Post by fafnir April 15, 2007 (1 of 10)
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Any performer of the finale of the Fifth has to make a basic decision: should it be played as a triumph (Bernstein, for example) or should it be played as a mockery of triumph. Kreizberg has obviously chosen the latter interpretation, and has done so in a fantastic recording, both in terms of sound and performance.
Kreizberg brings out the banality of the material and the deliberate crudity of its presentation to a greater extent than I have ever experienced. I have never admired Shostakovich's vision more, and conversely been more happy when the score thudded to a conclusion.
This recording, while highly recommended, is unusual and thought-provoking.
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Sometimes when something is unexpected and not as much fun as one initially thinks one might have liked, it is a place for growth! Again, you have hit the nail on the head! (you have a good track record in that respect IMO)
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Post by Beagle April 15, 2007 (3 of 10)
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If you want to dig deeper, brush up on your Morse code, and listen to that little tune: S... T... A...
In the mid-sixties, I took a course from one of Shostakovich's host/interpreters. And he said that Dmitri said that "the point where the tune stalls and breaks up is the fiddler at a wedding, so drunk he can't remember how the tune goes." The wink-wink, nudge-nudge implication is that Stalin was too intoxicated with his power, and forgot what the revolution was all about -- or something like that. Pretty brazen stuff to stick into a symphony which is supposed to put you back in good graces with the powers that be.
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Got this from amazon.ca today. Will be listening to this tonight.
Shawn
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I just wish the sound had been a little smoother in the climaxes although there is no lack of detail.
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Post by Johnno April 22, 2007 (6 of 10)
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Firstly, I think the ninth symphony gets a superb performance. I'm rather less happy about the fifth -- principally because of the way Kreizberg treats the END of the finale, which is the slowest I have ever heard it taken. It seems to go on for ever (a slight exaggeration, maybe). What a contrast to Bernstein! The scherzo and slow movement are, on the other hand, very well performed. There are some questionable tempi changes in the first movement but I can accept them.
The playing and recording are both excellent
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Post by terence June 5, 2007 (7 of 10)
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endorse the comments re. the 9th. - very fine performance and recording.
the 5th awaits me....
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Post by seth June 5, 2007 (8 of 10)
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Johnno said:
Firstly, I think the ninth symphony gets a superb performance. I'm rather less happy about the fifth -- principally because of the way Kreizberg treats the END of the finale, which is the slowest I have ever heard it taken. It seems to go on for ever (a slight exaggeration, maybe). What a contrast to Bernstein! The scherzo and slow movement are, on the other hand, very well performed. There are some questionable tempi changes in the first movement but I can accept them.
The playing and recording are both excellent
Agreed. Another thing I did not like about the 5th was that he rushed through the march section in the first movement.
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Post by pelley June 5, 2007 (9 of 10)
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I'm rather less happy about the fifth -- principally because of the way Kreizberg treats the END of the finale, which is the slowest I have ever heard it taken. It seems to go on for ever (a slight exaggeration, maybe). What a contrast to Bernstein!
Is the end even slower than the LSO Live (Rostropovich)? That seems not possible!
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Post by pelley October 1, 2007 (10 of 10)
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pelley said:
Is the end even slower than the LSO Live (Rostropovich)? That seems not possible!
Well to answer my own question, it is slower. But only by 1 second! They seem to take a different approach despite the near-identical length.
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