Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dmitry Shostakovich, Yevgeny Mravinsky :: Shostakovich: Symphony 8

A great performance but terrible coughs

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 09/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is probably the very best interpretation of Shostakovich's eight symphony that exists on record. It is a stunning performance. Period.



However, while listening to this great live performance you have also to listen to an audience that doesn't know how to behave during a concert. For this particular occasion, hordes of coughers have invaded the concert hall. One really wonder what's going on, because they cough as much as possible during particular parts of the work. Are they trying to make a political protest or what? Do they hate Shostakovich?



In any case, I wonder why some people apparently love to cough during concerts. As a frequent concert goer, one may observe this behavior from time to time (but seldom as serious as in the case of this recording). It seems to be a social thing: if one cougher starts, others will follow.



But in my view, this behavior is comparable with putting snot and other disgusting things on famous paintings in an art gallery. Hence you concert coughers destroy works of art! Buy a record instead and stay home!



Next time I sit next to a cougher during a concert, I'll smash that cougher's nose. Beware, all you coughers!



(Concert coughers will not find this review helpful.)



"

A Magnificent Performance Badly Marred by Constant Coughing

Classicalfan | Reston, VA USA | 12/28/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I have a live recording on the Erato label of Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic performing Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony; like almost any live performance, it has some audible coughing. Yet, I wouldn't let that stop me from giving that other CD a rating of 5 stars.



But here the coughing is out of control. I have hundreds of CDs in my classical music collection, including many live performances of symphonies and concertos. Most of these live recordings have the sound of at least a couple of coughs, or more, in the audience, which I understand and accept as inevitable. I buy CDs of live performances and on many occasions have been very pleased with their dynamic energy. But, in this case, I don't recall having ever heard a live recording that comes close to having as much constant, non-stop coughing in the audience as this one. This recording completely breaks, batters, and shatters, every pre-existing record for audience coughing on a CD that I am personally acquainted with.



This is a stellar performance by the orchestra and conductor, but the only time one doesn't hear coughing is in some passages where the entire orchestra is playing loudly enough to drown out the coughs. In every slow passage there is the non-stop punctuation of hacking coughs in the audience. The coughs are frequent and very audible, coming through with highly irritating clarity.



I realize that I stand alone amongst the other reviewers in giving this recording such a low rating, the lowest that I have ever given to any classical music CD. In giving this low rating, I intend no disrespect to Mravinsky, one of the greatest conductors of the twentieth century, and a conductor who knew Shostakovich personally and premiered a number of his works. But, that being said, the purpose of buying a CD, after all, is presumably to listen to it and appreciate the quality of the performance more than once, listening to it a number of times over the years. Having heard this CD once, with its epidemic of coughs, I do not care to listen to it again. If it were not for the clearly audible constant coughing, I would gladly have given this CD five stars and might even have recommended it as a desert island CD.



There are several fine recordings of Shostakovich's 8th Symphony, under very talented conductors. I would recommend Haitink or Gergiev for excellent recordings of this symphony."

A reference performance

R. J. Claster | Van Nuys, CA United States | 03/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance(which is the premiere of the work in concert in Great Britain from 1960) has tremendous power and intensity. The playing of the Leningrad strings is marvelous in its tonal fullness and precision, and no other interpretation that I have heard conveys such a relentless drive and power in the 2nd and 3rd movements.
Finally, the recording, which is in stereo, has very good clarity and dynamics. The only caveat I would make is that there are a number of coughs and sneezes sprinkled throughout the performance. A must have for Shostakovich lovers!"