Kitajenko/Gurzenich Orchester Koln/Capriccio Shosy Symphonies cycle (OOT)

[John Kim]

This Kitajenko Shostakovich Symphony set is a fantastic deal.

I have gone through roughly a half of the cycle now (2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th) and can say safely that this is the single best thing that happened in my CD collection.

Not only the playing and conducting are top notch, the sonics, especially on SACD layer is drop dead awesome.

There is a very natural sounding sonic stage embedded in each recording and the dynamic range is huge (but never too exaggerated).

Kitajenko conducts his German orchestra, Gurzenich Orchester Koln, with sure hands and total conviction. Granted, his interpretation of Shostakovich is very Germanic emphasizing basic structure and inner logic, bringing an order and a keen architecture to the score that is often spiky and seems to lack cohesion; at times each symphony under his baton sounded as if written by Beethoven or Brahms. But more to the point, these traits do only goods to the music, never do a harm. Overall, Kitajenko's reading is expansive but very dramatic, slightly straightforward but not bland, beautiful but still very intense. I particularly like the 8th and 11th in which he takes time and builds the climaxes gradually from zero to ten; the Finales of these symphonies never sounded so devastating.

An enthusiastic and unhesitant recommendation then. Those who love Shostakovich must hurry and grab their copies before it gets too late.

John,

[akiralx]

Yes, you've summed up this fine set well.

It is reviewed by me and others here:

http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/3051

Note jpc.de still seem to be selling it at an absurdly low price...Artikel am Lager means Item in stock!

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/SESSIONID/0eb79e73f755f8789b7834b8d9a734fb/classic/detail/-/art/Dimitri-Schostakowitsch-Symphonien-Nr-1-15/hnum/5849111

[John Kim]

I've now listened to the 2nd, 5th, 6-9th, 11-12th, and 13th.

All are excellent but this 13th is very special, weighty and deep in both the interpretation and sound. Kitaenko is slow, slower than usual but he engulfs all the emotional elements out of the score. The 12th is also outstanding. This is a symphony many have ignored but having listened to Kitaenjo way with this music I am convinced it is a major Shosy work. It is a very enjoyable work too. Ditto the 2nd and 6th.

All in all, a fabulous Shosy cycle.

John,

[sperlsco]

I've only listened to a few of these performances.  I find the 11th to be exceptional -- well played and extremely intense.  However, I find the 7th and 10th (my favorite Shosty symphonies) to be real dullards.  The finale of the 7th never takes off or builds to anything.  The second movement of the 10th has no intensity, while the finale is absolutely joyless at the end.  I'll take Jarvi in those two on CD, or for SACD Bychkov for the 10th and Inoue in the 7th. 

[John Kim]

Scott,

I admit that Kitaenko's Shosy 7th sounds more 'classical' than modern, especially in the opening movt. I still like the whole performance though because of the committed playing and sound quality. I didn't find the finale lacking focus; the final pages are very slow, as slow as in Lenny's DG version so the grandiose element of the music is not missing.

I really like the way he handles the lesser known 2nd, 6th, and 12th.

Cheers.

John,

[John Kim]

I've only listened to a few of these performances.  I find the 11th to be exceptional -- well played and extremely intense.  However, I find the 7th and 10th (my favorite Shosty symphonies) to be real dullards.  The finale of the 7th never takes off or builds to anything.  The second movement of the 10th has no intensity, while the finale is absolutely joyless at the end.  I'll take Jarvi in those two on CD, or for SACD Bychkov for the 10th and Inoue in the 7th. 

Did Ichiyoshi Inoue ever record Shostakovich 7th??

John,

[sperlsco]

Did Ichiyoshi Inoue ever record Shostakovich 7th??

John,

Errr, apparently my keyboard didn't know to type "Eiji Oue".   

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 Op. 60 "Leningrad"
Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra
Eiji Oue (conductor)
Fontec

http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/3448

For my taste, the problem with Kitajenko's S7 (compared to Lennie/Chicago SO) is that it is slow without being grandiose -- so to my ears it lacks any measure of a victory.  It is similar to many performances that strive for the "victory at a great cost" feeling at the end -- but they leave out the victory part of the equation. 

[John Kim]

Scott,

I got your points. But for those Shosy's work sounds "over the top" Kitaenko's approach actually may help to ease that feeling down (I felt a similar trend in his 10th finale movt.). But to me Kitaenko's 2nd, 6th, and 12nd are hands down the very best versions of these often neglected but engrossing works.

John,

[John Kim]

Moving on to the 4th and 15th, I really love Kitaenko's way with these symphonies, expansive, somber, with deliberate and flexible tempos. Slow parts are slower than usual but fast parts are as fast as they need to be. The overall effect is somewhat like listening to Mahler symphonies, say, M5th or 6th. Both of them are great performance indeed. But then I like just every one in this set, although the 5th could have been a little more tense.

John,

[sperlsco]

Scott,

I got your points. But for those Shosy's work sounds "over the top" ...

John,

When you're an accountant, you look forward to some aspect of your life being "over-the-top".   

[techniquest]

My set arrived from JPC today. Had a quick listen to a couple of my favourite movements (13:1 & 15:1) and both sound excellent in every way...Looking forward to being able to settle down to some serious listening.