Thread: Shostakovich String Qts 14 & 15 - Prazak

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Post by fausto K September 16, 2014 (1 of 27)
I've seen an announcement for a new Shostakovich disc by the Prazak Qt. Maybe I don't need another version of both quartets, but a DSD recorded version of one my favourite string quartets, the supremely bleak nr. 15, is very enticing. I don't know the Prazak's earlier disc Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 7 & 8, Piano Quintet - Prazak Quartet
How does it compare to Mandelring, Emerson, early/later Borodin etc.?

Post by sylvian September 16, 2014 (2 of 27)
Do not know this particular release either SQ 7&8. But their performances of Jindrich FELD chamber works and also Janacek SQ together with Martinu SQ 1,3,6 are outstanding.

I thought that DSCH SQ 7&8 were intended as one off release that would not continue in any way. So it is a bit surprise for me, that Praga continue with 14&15. I probably would not buy them, since abovementioned Mandelrings are perfect to me.

Post by fausto K September 16, 2014 (3 of 27)
sylvian said:

...

thanks for that.

Post by Beagle September 16, 2014 (4 of 27)
I have only one complaint against the Mandelring cycle: Their interpretation is not that of the Brodsky CD cycle (upon which my expectations are obviously imprinted). The Brodsky underline ironies that the Mandelring play straight-up*.

I am disappointed that Rosalyra Quartet and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta did not produce a cycle; their sound is less austere and their playing more relaxed than the Mandelring.

But putting personal prejudices to one side, I am very happy to listen to the Mandelring cycle as an excellent recording of excellent performances.
_____________
* E.g. No. 3, 2nd mvt incipit: The 'teacher' dictates a boring oom-pah-pah, while the 'student' spins brilliant arabesques around it out of sheer boredom....

Post by nucaleena September 16, 2014 (5 of 27)
fausto K said:

I don't know the Prazak's earlier disc Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 7 & 8, Piano Quintet - Prazak Quartet
How does it compare to Mandelring

The Prazak are given an infinitely better recording than the Mandelring's. The Audite recording is as aggressive as the Mandelring's perfornances are unsubtle, IMHO. The combination of the two, recording and performance, is not a winning one. Prazak 7 & 8 has a middle-european/slavic tone to it that i find quite attractive. When it comes to #15, I intend to get the Prazak as I find that the Mandelring lacks the subtle intensity I expect in this quiet and brooding work and the earlier disc signals that the Prazak will be well worth listening to.

Post by krisjan September 16, 2014 (6 of 27)
nucaleena said:

The Prazak are given an infinitely better recording than the Mandelring's. The Audite recording is as aggressive as the Mandelring's perfornances are unsubtle, IMHO.

Wow, I think the Mandelring Shosty recordings are among the best audio representations of a string quartet I've heard on my system (in stereo SACD). I also very much like their performances. Understandably, preferences about performance are quite subjective. However, I am continually surprised when I see such divergent opinions about audio quality which SHOULD be somewhat more objective. Having not heard the Prazak's 7 & 8, I cannot comment on it.

Post by sylvian September 16, 2014 (7 of 27)
Middle-european (slavic) attitude has nothing to do with russian (eastern slavic) attitude to DSCH legacy. Borodin Q together with Fitzwilliams & Emersons were XX.th century standards. Mandelrings performs quite contemporary way, IMHO - a matter of taste, of course.

Post by fausto K September 16, 2014 (8 of 27)
thanks to all for your views. Upon re-listening to the Mandelring nr 15, comparing it to the Emerson and Schoenberg recordings, I must concur with Paul's verdict: not so subtle indeed! As if you're listening to a completely different work, although the audacity that the Mandelring exhibits has its merits in the way that they exaggerate the work's "jaggedness" as they call it (well, it says on the jacket). Soundwise and qua interpretation, the Emerson come out on top, IMO.
The aggressiveness of the Mandelring recording (in 44.1/24) is certainly not natural for SACD.

It appears that the Prazak is already available via the webstore of Harmonia Mundi for a very decent price. (I suppose I can't link here, but if you go to store dot harmoniamundi dot com and then select chamber music in the menu and select release date, you will see the bright yellow cover above.)

Post by sylvian September 17, 2014 (9 of 27)
fausto K said:

.... the audacity that the Mandelring exhibit has its merits in the way that they exaggerate the work's "jaggedness" as they call it (well, it says on the jacket)...............


The aggressiveness of the Mandelring recording (in 44.1/24) is certainly not natural for SACD.

But we are currently living in the age of aggression and exaggerating, are not we?

BTW, DSCH pre-stalin-death work always use a certain amount of aggression in order to depict severe conditions of life in SU. Post Stalin Work still remains to be decoded, IMHO. But I would assume, that DSCH meant exaggeration in his score as an exclamation mark in Music.

You could easily find it in the ever-evolving performances of his symphonies from Kondrashin and Barshai through Gennadij Rozhdestvennskij up to Kitajenko.

Post by Fugue September 18, 2014 (10 of 27)
fausto K said:

I've seen an announcement for a new Shostakovich disc by the Prazak Qt. Maybe I don't need another version of both quartets, but a DSD recorded version of one my favourite string quartets, the supremely bleak nr. 15, is very enticing. I don't know the Prazak's earlier disc Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 7 & 8, Piano Quintet - Prazak Quartet
How does it compare to Mandelring, Emerson, early/later Borodin etc.?

I just compared No.8 between the Prazak and later Borodin. The Prazak are just as intense, but they have been recorded in vastly superior sound. I listened in stereo via headphones so the extra spaciousness of the multi-channel sound didn't present an unfair advantage. I also prefer the Prazak to the Mandelring, who are too closely mic'd and seem rather clinical in comparison. Some of their aggression, which is certainly needed at times, comes off as just plain scratchy due to the close mic'ing and lower res recording. The Prazak attack with at least the same degree of ferocity, but they also manage to sound more musical.

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