This version speaks volumes! Though I love hearing others performing this, however, this concert took the time to share interpretation, letting the whole world know about the meaning of the Babi Yar! Furthermore, I'm glad that an African American is singing the lead in the Russian language!! It is so beautiful, encouraging, and giving me hope for the human race. After all, don't we all love to eat apples, grow our grains, and embrace our loved ones, too?
I think there was a version of this symphony done by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, with a Japanese baritone. Shows that music is universal, not limited to the country where it was created. Mozart's music isn't just for Salzburg and Vienna, Bizet's works aren't just for Paris and Arles.
what condition? he was a hired professor at conservatories for most of his life time, he had awards given to him and his scores played all over the world.
The interesting background is that Shostakovich asked the poet Yevtushenko, who wrote the poem Babi Yar, for permission to write music, inspired by the poem. The composer, while seated at the piano, played and sang the part of the soloist, the choir and the orchestra. Permission was granted and we have "Shostakovich Symphony 13", depicting the horrors of Babi Yar, which to this day, still does not have a proper memorial erected in Ukraine.
It's so hard to find a confortable recording after listening to Artur Aizen, Kondrashin and MPO's recording of this symphony. Listening to Shostakovich's works is an arduous exercise. And once you get used to this weirdness, you are rewarded with the realization that it is tailor-made to narrate all the atrocities that happened in his days.
This is far above all my expectations! Unbelievable! Mark Rucker is even singing the original Russian script. And the conductor Christopher James Lees is attempting to create a dark atmosphere of Kiev in Michigan (in Michigan!). The piece itself is rather depressing, but the performance is sublime.
Performing it in a different language won't have the same intended effect if you ask me. And that's not to mention the difficulties of matching up all the English syllables with the original.
00:00 Adagio - Babi Yar 17:27 Allegretto - Humor 26:10 Adagio - In the Store 38:45 Largo - Fears 51:43 Allegretto - Career original comment by antoinekiemann
A fantastic performance all the way around, Rucker particularly excellent. One would not know its is a student ensemble and choir and so the conductor must be commended as well. This is as good as any recording I have. The very site of the crime is now the site of a new crime in Ukraine. Many Russian things are (understandably) being banned. I hope this does not happen with DSCH's music as it happened with German music during both world wars. He actually addresses the very problem that is being manifested---the names have changed from Stalin to Putin, but the music captures the tragedy, the will to survive, the private moments of joy and humor amidst the terror, and hommage to the dead, and an unblinking acknowledgement that the pain, too, lives on. So, his music should be featured more, not avoided in some misguided attempt to shun all things Russian.
I first read the Yevtushenko's poem in 1961 when at University and thought it was history. Now (March 2022) it is all too real again, with the Ukrainian memorial of 2016 being shattered by Russian shelling: An 84-year old Ukrainian survivor of Babi Yar was shown yesterday, as saying : ' Who would have thought the events of 22 June 1941 [Babi Yar] would be repeated in 2022 by the Russians?'
"Oh my Russian people, I know that at heart you are internationalists, but there have been those with soiled hands who abused your good name. I know that my land is good. How filthy that without the slightest shame the anti-Semites proclaimed themselves: “The Union of the Russian People.”
A great performance from the soloist, accompanied by a technically proficient choir and orchestra that perhaps lacked some of the raw emotion the 13th usually brings out from Russian conductors. For too many parents and grandparents in Russia, this stuff is still real.
To me personally all music written by DSCH is rather depressing. I cannot easily point a single composition by him where you hear unconditionally positive emotions like joy, love, gratitude for being able to have a great family, happiness to be born in a great country or time, gratitude for being physically fit and healthy etc. His color palette is, roughly speaking, black and white. Although technically he was exceptionally talented. This orchestra is doing a great job indeed. I did not expect at all to see this performance in this setting.
@@mikhaildomanov345 the Jazz suites and the Gadfly music come closest. But, given his life and the times, the dark tone of his music isn’t surprising. What you have to remember is that the people living through all that horror were required, for fear of arrest, to look happy and cheerful, even as their family members disappeared to the labour camps. Which is why his music struck such a chord. Nowadays, there remains plenty of evidence that people are actually are suffering from depression or illness or hard times actually find his music incredibly helpful.
Wow, the second movement "Humor" takes on a whole new dimension with the former comedian current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelelensky standing defiantly - and yet humorously - against the Putin war machine!
This version speaks volumes! Though I love hearing others performing this, however, this concert took the time to share interpretation, letting the whole world know about the meaning of the Babi Yar!
Furthermore, I'm glad that an African American is singing the lead in the Russian language!! It is so beautiful, encouraging, and giving me hope for the human race. After all, don't we all love to eat apples, grow our grains, and embrace our loved ones, too?
その通りです。みかんが好きです❤
I think there was a version of this symphony done by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, with a Japanese baritone. Shows that music is universal, not limited to the country where it was created. Mozart's music isn't just for Salzburg and Vienna, Bizet's works aren't just for Paris and Arles.
3:14 Shostakovich is a giant of 20th century. To work in those conditions and still create masterpieces is pure genius.
I mean, let's not compare Shostakovich's life to the horrors Jews faced during WWII. It was bad, but it wasn't as bad.
