| biography |
| Shostakovich
(1906-1975) emerged in the face of oppressive Soviet cultural policies
to become one of the outstanding composers of the modern era. Shostakovich
wrote powerful symphonies in the wake of Mahler, while he expressed
his more private thoughts in deeply compelling chamber music. His
uniquely ironic and emotionally riveting voice became a defining
feature of 20th-century music. |
| recommended
recordings |
|
Bernstein
Century - Shostakovich: Symphonies no 5 & 9
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Composer:
Dmitri
Shostakovich
Conductor: Leonard
Bernstein
Performer: Manuel
Zegler
Ensemble: New
York Philharmonic Orchestra
Sony Classics - #61841 / September 14, 1999
Click
here for more information |
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Leonard Bernstein's performances of Shostakovich were almost
as highly regarded as his Mahler.
This performance of the Fifth Symphony was the highlight of
his celebrated tour of the Soviet Union with the New York
Philharmonic in 1959. The composer himself attended the performances
and approved of Bernstein's interpretation, which is the exact
opposite of the traditional Russian one. Rather than take
the finale ponderously, Bernstein flies through the music
at a frantic pace, carrying it forward...Read
more
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Karajan
Gold - Schostakowitsch: Symphonie no 10 |
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Composer:
Dmitri
Shostakovich
Conductor: Herbert
von Karajan
Ensemble: Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #39036 / July 18, 1996
Click
here for more information
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Herbert von Karajan undoubtedly wished to be remembered as
this century's great German conductor. He recorded the complete
Beethoven symphonies four times, Brahms twice, Bruckner almost
twice. But in truth, he was better at other things, and when
he worked outside his standard repertory he usually did his
best work--like here, for instance. Von Karajan actually recorded
this symphony once before, a good performance. But when he
returned to it for a digital retread, he simply let himself
go and...Read
more
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Shostakovich:
Complete String Quartets / Borodin Quartet |
Composer:
Dmitri
Shostakovich
Performer: Sviatoslav
Richter
Ensemble: Borodin
String Quartet, Prokofiev
Quartet
Bmg/Melodiya - #40711 / August 12, 1997
Click
here for more information |
|
Rarely do we come across as intimate and wide-angled a set
as this collection of Dmitri Shostakovich's 15 string quartets,
all of them played by the Russian Borodin Quartet. Recorded
in Moscow between 1978 and 1983, the quartets are excellently
reproduced in digital sound by Sviatoslav Richter, who maintains
just enough shadow from the old Melodiya vinyl's audio vérité
to make the music breathe passionately. Of course, it's the
Borodins who really amp up the musical breath, whether...Read
more
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Shostakovich:
24 Preludes and Fugues / Tatiana Nikolaeva |
Composer:
Dmitri
Shostakovich
Performer: Tatiana
Petrovna Nikolayeva
Bmg/Melodiya - #19849 / June 13, 1995
Click
here for more information |
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Inspired by Tatiana Nikolaeva's playing of Bach at an East
German piano competition, Shostakovich composed this takeoff
(not to be confused with a rip-off) on The Well-Tempered
Clavier expressly for her on her return to Russia. It
turned out to be one of the greatest and most profound piano
works of our century, and one which, until recently, remained
virtually unknown. Shostakovich isn't usually thought of as
a keyboard composer--indeed, there's relatively little piano
music in his output. This...Read
more
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more recommended recordings
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| works
& recordings |
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- Chamber Music
Trios, Quartets, Quintets
- Choral
Secular and sacred choral music. Oratorios, Masses, Partsongs,
Hymns, Carols
- Instrumental
Sonatas, Suites, Overtures, Minuets, Variations, Transcriptions,
Dance Music
- Orchestra
Concertos, Symphonies
- Theatrical Works
Ballet, Stage, Incidental Music, Film Scores
- Vocal and Opera
Opera, Operetta, Song, Lieder, Musical Theater
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
|
| resources |
|
 Shostakovichiana
- A vast source of information about Shostakovich and his works,
which is particularly strong on the Testimony issue.
Shostakovich.org
- Contains a catalogue of the works, a discussion of the fifth
Symphony and a searchable recording guide.
Alexandre
Hohmann's Shostakovich Page - Includes bibliography, pictures
and some MIDI samples of the Preludes and Fugues, as well
as texts from Symphonies thirteen and fourteen.
Shostakovich
Myths Debunked - Attacking the Testimony version of his
life.
Shostakovich
- Onno van Rijen's site covering Shostakovich and other Soviet
composers, with a complete opus list.
Dmitri
Shostakovich - List of works.
Shostakovich
and the - The authors of 'Shostakovich and the "Testimony
Affair"' question the authenticity of the memoirs.
DSCH
Journal - Includes extracts from the journal, classifieds
and quiz.
Dmitri
Dmitriyevich Shostakovich - Lists: links, opus numbers,
bibliography, first performances.
Dmitri
Shostakovich - Selected discography and message area.
Shostakovich,
Dmitry (Dmitriyevich) - An account of his life and works.
Jon
Luebke's Shostakovich Page - Discography and bibliography.
The
Shostakovich Opus 87 Page - The complete twenty-four Preludes
and Fugues in MIDI format.
Shostakovich
- Paul James' Modern Music Review gives a brief account of
the composer's works.
Shostakovich
Museum - Includes a general introduction and a discussion
of the Testimony issue.
Steve
Bodner on Shostakovich - A general discussion of the composer's
life and of some of the key works.
Russian
Revelations - Fan page: Brief illustrated introduction.
Shostakovich
Myths Debunked - Attacking the Testimony version of his
life.
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