Which is the best Shostakovich Symphony Cycle?

Question

I've heard very mixed reviews on every conductor's cycle, so I'm having trouble deciding. I'm looking for one with good interpretations, but also good sound quality, so it should probably have been recorded within about the last 30-35 years. Here are some I would consider:
Bernard Haitink (unfortunately, conducting the LPO on several symphonies, instead of just his wonderful Concertgebouw);
Maxim Shostakovich (Prague Symphony Orchestra);
Mstislav Rostropovich (National Symphony Orchestra/ LSO);
Vladimir Ashkenazy (Royal Philharmonic/ St. Petersburg Philharmonic)

If there are any others you can recomend (complete sets), please feel free.

Answer 1

I've always found the Haitink cycle a little underwhelming. Haitink misses the wit, sarcasm and horror in some of Shostakovich's symphonies. The sound quality, however, is among the best.



Kirill Kondrashin's classic set with the Moscow Philharmonic will always be a classic. Recordings dating between 1961 and 1973 mean that recording quality is seldom top notch - and the performances are uneven. However, this set contains among the very best versions of symphonies 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14.



Maxim Shostakovich is NOT a world-class conductor, nor was Rostropovich, who amazingly for someone so closely linked with Shostakovich, often gives facile and unconvincing performances. His 'LSO Live' performance of No 11, however, is a winner and among the best.



I have worked with Ashkenazy on numerous occasions and admire him as a musician. But he does not always bring out the best of Shostakovich.



The legendary Yevgeny Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic has an incomplete set of symphonies (1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15) but is well worth having for blistering performances and a wonderful insight into the music. recordings are not always of the best, however.



The Rudolf Barshai set is a tremendous bargain with excellent sound and first-class interpretations. You can't go far wrong with this as a low-priced set.



The recently completed set by Mark Wigglesworth on the BIS label is relatively little known but contains some amazing performances and probably the best recordings of any set.



I am a great admirer of Mariss Jansons but find some of his Shostakovich cycle lacklustre.



For a complete set, go for Wigglesworth or Barshai but try and get the Mravinsky and Kondrashin as well if you can afford it.

Answer 2

Best Shostakovich Symphonies

Answer 3

The LPO in the Haitink cycle just play wonderfully. If you want a good bargain go with the Barshai cycle which is very good indeed and also inexpensive.

Another option you definetly should consider is the recent Mariss Jansons cycle. It's fantastic.

Maxim Shostakovich may be Dmitri's son but that doesn't make him a first class conductor, and Prague Symphony is not a top class orchestra. Rostropovich cycle lacks sometimes of adequate fierce and brilliancy.

Answer 4

There s a survey of all the complete (and some almost-complete) Shostakovich Symphony Cycles on this website (ionarts): http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-survey-of-shostakovich-symphony-cycles.html



...which recommends these three, out of the lot: Kondrashin, Barshai, and Jansons. Sound choices, all.



I am not as fond of Mravinsky (in any case not complete) as I should want to be, authenticity and all...

Answer 5

Prague is one of the towns worth-visit and to do that you can start planning your vacation with hotelbye . Starting with the charming place across the Prague Castle or the Strahov monastery with its exceptional library and finish with …the whole outstanding town, Prague is just incredible. In Prague you can even visit the little home wherever Franz Kafka worked or the wonderful Prague Castle gardens from where you are able to like a unique view of the city with its picturesque red roofs. In this town you'll never get bored. If you will go through the spring you will see the spring trees in blossom; in the summer you will see extended dusks; fall will give you decorative leaves and specific mild and in the winter you will enjoy the complete town covered with innocent bright snow.

Answer 6

I don't own a complete cycle, but I would check into anything conducted by Mravinsky with Leningrad.



I do like Maxim's recording of the 8th symphony, though.