From: schroede@bnlux1.bnl.gov (gary l. schroeder)
Subject: Re: 10th symphony
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 20:55:39 GMT

In article <Nov07.195755.30097@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> hurben@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Mike Hurben) writes:
>In article <1992Nov6.211251.23586@bnlux1.bnl.gov> schroede@bnlux1.bnl.gov (gary l. schroeder) writes:
>>In article <Nov06.054045.50339@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> hurben@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Mike Hurben) writes:
>>
>>>Can I get you guys to give me your recommendation(s) for the 10th?  From what
>>>I have been told, this is the best piece to go on to after the 5th, which,
>>>by the way, I am realy beginning to like!
>>
>>I don't necessarily believe that the 10th is a logical progression from
>>the fifth.  Oddly, I find the fifth to be "different" from most of DS's
>>symphonic works, and not really typical at all.  Certainly, it his most
>>well-known piece (read: "accessible"?).  My opinion on the 10th?  Skip
>>it and go straight to either the 8th or the 11th.  If movements 2 and 3
>>of the 8th or mvmnt 1 of the 11th don't keep you coming back for more
>>DS, then nothing will.  The 10th is too minimal for my tastes.  I much
>>prefer his bombastic side, and no. 10 only gives you this in the all too
>>brief 2nd movement and the triumphant flourish at the very end of the
>>symphony.

>OK, I will take your word for it...so how about a particular recording?  What
>should I look for?

My personal reccomendations: 

Let's see...those cd's are around here somewhere..ah...

Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
Bernard Haitink
Concertgebouw Orchestra
London 411 616-2 LH

Very few conductors have successfully pulled off the blistering pace of
the third movement.  Usually the orchestra can't keep up if the
conductor dosen't pace it right.  Haitink succeeds here in a big way.

Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 ("1905")
Leopold Stokowski
Houston Symphony Orchestra
Angel CDC-7 47419 2

This was the only version (or one of the only ones that I ever saw)
available for years in the US.  Although the recording dates to 1957,
the recording is magnificent.  It contains bass that would put many
modern recordings to shame, i.e. the kind of bass that you can only
_feel_, not hear!  I highly reccomend this one, although I have to admit
that I've never heard the Haitink version.


>>>P.S.  Why is there no alt.fan.mahler ??? 
>>
>>Because all the Mahler fans are in depression clinics without access to
>>the net.
>>
>Hey! Watch it, your talking about my favorite symphonist!  I can only guess
>that this remark is tounge-in-cheek, as anyone that actually thinks that GM's
>beautifully life-affirming, glorious symphonies are depressing  is out of his
>mind!!  Yea, he has his dark moments (lovely ones, at that), and I must say
>that in the very little DS I have heard, DS can be quite bleak at times, also.
>Take away my Mahler and I would very well end up in a depression clinic!

Yeah, it was tongue-in-cheek flame bait all the way.  I knew somebody
would speak up on that point.  Heh.  Truth is, I know very little
Mahler, and I'm in no position to offer an informed decision.
Shostakovich, on the other hand, could most certainly drive a depressed
person over the edge through some of his work.


-- 
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Gary L. Schroeder  		|  
schroede@bnlux1.bnl.gov         |        It's a pomaceous life. 
Brookhaven National Laboratory  |