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Can anyone recommend an outstanding recording of Shostakovich Symphony #12 ?

I've heard the Haitink/Concertgebouw version, but wonder how the Jansons, Caetani (son of Igor Markevitch?), or Kitajenko compare? Amazon's page says the Caetani requires SACD playback equipment, but the title says "hybrid". Won't that work on any CD player?

Can't really go wrong with anything by Kirill Kondrashin, Rostropovich, or Mravinsky. Look for one with a Russian orchestra of somekind. The brass playing is fantastic, and at times flat out ferocious. Enjoy!

Although hard to find, try to Locate the Andre Previn/LSO recording from the late 70's. I found it in a cut out bin about 6 years ago. Previn, IMHO, is THE best interpreter of the 20th Century Russian rep. on cd (I have raved about his Prokofiev Symphonies with the LAPO, goes to prove how a great muscian conducting great musicians can eclipse a standing MD:Zubin Mehta). Good luck. BTW, while Kondrahssin is a GREAT choice, the orchestral playing leaves, to my ears, something to be desired. As much as I love an orchestral sound before the "Chicagonization" of the brass playing, I can't stomach, with the exception of Marvinsky's Tschaik Symphonies with the Leningrad Phil from 1960 (now, that defines LOUD and FAST), the "period" Soviet sound.

Chuck

I have not got copies of the other recordings mentioned, but my favourite of 'Year 1917' in my collection is the recording by Neemi Jarvi and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Exciting performance, good sound with nicely present (big?) tuba.



Also very good 11th Symphony on this double CD, which at least in the UK is available at very reasonably price.

There also is another recording of Neeme Jarvi and Gothenburg Symphony combined with the The Age of Gold and Hamlet from 1991 on Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg (Catalog # 431 688-2) that is quite outstanding, imho. It very likely might be the same performance as the UK version, however.

David Spies
Racine Symphony Orchestra

PS: Had the opportunity to perform this work with Gunther Herbig at the helm of the Yale Philharmonia Orchestra--it was a trip! Grab the piece by the hair on the back of its neck and hang on for the ride of your life!!

I have been rehearsing Shostakovich 12 this week for concert next Sunday. What a piece!!! The tuba part is incredible, being exciting, very prominent, and carrying the main theme quite a lot. As the conductor said to me - "this is not a normal tuba part"

I never expected a conductor to be asking me for "more tuba" when playing my 6/4 Neptune, but that is exactly what I got in several passages

Can't wait for the concert!

Joe,

Shosty 7 is the one, I think, you are talking about. I love the 1st and hope to conduct it next year. How do you like it?

Chuck

Bob1062 wrote:Time to orchestra-debut the Kaiser?

No way is my BBb playing up to it - fast with lots of sharp accidentals thrown in!

I am considering up-sizing mouthpiece from my usual PT-90 to PT-48 to open the low register more, but the Neptune can provide plenty more anyway, if that is what the man out front wants.

Jonathan "who was amazed at one point to be asked to drown out the bassoons!"

WHAT SAY YE, Chuck, and others burdened with opinia?

Given the key of the piece,the tessitura, and the overall sound that Shosty was looking for, I think the BBb is a perfect choice, especially for the size of the group.

Chuck"opinion offered"Jackson

bloke wrote: As I type this, I'm thinking about a nice Sonora (VMI/B&S) 16" bell / .748" bore BBb that a friend JUST bought off of eBay, and I JUST finished fixing it up really nice for him. I'm beginning to thing that would be the PERFECT tuba for this piece...and I could comp my friend w/2 passes in exchange for loaning me the BBb. He would probably get a kick out of hearing it played...

WHAT SAY YE, Chuck, and others burdened with opinia?

When I saw the St.Petersburg Philharmonic in concert last year, the tubist was playing a M-W 25, so not much different in size.

I played Shostakovich 12 "The Year 1917" in concert using my Neptune on Sunday. I could really not imagine it played on anything but a really big tuba - it is such a huge part with in one place the tuba carrying the tune apparently alone and in another taking on the role of the battleship "Aurora".

An opportunity to really fully play out on the BAT with no chance of getting the hand from the conductor - I loved it!

Jonathan "who now rates Shost 12 second only to Mahler 6 in his favorites"