Shostakovich: Music From The Film Alone, Op.26

On this CD:

1. Alone (All Alone), film score, Op. 26 (part lost) 29 Selections from the 07 Parts
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich

Conducted by Walter Mnatsakanov

Tracks:

The Counterplan, op. 33: Presto
The Counterplan, op. 33: Andante
The Counterplan, op. 33: The Song Of The Counterplan
Alone, Op.26: March. The Street
Alone, Op. 26: Galop
Alone, Op.26: Barrel Organ
Alone, Op.26: March
Alone, Op.26: Altai
Alone, Op.26: In Kuzmina's Hut
Alone, Op.26: School Children
Alone, Op.26: Storm Scene: Storm Breaks
Alone, Op.26: Storm Scene: Snow Storm
Alone, Op.26: Storm Scene: Calm After The Storm
The Tale Of The Silly Little Mouse, Op. 56: The Tale Of The Silly Little Mouse
Hamlet, Op.116: Introduction
Hamlet, Op.116: Palace Music
Hamlet, Op.116: Ball At The Castle
Hamlet, Op.116: Ball
Hamlet, Op.116: In The Garden
Hamlet, Op.116: Military Music
Hamlet, Op.116: Scene Of The Poisoning
The Great Citizen, Op.55: Funeral March
Sofia Perovskaya, Op.132: Waltz
Pirogov, Op.76A: Scherzo
The Gadfly, Op.97: Romance
Pirogov, Op.76A: Finale

Amazon.com essential recording

Continuing Riccardo Chailly's topical Shostakovich recordings (he's already visited the composer's jazz-inflected and dance pieces), this collection of music for film offers the series greater heft. The music here is as entangled in politics and pop culture as the jazzy and dancy material, but here the emotions are more complex and the execution more exciting.

The films Shostakovich was scoring somehow sought legitimacy or outright approval from Soviet power regimes, but as in all his music, Shostakovich enacted subtle subversions. The parade-step march cadences of The Counterplan are exaggerated just enough to integrate all kinds of conflicting dark undertows, emphasized coyly by Chailly and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The excerpts from Alone are all over the map, spooky and turbulent and bleak in equal measures, in answer to so many mandated bright, blasting musical ventures elsewhere in the Soviet cultural regime. The works continue until 1967, with a twisty waltz from Sofia Perovskaya, which seems more like a distant comment on the notion of a dance piece than music scripted for dance. For its mix of big, lit sweeps and minute, shadowy motions, this is one of the best single-CD Shostakovich sets--themed or not--in print. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

A Little Gift I Treasure Very Much!.......2007-07-23

I have always been very good about seeing my doctors, etc. regularly, and taking good care of myself.

~flashback to 2002, at my opthalmologist's, and have just had dialators placed in my eyes, and have been shuttled into the inner waiting room until I am ready for my examination. Dr. "D" always had classical music playing at a "just right" level for relaxing. This particular day, this lovely, lilting, and sort of hypnotic piece came over the speakers, lulling me nearly to sleep. I could not get it out of my head, and was still "playing it" in my brain after the visit was over and I was at the reception desk, paying his wife for my visit, and scheduling a two week follow-up. I asked her what had been playing, and so she went in and brought out the two album cases that were in the machine. One was Schubert sonatas--I knew it wasn't that. The other album was this one, the Shostakovich film music. So I thanked her, and said I'd have to watch for it. When I went back for my follow-up, she passed me a little foil shopping bag with a ribbon on the top of it with a cheery "Enjoy, Greg"! In the bag was a copy of this album that she had picked up for me! (Such a lovely lady)

When I got home I played it, and the piece is the op.97, Romance from Gadfly...what a lovely piece of music. Just like a lazy summer afternoon, when you would, surely, see these insects floating indolently in the air.

The other pieces are all very interesting, and fun, too, and this is a wonderful foray into unknown or uncharted waters (at least for me). I love this album, and listen fairly frequently to it. There are 3 albums in a series, this "Film" one, a "Jazz" one, and the "Dance" one. I enjoy all of them, but this one I play most frequently.

