The following comment has been received about points in the post on Klemperer's intepretation of Tchaikovsky's 'Pathetique'. However because the issues it raises are of more general significance it is posted here separately as a guest contribution.
I absolutely agree with the post about Pletnev and his Russian National Orchestra and the sound they make. http://blogger-ablog.blogspot.com/2008/06/klemperers-pathetique.html I have found their Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky recordings very disappointing. The one exception has been Shostakovich Symphony 15 which I have heard him perform live twice - once with the LSO and once with the Philharmonia - which have been very fine. This piece really intrigues me with all the odd musical references. Also having read the post on Bernstein and Shostakovich there is an issue to do with the 5th Symphony's ending. http://blogger-ablog.blogspot.com/2008/06/bernstein-and-russian-music.html
The current vogue is to take the last "triumphant" pages exageratedly slowly to highlight the fact that Shostakovich was being ironic with his 'response to just criticism'. This is all well and good but seems so anti- the natural flow of the phrasing. One of the things I like about the Bernstein recording is that he plays the finale at the 'proper' tempo. What are other people's opinions?
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