Shostakovich: The Jazz Album

Dmitry Shostakovich (Composer), Riccardo Chailly (Conductor), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Orchestra), Ronald Brautigam (Performer), Peter Masseurs (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ronald Brautigam, Peter Masseurs
• Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
• Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
• Composer: Dmitry Shostakovich
• Audio CD (February 16, 1993)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041ZT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,955 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #57 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Keyboard > Piano

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shostakovich the Jazz Guy, October 10, 2005

By 

Brett A. Kniess (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shostakovich: The Jazz Album (Audio CD)

If Shostakovich had decided to write in the Russian folk idiom, this CD would probably be the best glimpse into that genre.

Intending to raise the level of Soviet jazz, we now have two jazz suites scored for orchestra, but featuring instruments used in a way we don't normally hear in Shostakovich. Using xylophone, twangy guitar, accordion, harmonica, and saxophones, we are treated to various "dance forms" such as waltzes, polkas, foxtrots, and marches. Shostakovich goes from the militant, to the humorous, to the sensual, each with an engaging and "catchy" Russian melody and unusual orchestration. He also orchestrates the famous "Tea for Two" into a short fantasia, which is rather whimsical.

The 1st piano concerto is a kind of odd fit on this CD in my opinion. More in the vein of what we are used to hearing from mainstream Shostakovich, he is rather melodic and often quotes from other works. The bare bones orchestration of piano, trumpet, and strings gives this work a very transparent feel. The first movement has an ominous opening theme. The slow second movement is very exciting in its own right with its sense of drama, rarely dwelling in lugubriousness, carrying the sense of dread from the first movement. The third movement is a sort of recitative to the last movement. The last movement has an unusual string mode mixture, the piano goes into a dance feel and the trumpet has some fanfare licks. Both piano and trumpet work together very well as separate soloists in this movement. He ends in a fury with piano and string poundings, the piano has some raucous quotes, and the trumpet ends with fanfares.

Overall, the performances are stellar. The jazz suites have natural Russian flair, the slow with great sumptuousness, the fast never taking itself too seriously and never careening out of control. The piano concerto doesn't fit the program in my opinion, but a very fine performance indeed. This CD is a must for any collection and an easy introduction to the lighter side of Shostakovich.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High spirits from a composer known for melancholy, June 25, 2004

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shostakovich: The Jazz Album (Audio CD)

It's too bad that Riccardo Chailly and the Concertgebouw haven't recorded more Shostakovich (perhaps because Haitink did), since this project is pretty winning. As several other reviewers have noted, however, the term "jazz" here is a bit of a misnomer. Some of the music is lighter than usual for the composer, but anyone expecting to find even as much as what Bernstein created in his "jazz moments" is likely to be a bit disappointed.

But never mind, the recording is superb. Shostakovich's "Piano Concerto No. 1," for piano, trumpet and strings, is one of his most wittily engaging works, and Ronald Brautigam (piano) and Peter Masseurs (trumpet) sound wonderful. The final movement is fairly hilarious, despite a somewhat introspective middle movement that precedes it. The second of the two "Jazz Suites" has the dark little waltz made famous by its appearance in Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut." (This is the very recording used in the film.)

As if all this weren't enough, the concert closes with the composer's hilarious take on "Tea for Two" called "Tahiti Trot." Its sparkling insouciance is a gentle reminder that despite the composer's anguish and pain, he still had wit to spare.

Terrific playing, terrific sound, and lovely cover art, too. One of Chailly's best, most imaginative recordings with this orchestra.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling music for a rainy day!, June 15, 1999

By 

Dr. M. Scott (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shostakovich: The Jazz Album (Audio CD)

If you only know Shostakovich for big doom-laden symphonies or politically incorrect operas, then think again - allow your ears to be tickled pink by the delicate, fun-filled orchestration and sparkling melodies of these items of musical confectionary!! "Jazz" is probably not the best description of this style - the equivalent of 1930's vaudeville and cafe music for the Soviet populace. Chailly and the Royal Concertgebouw have obviously had the time of their lives (and a great laugh!) while making this disc - may I recommend track 10 (Dance No 1) if you need cheering up? A brilliant CD and a showcase for the amazing talents of one of the century's greatest composers/entertainers!!