Riccardo Chailly is a truly great conductor, I feel, and is one of the few that "take me back", or "make me think about" the conductors from earlier that I remember. This album in particular makes me think, fondly, about Stokowski, and Reiner frequently when I play it. Presentation? Or something else? I do not know, but it does, and, it IS a great album. A worthy addition to your collection, be assurred. ~operabruin

recording of ligfhter music by Shos the heavy composer .......2005-11-24

This recording is excellent. The works are rather light so one does not notice at first that the recording is that good. After some listebning I notice and i Am sure you will do too. Pirogorov and Sofia Petrovskaja i like best. Great recording.

yep, i'd agree.......2004-12-29

This is the perfect album for anyone who believes Shostakovich was only capable of writing music that expressed his inner turmoil.
Here is an album of the composer just doing his job (writing soundtracks for propaganda films) and showing he's capable of playing the field like a consummate pro.
Many of the melodies may sound vaguely familiar, and it's no wonder; they were often pilfered by other assembly line arrangers for Hollywood musicals and other upbeat entertainment.
I'd have to agree with the previous reviewer, who thinks track 25 is the best. It's the Romance from "The Gadfly", which is arguably Shostakovich's greatest melody, played here with perfection; the "lazy" pizzicato and slightly staggered fourth beat in the measure is something I haven't heard before on this piece, and it works very nicely for these ears.

A Unique Collection of Works.......2000-11-25

The film scores of Dmitri Shostakovich are certainly not his best works, but they are definetly worth a look. There is a great range of music on this CD, from the joyful 'Tale of the Silly Little Mouse' to the harshness of 'Hamlet', and Chailly and his players give solid performances throughout. I wouldn't really recommend this as an introduction to Shostakovich's works, but if you're a fan, then it would make a great addition to your collection.

Track 25 is the best.......1999-06-17

Shostakivich wrote some 'heavy' music, but in his better moments he wrote some beautiful melodies (e.g. The Jazz Suite) and film themes including The Tale of the silly little mouse'. What a pity that you have to wait until track 25 for the best piece - the Romance from the 'Gadfly' (Theme music from the BBC series 'Reilly, ace of spies'). The definitive recording of this piece was the version by the USSR Cinema Symphony Orchestra, with Khatchaturian conducting, but the version on this recording is also excellent.

Average customer rating:

Film Music of Dmitri Shostakovich
Shostakovich , Sinaisky , and BBC Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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Film Music of Dmitri Shostakovich, Vol. 2
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Film Music of Vaughan Williams 1
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Film Music of Sir Arnold Bax: Oliver Twist (complete score) / Malta G.C. (suite)

ASIN: B00007B8PV
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Average customer rating:

Shostakovich: Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000023ZS9
Release Date: 1998-01-01

Average customer rating:

Sounds bad
Would have been one of Hollywood's best.
Best of Motion Picture Scores

Best of Motion Picture Scores

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

Overture [From the Gadfly]
Waltz [From Golden Mountains]
Prolog [From Trilogy and Maxim]
In the Garden [From the Wall of Berlin]
Galop [From Odna]
Romance [From the Gadfly]
Ball at the Castle [From Hamlet]
Song of Cordelia [From King Lear]
Fight on the Barricades [From Trilogy About Maxim]
Nocturne [From the Gadfly]
Funeral March and Finale [From Trilogy and Maxim]

Tracks:

Prelude [From the Fall of Berlin]
Fair [From the Gadfly]
In the Garden [From Hamlet]
Prelude [From Trilogy and Maxim]
Introduction [From the Gadfly]
Tempo Di Marcia
Lunch at Gonerilja [From King Lear]
New Babylon, Pt. 1
Adagio [From Soja]
Liberated Dresden [From Five Days-Five Nights]

Customer Reviews:

Sounds bad.......2006-10-13

The edition of this CD that I have only contains the first CD listed above. So this review is an assessment of those first 11 songs.

My interest in Shostakovich continues to grow, despite these unprofessional recordings. The sustained notes that conclude the "Waltz (from 'Golden Mountains')" are overblown and horribly out-of-tune. The vocal solos are delivered with just as much subtlety. In all honesty, much of this collection sounds like a remedial high school band that had booked just two hours of studio time.

Overall, pretty crummy sounding.

Would have been one of Hollywood's best........2004-01-10

Shostakovich's film music is usually disparaged when compared with his concert hall compositions. Of course it isn't up to those standards. Most of the movies weren't good & some scoring assignments were actually propaganda punishments for his "formalist" & "decadent" creative transgressions, & none ranks with the Eisenstein/Prokofiev collaborations. But try comparing this music with what came out of Hollywood during the later of these years. Alex North is rightly praised for "Cleopatra," Franz Waxman for "Taras Bulba" & "Peyton Place." Also John Green's "Raintree County." These are hardly film classics. Miklos Rozsa, a consummate professional, turned out memorable scores for some very expensive clinkers. Such examples are legion. Brits William Walton & Malcom Arnold arranged concert suites of their movie music. & I personally despise Maurice Jarre for composing that insidious earworm, "Lara's Theme."

This double CD box is indifferently programmed & contains no liner notes; you'll have to sort out the history yourself. But the performances are fine - a few are on higher-priced releases. The music itself ranges from cabaret to waltzes to dramatic battle action. In "New Babylon" the Krafty Komposer demonstrates the sardonic wit he often used to mock his Soviet Kulture Kummittee Kumrades.

