I’m thinking of learning this bitch but I am really not a Shostakovich person in general. Anybody related their experiences?
You need to become a Shostakovich person. Listen to some of the Symphonies - they’re his best work, imo.
Symphonies 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 are my favourites.
Other than that, I can’t really help. I’ve only played one Shostakovich piece - Op.87 no.4.
The Shostakovich trio is awesome.
I actually think his chamber music is where it’s at, particularly the string quartets. The symphonies are great too, though.
Yup. Needs really good strings to pull it off though, especially the cellist. No big technical challenge, the last part of the last movement was somewhat tricky though, especially to coordinate with the ensemble.
But as Chris said, listen to the symphonies, especially 5 and 7, and find that russian war temperament. This piece really has it all, death, love, humour, you name it. Good luck.
Oooh, of course the quartets are wonderful. Same goes for the piano Quintet ,the first piano Concerto (kapell) and the Violin and Cello Concertos.
Still, I’d say my favourite Shostakovich work is definitely the 10th Symphony. I’ll post the Ancerl recording. Nobody has EVER played it better.
Yeah, the 10th symphony freakin’ rules.
yeah, i know the symphonies. i’m really not fond of them. i will give you that the string quartets are in general quite amazing. but the piano concerto and the preludes and fugues leave much to be desired for me.
anyone have a favorite recording of this trio? i want to hear some different interps of first mvt
agreed with Koji on Shosty’s chamber works, paralleled by none IMO…
and the violin sonatas are pretty incredible as well.
This trio might be my single favorite Shosty work…
Learn it; if not now, I predict you’ll start to love it in a month or so.
Here’s Trio Wanderer wich i like a lot.
I like the Gilels-Kogan-Rostropovich rec of trio 2. Also, Leonskaja made a nice one on Telarc a while back. Richter’s is decent and Stern-Ma-Ax is better than I expected.
The rec with Shostakovich, Sadlo and Oistrakh is also quite nice.
respect for this!
btw do you guys know if argerich’s is worth buying?
I thought it was quite decent.
all i can say now: not difficult and rock in concerts! audience love it if performed with the aproppiate expression and character
The Scherzo is an absolute bitch to follow when your asked to page turn after running a mile, having to catch your breath, have never seen the music before and played soooo fast!
yeah i think i’m gonna break my shostakovich virginity and play this one. well, i guess it’s not really virginity, as i’ve played 2 or 3 of the preludes and fugues, and decided his piano music was not for me.
May I ask why?
I find Stern and Ax to be excellent chamber musicians. Ma… im not so sure.
I’m not crazy about the piano music, either quite frankly.
why is that? the Juilliard Quartet + Ma + Trampler recording of Verklaerte Nacht is an utterly mind blowing performance
stosty’s piano music isnt all bad. the two piano sonatas are great. the preludes are just ok. the chamber music to me doesnt really count as ‘piano music’ because its just so different, and much better. randomly, the first trio is also great, but short.