Shostakovich #11/BSO Nelsons on DG

[ack]

This DG CD won a Grammy for best engineered album, and the recording is shockingly good. So good in fact that the bass drum on Track 2, around minute 13 is as powerful and dry as at Symphony Hall, with no "boom" or overhang; just not as life-size in my system as the real thing, and at times lacking that leading edge (Hmm, woofers a little slow? I am leaning more towards the DAC right now). Cymbal crashes are outstanding; timbre (especially timpani), scale and presentation to die for. Some $20.

 

[microstrip]

Just to remember it is also available as a 96/24 download. It is one of the reasons I must go on following the threads on servers and computer audio ...

 

[bonzo75]

I saw a fantastic chamber arrangement performance of his 15th symphony this week. Arrangement is by Viktor Derevianko. It's a trio with three percussionists

 

[asiufy]

It is on Tidal MQA as well. Will have a go at it today.

 

[asiufy]

Holy sh*t folks, this is the real deal. Couldn't wait, so I queued this one up, and yeah, it's sublime. As ack said, the recording is exemplary, and not only the percussion.

 

[ack]

Great! It really captures the Symphony Hall/BSO sound in all its glory, including the acoustics of the space, albeit at a smaller scale. But in terms of overall presentation, it's ALL there in spades. Fascinating. And the performance, out of this world

 

[christoph]

Just to remember it is also available as a 96/24 download. It is one of the reasons I must go on following the threads on servers and computer audio ...

Also as 96/24 stream on Quobuz

 

[the sound of Tao]

Holy sh*t folks, this is the real deal. Couldn't wait, so I queued this one up, and yeah, it's sublime. As ack said, the recording is exemplary, and not only the percussion.

Just downloaded and am also liking... alive, vast and engaging from the very first notes. Sounding absolutely great. One thing I do love about streaming is that instantaneous ability to join in and share in a new discovery. Thanks guys.

 

[asiufy]

Also as 96/24 stream on Quobuz

Must be a glitch with Qobuz here in the US, or maybe the Roon integration, as it didn't show up here.

 

[KeithR]

Holy sh*t folks, this is the real deal. Couldn't wait, so I queued this one up, and yeah, it's sublime. As ack said, the recording is exemplary, and not only the percussion.

Dude- sent this to you weeks ago

 

[PeterA]

Thanks Ack. Unfortunately my system is vinyl only. I look forward to hearing this at your place, Ian's, or Al's. Did you record this on tape from the radio during the live Saturday night broadcast?

 

[the sound of Tao]

You guys have started me on a Shosta-fest! Had forgotten how good Nelson’s Shostakovich 10 was... next thing i know I was listening to the 9 and now firmly heading towards 5 and 8. Bleak and intense but marvellous!

 

[ack]

Thanks Ack. Unfortunately my system is vinyl only. I look forward to hearing this at your place, Ian's, or Al's. Did you record this on tape from the radio during the live Saturday night broadcast?

It doesn't look like I recorded it...

 

[ack]

Here's a Grammy runner-up which also sounds fantastic. Keith Johnson also captures the dryness of the bass drum, finally, with no reverb or overhang. The superiority of HDCD is obvious.

As an added bonus, the cast in the booklet has an honorable mention to the Office Cat, Mr. Widget -- Awww. He must have been chewing on the microphone cables, while wiggling his tail at the rhythm.

 

[Kingsrule]

HDCD superior??

Actually I think HDCD always sounds muted and dynamically limited....even in the Levinson days when the dac went into HDCD decode mode

The Nelsons disc is real good...thank you for the review

 

[ack]

HDCD has always been superior in here, in every aspect

 

[Ron Resnick]

Keith played this Shostakovich for me last night. It definitely was dynamic and lively and a system buster!

But, alas, I did not care for it musically.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Keith played this Shostakovich for me last night. It definitely was dynamic and lively and a system buster!

But, alas, I did not care for it musically.

i can relate to your musical compass on 'angry' modern classical music. 24 years ago when i got going on a serious dive into hifi, i knew nothing about jazz or classical. maybe had a like of some of the most listenable classical pieces. and viewed most 20th Century classical compositions as not enjoyable or musical to my ear. the term i used was angry. but over time, as i listened to more and more classical, especially vinyl classical, i, little by little, acquired a taste for more complex and introverted ( or whatever the term is) classical compositions.

it is a personal decision as to whether you desire to work at it little by little. my path was from Romance era major compositions, to lots of mild chamber music, to more involved string quartets, to then stuff like Mahler and Stravinsky, and then it seemed like it all opened up to me. that was maybe 5 years ago. now i listen to 60% to 70% classical and mostly 20th century compositions. and it's rare i can't get my mind into it's flow.

if you stick with vinyl only then it's certainly harder to navigate, as there is so much modern classical on digital that is so easy to access.

i'm listening to this Nelsons Shostakovich 24/96 MQA on Tidal right now (and also downloading the 24/96 file) and really like it; but your comments remind me of my mid-90s viewpoint on music like this. i feel it would be sad if i never had developed a taste for this music as it has great depth of feeling and really satisfies. i love how it sounds on my system (and think it would soar on yours too). some of my most 'zen' musical journeys are with new discoveries of modern compositions.

 

[microstrip]

Keith played this Shostakovich for me last night. It definitely was dynamic and lively and a system buster!

But, alas, I did not care for it musically.

Several of my friends also do not care about Shostakovich music, but carefully selecting the part of the recording I play to them makes them great fans. The Adagio (3rd movement) of the 11th is one of my choices - it grips people to their seats!

I entered the 20th century classical music with Bartok and Stravinsky compositions - only some ten years later I become addicted to Shostakovich.

 

[tima]

Welcome to the 20th C.

For Shosty 6 and 11, try Berglund - on vinyl. SLS 5177