For those whose musical interests extend beyond the top 40 hit list of the 80's (that's when music was really good) ....
Take a listen to Shostakovich's music, by turns discordant, full of restless power, ironic, idealistic, resigned and deeply melodic was written against the backdrop of Stalin's purges and the oppression which characterised Russian communism. As such it has much relevant comment and emotional resonance with the world today.
Just a caution - this music won't roll over and yield itself like a lonely singleton in a low budge pub after midnight to most listeners.
Symphony 8 - third and fourth movements - a sarcastic comment on war and it's horrors - written at the end of the second world war - publication and premiere delayed until the 60's - staggering
Listen from 34:02 - the movement builds into a frenzy of desparation - it sounds to me that Shostakovich is shrieking "What the fxxk" as the assault of warfare punds - and the segue into the fourth movement - Largo - has to be experienced to be be believed. Of course we can hear Gergiev humming in the background which ruins so many of his recordings .....
Symphony 10 - the second movement - regarded as an epitaph for Stalin - in the right hands it is apocalyptic - here's Gergiev with some youth orchestra doing a creditable job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSJwP5dvzPg
Take it from 21:07
Start at 17:13 on this clip - The Piano quintet. Lyrical beauty - resignation - acceptance as if of some inalienable tragic truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXwE6VTT6g
IF you make it to the end of this clip Dimitry will have his claws in you and you won't look back.
Worth a read is Julian Barne's newest novel - The noise of time https://www.amazon.com/Noise-Time-novel-Julian-Barnes/dp/1101947241
In my view poignant, historically accurate and insightful ...
And Thomas24's HD600's are adding a whole dimension to the listening - must rate as the best return on spend of all recent purchases. :groovy:
Take a listen to Shostakovich's music, by turns discordant, full of restless power, ironic, idealistic, resigned and deeply melodic was written against the backdrop of Stalin's purges and the oppression which characterised Russian communism. As such it has much relevant comment and emotional resonance with the world today.
Just a caution - this music won't roll over and yield itself like a lonely singleton in a low budge pub after midnight to most listeners.
Symphony 8 - third and fourth movements - a sarcastic comment on war and it's horrors - written at the end of the second world war - publication and premiere delayed until the 60's - staggering
Listen from 34:02 - the movement builds into a frenzy of desparation - it sounds to me that Shostakovich is shrieking "What the fxxk" as the assault of warfare punds - and the segue into the fourth movement - Largo - has to be experienced to be be believed. Of course we can hear Gergiev humming in the background which ruins so many of his recordings .....
Symphony 10 - the second movement - regarded as an epitaph for Stalin - in the right hands it is apocalyptic - here's Gergiev with some youth orchestra doing a creditable job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSJwP5dvzPg
Take it from 21:07
Start at 17:13 on this clip - The Piano quintet. Lyrical beauty - resignation - acceptance as if of some inalienable tragic truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXwE6VTT6g
IF you make it to the end of this clip Dimitry will have his claws in you and you won't look back.
Worth a read is Julian Barne's newest novel - The noise of time https://www.amazon.com/Noise-Time-novel-Julian-Barnes/dp/1101947241
In my view poignant, historically accurate and insightful ...
And Thomas24's HD600's are adding a whole dimension to the listening - must rate as the best return on spend of all recent purchases. :groovy:
