behind me and kicked my chair 👍

[@johnwright7557]

I totally agree on Bernstein and Ormandy. I have the Chicago Bernstein largely because of the 7th, but Ormandy is still my first choice on CD. Many moons ago I had a Turnabout LP with Milan Horvat and the Zagreb Phil doing the 1st and 9th. I found their 1st really exciting and they brought out the humor so well in the 9th. It has not been issued on CD to my knowledge.

[@AlexMadorsky]

Shostakovich’s 1st symphony is truly remarkable and upon close listen, a preview of many things to come in later works. Bernstein with Chicago on DG is my HOWEVER choice for Lenny’s unique mix of power, nimbleness, Shostakovichian spookiness when required, and of course the ballsy brass. My view is doubtlessly influenced by the coupling with one of the most remarkable Leningrad symphonies on record. I actually have the Ancerl on LP but not CD, I may hunt down the latter to give the weird, inadvertent truncation a listen. M. Shostakovich on Supraphon is another I turn to often for Czech tanginess. Lastly, since Rozhdestvensky came up, I’d love for him to be a featured conductor on the 10 Best Recordings series soon.

[@MDK2_Radio]

Strangely I got no ads with this video. Don’t know if that’s random or if you need to adjust a setting, but I thought I would mention it. Thanks for the video. I have the Bernstein/CSO and it’s been a favorite for 30 years.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I can't explain it!

[@MDK2_Radio]

@@DavesClassicalGuide it must have been random because I’m getting an ad with this video now.

[@davidaltschuler9687]

Re Ancerl's "missing" snare drum cresendo: Temirkanov's recording also omits it; in the booklet he explains why he thought DS changed his mind about it. Perhaps Ancerl also considered that POV.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you. I had forgotten about that one!

[@richardfrankel6102]

For those of us who don't have the Temirkanov recording, perhaps you could tell us why he thought the composer changed his mind.

[@davidaltschuler9687]

@@richardfrankel6102 As best I recall, after the symphony was published DS thought the gesture a bit crude. And after the initial shock of not hearing what you expect, the omission of that snare drum made sense... mostly.

[@richardfrankel6102]

@@davidaltschuler9687 Many thanks! Much appreciated.

[@marknewkirk4322]

Another interesting one for people who like exotic wind sounds was made by Milan Horvat with the Zagreb Philharmonic. Unfortunately, I've never seen it on anything other than an LP. Was it ever released on CD?

[@stevenbugala8375]

Man, I loved that weird cover. A beloved teacher gave me that record when I was in high school, and I've had a soft spot for that performance every since.

[@marknewkirk4322]

@@stevenbugala8375 I wish I had teachers like that in high school. Mine would have given me Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on 8-track.

[@richardsandmeyer4431]

Back in my student days, I bought most of my recordings on budget labels. That included the Horvat/Zagreb Turnabout LP of Shostakovich symphonies 1 and 9. I bought it mainly for the 9th as I already had the 1st by Martinon on Victrola (another budget label). I found the Horvat 1st to be a worthy alternative. He seemed to get Shostakovich's humor in both works. I've never seen the Horvat/Zagreb recording on CD. As Steven Bugala mentions, it had a strange, but attention-attracting album cover

[@willr3891]

What do y’all think about Petrenko overall? I’m not familiar with his work.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Check out my reviews at classicstoday.com. You can easily search by conductor and get a good overview.

[@wanowan9700]

His 8th is outstanding.

[@wanowan9700]

I was asking myself who cares about Symphony No.1. But you know, if you ave 12 versions of it maybe i need to take more attention of it. I will let you know.

[@SimonMackUK77]

Shost s First Symphony is a must. Concise dark witty inventive etc . Plse get it!

[@wanowan9700]

@@SimonMackUK77 Eventually I will listen to it for sure, because for now I'm listening Sibelius

[@bbailey7818]

Sadly, Stokowski, who recorded the 1st twice, 25 years apart, just couldn't make a coherent thing out of it either time. It sprawls and melts like a Dali watch in a desert. Yet he did superb a superb 6 and (live) 10. Go figure.

[@fernandoleon7606]

Well, I remember listening his one recording with the Symphony of the Air about thirty years ago on the Spanish National Public Radio, and as fas as I can remember, I liked it a lot!! :)

[@chickenringNYC]

Ya know what recording of Shosti 1 is terrible? Recent Nelsons with Boston Symphony.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That's what I said in my review.