The very first time I heard this symphony, I was gripped by it. It was a live broadcast performance and I just remember being transfixed by what was coming through the speakers. Glad you covered this.
We went to a performance of 'Babi Yar' on Saturday at The Brangwyn Hall here in Swansea, performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Ryan Bancroft. It was an utterly stunning, breath-taking performance, possibly the best concert I have yet been too. Just remarkable. I've heard a number of recordings including Haitink but none of them prepared me for a live performance.
Dave, you are SO right about this remarkable work. I never gave it much attention until fairly recently. I did what you recommended: I listened intently with the poems, in translation, to hand. Since that time (a couple of years ago) I have returned to it, each time more impressed, musically of course, but also edified by its humane message. The poetry alone is fabulous--of how many vocal and choral works can we say that?
Yep, the Barshai Version is powerful, I think Aleksashkin (the Bass) is amazing - no one sings it more intensely. he did it also with Jansons back in the day
Yes, a great recording - and does it say bad things about me that it probably is my favourite DSCH work? Sometimes I am in the mood for something at a higher level of intensity - pity there is not more Kondrashin in great sound, though a great Dave H tip was the Dresden DSCH4. I once saw RSNO/Lazarev do a great 13, coupled with the DSCH orchestration of Songs and Dances of Death - happy programme there... pity they did not record more as Lazerev was amazing the the right repertoire and their recording of 11 is phenomenal!
"It's death." Evidently Tony Palmer felt the same thing. In his film version of "Testimony" he uses this opening music to accompany Stalin's first appearance.
In the comments section for the Barshai recording here on TH-cam it's claimed that he uses the officially sanctioned rewriting of the text. Is that so?
The very first time I heard this symphony, I was gripped by it. It was a live broadcast performance and I just remember being transfixed by what was coming through the speakers. Glad you covered this.
We went to a performance of 'Babi Yar' on Saturday at The Brangwyn Hall here in Swansea, performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Ryan Bancroft. It was an utterly stunning, breath-taking performance, possibly the best concert I have yet been too. Just remarkable. I've heard a number of recordings including Haitink but none of them prepared me for a live performance.
Dave, you are SO right about this remarkable work. I never gave it much attention until fairly recently. I did what you recommended: I listened intently with the poems, in translation, to hand. Since that time (a couple of years ago) I have returned to it, each time more impressed, musically of course, but also edified by its humane message. The poetry alone is fabulous--of how many vocal and choral works can we say that?
Yep, the Barshai Version is powerful, I think Aleksashkin (the Bass) is amazing - no one sings it more intensely. he did it also with Jansons back in the day
Wonderful talk. ❤ thanks.
By far my favourite recording of not so far my favourite Shostakovich work
Whenever someone tells me they are not into classical music I make them sit through the first movement of Babi Yar and they usually change their mind
Yes, a great recording - and does it say bad things about me that it probably is my favourite DSCH work? Sometimes I am in the mood for something at a higher level of intensity - pity there is not more Kondrashin in great sound, though a great Dave H tip was the Dresden DSCH4.
I once saw RSNO/Lazarev do a great 13, coupled with the DSCH orchestration of Songs and Dances of Death - happy programme there... pity they did not record more as Lazerev was amazing the the right repertoire and their recording of 11 is phenomenal!
"It's death." Evidently Tony Palmer felt the same thing. In his film version of "Testimony" he uses this opening music to accompany Stalin's first appearance.
In the comments section for the Barshai recording here on TH-cam it's claimed that he uses the officially sanctioned rewriting of the text. Is that so?