Search - Dmitry Shostakovich, Semyon Bychkov, Orchester des WDR Köln :: Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8

Stupendous recording of this new Shostakovich 8th

F. Barene | Lynnwood, WA USA | 08/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just received this new version of Shosty's 8th, and speaking as just a listener who truly loves this symphony (this makes my 20th version), I can't think of one that's better. Haitink and Jarvi, Bychkov's earlier one on Philips, and maybe the early Previn on EMI, but few if any others made such an impression on me. I have no musical training, I just know a great Shosty symphony performance of No. 8 (& several others) when I hear it, and I go through my collection in alphabetical order regularly.

The sound is superb, conducting is great, electricity in spades, and I didn't hear anything to complain about with the WDR's performance.

There's just one thing a little disconcerting. The pause between 1st & 2nd movements was such a long pause I wondered if my player was set to play only one track. When the symphony was over, I went back and timed the pause - 20 seconds of silence. It seemed a good number of seconds too long for a recording, but nonetheless, this version goes right to my top drawer. Anyone who is fond of this symphony should not be without this one."

A perplexing but appealing reading

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 09/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Sym. #8 of Shostakovich is among his grimmest works, a tribute to the anguish of WW II in his native land. Most interpretations establish a relentless level of tension from the first note, but if you set aside the historical context of the work, there could be other ways to play it besides nerve-racking intensity. Bychkov breaks ranks to try and explore leaner, less ponderous textures, preferring edge over weight. As a result, the long first movement (26 min.) turns into a fire and ice affair, and there are other hues besides black and gray.



Critics didn't respond, however, when this CD first appeared, and despite the committed playing of the WDR orchestra from Cologne and Avie's crystal-clear sonics, Bychkov's reading was relegated to the back ranks behind Mravinsky, Kondrashin, and Barshai (the latter also conducting the WDR ensemble). So I find myself in a minority when I say that I welcome this CD with relief. Why must the Eighth be a monocchromatic torment? Early in his career Bychkov exhibited an instinctual feeling for the score, as well as alertness and emotional truth.



The rest of the score is likewise played with less bite and bitterness. I found the Allegretto a bit foursquare rhythmically, yet here again it was a relief that the music doesn't march to the sound of jackboots. Bychkov speeds up the third movement Allegro non troppo, and its shrieking high woodwinds sound all the more Hitchcockian for that. The bone-crushing opening bars of the Largo contain considerable terror, as they should. The grave calm of the Passacaglia that follows is handled beautifully. Bychkov lingers beside the grave without dragging us into it. Exhausted resignation is suitable for the Finale (how often this seems true with Shostakovich's big symphonies), and Bychkov does well by not pretending to find hidden optimism that doesn't exist -- he lets the music flow easily to its somber conclusion.



In all, a performance that may perplex you if you have expectations about how the Eighth should go, but an appealing one nonetheless."