Classical Music II

[hectorberlioz]

Just listened to the first two mvts of Simon Rattle's account of Shostakovich Sym.4.

What did I think?

1) First mvt was very good indeed, except perhaps that moment (at about 5'20 into the music) when the strings play that desperate and interesting passage in unison. Haitink's strings do far better, while Rattle's all sound like one kind of instrument: violins. Needed to be louder, at least.

2) 2nd mvt was also very good, only one quibble: the water-dripping/horse-trot was WAY too tame and quiet. Haitink really trots the Soviet warhorse there, but this was rather a lame horse, with rubber shoes.

The brass is fine, also the strings, except for what I said above. No real complaints, and really it's almost as fine as Haitink's version. But stuck with a decision to choose between the two? The Haitink is the one to get.