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Classical Court From Perotin to Prokofiev (and beyond), performed by Caruso to Khatia, it's all here. |
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Classical Court From Perotin to Prokofiev (and beyond), performed by Caruso to Khatia, it's all here. |
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In Reply to: Okay, who was the greater composer, Prokofiev or Shostakovich? posted by Mali on May 2, 2021 at 18:14:30:
Shostakovich had his moments ("Song of the Forests", "The Sun Shines Over Our Motherland", and let's not forget his attempt to write a Russian-style Broadway musical: Cheryomushki - "Cherry Town"!). But even in the cantata genre, Shostakovich has nothing to compare with Prokofiev's "Seven - They are Seven!" or "Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution". And if one considers the Rachmaninoff Second Symphony to belong partially to the 19th century, then the Prokofiev Sixth Symphony is clearly the greatest 20th-century symphony ever composed.
A lot of Shostakovich depends on the listeners' knowledge of the "secret meanings" in his music - like, he was secretly fighting against Stalin, or he was secretly depicting a stupid commissar (with equally stupid music!), or, in the Eighth String Quartet, secretly evoking the KGB knocking at the door. A lot of these secret meanings were thought up ex post facto by others, but this "secret understanding" still makes some people feel knowledgeable about the music. (And, c'mon, Todd: that Shostakovich Sixth Symphony has a finale which is nothing more than circus music!) Not to mention Shostakovich's ghastly re-orchestration of the Schumann Cello Concerto - which makes the original Schumann orchestration sound like an expert discourse on the subject! And every time I have to play that Shostakovich Cello Sonata, I bury my face in my palm and ask, "Why did I ever go into the music field?"
I can't for the life of me figure out how ANYBODY could prefer Shostakovich to an absolute master like Prokofiev, but such is the way of the world sometimes.
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Follow Ups
- Prokofiev - what is wrong with you people! ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 00:32:56 05/03/21 (17)
- RE: Prokofiev - what is wrong with you people! ;-) - Dr. Fuse 18:07:25 06/05/21 (0)
- RE Rach 2d, Prok 6th, &c: Not Sure I Understand Your Distinctions - goldenthal 17:13:20 05/07/21 (0)
- Agreed, I can live without Shostakovich - Jay Buridan 05:43:40 05/04/21 (5)
- RE: Agreed, I can live without Shostakovich - Mali 09:07:36 05/04/21 (0)
- Even "The Nose??" : ) I prefer Prokofiev but certainly still enjoy much of Shosty's output - jdaniel@jps.net 07:35:18 05/04/21 (3)
- Was being a little facetious - Jay Buridan 11:34:08 05/05/21 (0)
- I love the 14th by Rostropovich/Ensemble Of Soloists Of The Moscow Philharmonic. Unusally good Melodiya LP. nt - Rick W 11:13:23 05/04/21 (0)
- RE: Even "The Nose??" : ) I prefer Prokofiev but certainly still enjoy much of Shosty's output - Mali 08:40:38 05/04/21 (0)
- Agreed... (nt) - TWB 07:23:45 05/03/21 (0)
- Just listened to the Shostokovich 4th sym. again last night - Mali 07:14:09 05/03/21 (1)
- Will be downloading Nelsons' BSO 4th soon. Still like Jarvi's best, but we'll see. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 08:07:28 05/04/21 (0)
- But if the "secret meanings" are whispered in a forest, and no one is around to hear them.... - jdaniel@jps.net 06:53:52 05/03/21 (0)
- When Johnny Comes Marching Home (arr. Shostakovich) - pbarach 05:49:06 05/03/21 (3)
- OMG! That was new to me! - Well that certainly raises Shostakovich in my estimation! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 09:55:39 05/03/21 (2)
- As should his take on Vincent Youmans... - Jim Treanor 15:09:31 05/03/21 (1)
- THAT one I had heard before! ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 16:24:57 05/03/21 (0)
- supposed to vs is - DrChaos 00:58:19 05/03/21 (0)
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