@@victoriarhee7250 he literally did not compare the two situations. You're beeing paranoid, you should check yourself.
what condition? he was a hired professor at conservatories for most of his life time, he had awards given to him and his scores played all over the world.
Absolutely breathtaking and so sad....
The interesting background is that Shostakovich asked the poet Yevtushenko, who wrote the poem Babi Yar, for permission to write music, inspired by the poem. The composer, while seated at the piano, played and sang the part of the soloist, the choir and the orchestra.
Permission was granted and we have "Shostakovich Symphony 13", depicting the horrors of Babi Yar, which to this day, still does not have a proper memorial erected in Ukraine.
Yevtushenko thought the way Shostakovich tied together five separate poems made the deeper thanks to Shostakovich's music.
Beautifully executed, and Mr. Rucker was immaculate, which is not surprising. What a piece. Beautiful job by all.
It's so hard to find a confortable recording after listening to Artur Aizen, Kondrashin and MPO's recording of this symphony. Listening to Shostakovich's works is an arduous exercise. And once you get used to this weirdness, you are rewarded with the realization that it is tailor-made to narrate all the atrocities that happened in his days.
This is far above all my expectations! Unbelievable! Mark Rucker is even singing the original Russian script. And the conductor Christopher James Lees is attempting to create a dark
atmosphere of Kiev in Michigan (in Michigan!). The piece itself is rather depressing, but the performance is sublime.
00:00 Adagio - Babi Yar
17:27 Allegretto - Humor
26:10 Adagio - In the Store
38:45 Largo - Fears
51:43 Allegretto - Career
It's amazing that there is no version of this Symphony sung in English, checked here and Spotify yesterday.
Performing it in a different language won't have the same intended effect if you ask me. And that's not to mention the difficulties of matching up all the English syllables with the original.
Bravo, Mark. A wonderful artist.
This is the best version I have heard!!! Why I cannot find a recording of Mr. Rucker is beyond belief.
Superb.
My God. So few watches.
We are amongst the Philistines!
I assume views have gone up in the last few weeks.
This choir is a bit too shy, what a shame! Still a real good performance, I appreciate immensely the subtitles
Excellent 👍👍👍👍👍
que voz y que sentimiento...
00:00 Adagio - Babi Yar
17:27 Allegretto - Humor
26:10 Adagio - In the Store
38:45 Largo - Fears
51:43 Allegretto - Career
original comment by antoinekiemann
A fantastic performance all the way around, Rucker particularly excellent. One would not know its is a student ensemble and choir and so the conductor must be commended as well. This is as good as any recording I have. The very site of the crime is now the site of a new crime in Ukraine. Many Russian things are (understandably) being banned. I hope this does not happen with DSCH's music as it happened with German music during both world wars. He actually addresses the very problem that is being manifested---the names have changed from Stalin to Putin, but the music captures the tragedy, the will to survive, the private moments of joy and humor amidst the terror, and hommage to the dead, and an unblinking acknowledgement that the pain, too, lives on. So, his music should be featured more, not avoided in some misguided attempt to shun all things Russian.
I first read the Yevtushenko's poem in 1961 when at University and thought it was history. Now (March 2022) it is all too real again, with the Ukrainian memorial of 2016 being shattered by Russian shelling: An 84-year old Ukrainian survivor of Babi Yar was shown yesterday, as saying : ' Who would have thought the events of 22 June 1941 [Babi Yar] would be repeated in 2022 by the Russians?'
"Oh my Russian people, I know
that at heart you are internationalists,
but there have been those with soiled hands
who abused your good name.
I know that my land is good.
How filthy that without the slightest shame
the anti-Semites proclaimed themselves:
“The Union of the Russian People.”
A great performance from the soloist, accompanied by a technically proficient choir and orchestra that perhaps lacked some of the raw emotion the 13th usually brings out from Russian conductors. For too many parents and grandparents in Russia, this stuff is still real.
To me personally all music written by DSCH is rather depressing. I cannot easily point a single composition by him where you hear unconditionally positive emotions like joy, love, gratitude for being able to have a great family, happiness to be born in a great country or time, gratitude for being physically fit and healthy etc. His color palette is, roughly speaking, black and white. Although technically he was exceptionally talented. This orchestra is doing a great job indeed. I did not expect at all to see this performance in this setting.
@@mikhaildomanov345 the Jazz suites and the Gadfly music come closest. But, given his life and the times, the dark tone of his music isn’t surprising. What you have to remember is that the people living through all that horror were required, for fear of arrest, to look happy and cheerful, even as their family members disappeared to the labour camps. Which is why his music struck such a chord. Nowadays, there remains plenty of evidence that people are actually are suffering from depression or illness or hard times actually find his music incredibly helpful.
@@mikhaildomanov345 His Prelude and Fugues in A Major and D Major.
Your comment says a lot about you, nothing about Shostakovich. @@mikhaildomanov345
Damn that's a very good singing for someone who doesn't know Russian
Wow, the second movement "Humor" takes on a whole new dimension with the former comedian current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelelensky standing defiantly - and yet humorously - against the Putin war machine!
Given the current repression of dissent in Russia, "Fears" (fourth movement) has taken on a whole new relevance.
THE TAM-TAM IS SO SOFT
Edit: even when they are supposed to be like CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH, the fourth movement beginning ones are great
His Russian is awful. Why it’s such an issue to hire a good coach??? So sad