Bob Rixon

Best of Motion Picture Scores.......2000-07-22

If you like Shostakovich's main music, check out this sampling of his motion picture scores, his little know music. I think you will be suprisue.

Average customer rating:

Motion Picture Scores, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Laserlight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Russia | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000DELCV
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

Overture [From the Gladfly]
Waltz [From Golden Mountains]
Prolog [From Trilogy and Maxim]
In the Garden [From the Fall of Berlin]
Galop [From Odna]
Romance [From the Gadfly]
Ball at the Castle [From Hamlet]
Song of Cordelia [From King Lear]
Fight on the Barricades [From Trilogy About Maxim]
Nocturne [From the Gadfly]
Funeral March and Finale [From Trilogy and Maxim]

Shostakovich: Music From The Film Alone, Op.26

Average customer rating:

Shostakovich: Music From The Film Alone, Op.26

Manufacturer: Russian Disc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

First Part: IV. March. The Street (Allegro)
First Part: VII. Galop 'How Good Life Will Be'
First Part: IX. Final Chorus 'Stay!'
Second Part: March. Allegretto
Third Part: I. Altai, Andantino
Third Part: La Steppe. Andante
Third Part: II. Altai. Adagio
Third Part: III. Kuzmina In Her Cabin. Largo
Third Part: VI. Org-Grinder. Andantino
Fourth Part: I. Allegro
Fourth Part: II. Largo
Fourth Part: III. (Largo)
Fourth Part: VII. Adagio
Fourth Part: VIII. Allegro
Fourth Part: IX. Allegretto
Fifth Part: I. Adagio
Fifth Part: II. Adagio
Fifth Part: III. Allegro
Fifth Part: IV. Moderato
Sixth Part: II. Allegretto
Sixth Part: Ila. Windstorm. Presto
Sixth Part: III. Largo
Sixth Part: Finale. Largo
Seventh Part: III. Allegro
Seventh Part: IV. (Allegro)
Seventh Part: V. Adagio
Seventh Part: VI. Andante
Seventh Part: VIII. Andante
Seventh Part: XVIII. Allegro

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1-15; Orchestral Works (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Rozhdestvensky's excellent Shostakovich cycle
A collection that fills an important gap

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 1-15; Orchestral Works (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004TCPW
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Customer Reviews:

Rozhdestvensky's excellent Shostakovich cycle.......2007-03-15

Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's Shostakovich symphony cycle from the 1980s is, in my view, one of the three best cycles. These three are, in my preference order:

1. Kondrashin (originally Melodiya, now Russiandvd - a new remaster, available from Amazon sellers and at Ebay).

2. Rozhdestvensky (originally Melodiya, but it exists now also in a new Russian remaster from the VENEZIA label, in a fine slimline box which you can find at HMV's internet shop in Japan or at Ebay).

3. Barshai (originally Regis, now in a Brilliant Classics box.)

The standard bargain choice is the Barshai box, which boasts very fine playing and fine sound. Kondrashin, my first choice, is quite expensive. But the Rozhdestvensky set should not be overlooked. First, the interpretations are both illuminating and moving, carefully structured and (mostly) beautifully played by a real Russian orchestra in fine form. Second, the new remaster - available at Ebay and at HMV in Japan - is a real bargain. You may grab it for $ 30 or less. Third, the remastered sound is mostly OK, even if Melodiya's original recordings are a bit harsh. However, this is a minor complaint. Kondrashin's set has much worse sound and costs more money. But in both cases, we have excellent, classical, powerful interpretations that hardly can be surpassed.

Shostakovich collectors need all cycles above, of course. But I warmly recommend a serious search for Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's excellent cycle in its new incarnation.

A collection that fills an important gap.......2000-06-27

This collection comes in a box with seven double-discs, each with a booklet describing the work and about the conductor's relationship with the composer and his work by Sigrid Neef. No librettos are enclosed, which does hamper the full appreciation, although fans are likely to have copies of a few of these works lying about. Although all of these recordings have appeared in other guises and formats, this remarkable collection is worthy of consideration. Rozhdestvensky had an interesting relationship with the composer, although never given the opportunity to premier his major symphonic works, the conductor was of critical importance in reviving the "lost" or "unknown" Shostakovich. Rozhdestvensky's excavation into the composer's past resulted in premiering or reviving a vast body of work. An example of this is displayed on, although not limited to, the "Orchestral Works." This conductors travails through the complete symphonies are not likely to be first choice for many, however, this collection does offer a chance to hear a 1980's Soviet run through of one of the most important symphonic cycles of the 20th century.