Re: Jarvi Shostakovich
It’s good to see some defence of Shostakovich’s 11th and 12th symphonies! I’ve loved them both since I was a schoolboy all but sixty years ago when I just about wore out the old Cluytens three-sided set of No.11. I think Marc is wrong about the 1962 performance of No.12. Wasn’t it at the Proms and conducted by Sargent after a first half including ‘Ruy Blas’, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Sibelius 2? – those were the days! (It was the night after Stokowski’s legendary ‘Resurrection’ which I was also lucky enough to attend.) I still recall there was huge enthusiasm for the Shostakovich and people excitedly talking about it as we headed for the tube – the ending may be problematic but it makes a wonderful noise! As for No.11, I think it’s probably my favourite Shostakovixh symphony and, pace Dieter and others, it seems to me quite masterly purely as music. Marc mentions excitedment in No.12 and I certainly agree but is there anything much more exciting in Shostakovich (or anyone else for that matter) than parts of No.11? – the ‘massacre music’ and most of the finale? And the slow movement is very moving providing it’s taken slowly enough whilst that extraordinary opening movement is some of the mosr chillingly evocative music I know. It’s an absolute masterpiece though often diminished by being taken too fast nearly all the way through, e.g. Jarvi!
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