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Track Listings
| 1. The Bolt: Suite From The Ballet, Op.27a |
| 2. Jazz Suite No.2 (Suite For Stage Variety Orchestra) |
| 3. Jazz Suite No.1 |
| 4. Tahiti Trot, Op.16 |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you are used to thinking of Shostakovich's music as depressing, stark and discouragingly intellectual then try listening to this enjoyable selection of his "lighter" music. Featuring The Bolt Ballet Suite, his two Jazz Suites and the popular Tahiti Trot ('Tea for Two'), you can't go far wrong as an antidote to the string quartets and symphonies. It isn't consistently perfect, but the magnificent Second Waltz from Jazz Suite No. 2 - used in Stanley Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut - and the Foxtrot Blues from Jazz Suite No. 1 are wonderful and hugely enjoyable, as is much of the ballet suite and the Tahiti Trot (if you like that sort of thing). Worth getting at such a good price.
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There are two sides to Shostakovich's music and most listeners tend to know only the darker side. There is wit in Shostakovich's music although usually in acidic or sardonic way. There was a time before the Stalinist purges and the Second World War when the wit really flourished and Yablonsky and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra (formerly the U.S.S.R Symphony Orchestra) give us some very fine examples of it.
The plot of "The Bolt" (evil capitalist industrialists brought low by rightous socialism) so embarassed the composer that he rarely spoke of it and never pushed for a revival after its initial run. He did realize that he wrote some very good music for it and from it he made this nearly half hour suite. The Jazz Suites are really works with jazz influences and were written for theatre orchestras. There is some really sprarkingy and witty music here with the saxophones at times bringing Kurt Weill to mind although most were written before Weill's more well know works. The darkly tinged waltzes of the Second Suite are really quite fine managing to be both beautiful and a bit sinister.
The cd closes with Shostakovich's arrange of "Tea For Two" which was called in some countries "Tahiti Foxtrot" . Shostakovich made the arrangement because of a bet with the conductor Malko. The bet was that Shostakovich couldn't take the piano score and orchestrate it in an hour. He did it in 40 minutes. The performances are very good managing to keep a sense of humor about the music. Very striking cover art using a painting of the Russian theatre impressario Meyerchold. Detailed notes and a very inexpensive price (there are far less idiomatic performances of these works selling at 3 times the price) are just more icing on the cake. If you just know Shostakovich's music from the more serious works then you only know a part of him. This cd shows that Shostakovich could smile albeit with a wry grin.
The plot of "The Bolt" (evil capitalist industrialists brought low by rightous socialism) so embarassed the composer that he rarely spoke of it and never pushed for a revival after its initial run. He did realize that he wrote some very good music for it and from it he made this nearly half hour suite. The Jazz Suites are really works with jazz influences and were written for theatre orchestras. There is some really sprarkingy and witty music here with the saxophones at times bringing Kurt Weill to mind although most were written before Weill's more well know works. The darkly tinged waltzes of the Second Suite are really quite fine managing to be both beautiful and a bit sinister.
The cd closes with Shostakovich's arrange of "Tea For Two" which was called in some countries "Tahiti Foxtrot" . Shostakovich made the arrangement because of a bet with the conductor Malko. The bet was that Shostakovich couldn't take the piano score and orchestrate it in an hour. He did it in 40 minutes. The performances are very good managing to keep a sense of humor about the music. Very striking cover art using a painting of the Russian theatre impressario Meyerchold. Detailed notes and a very inexpensive price (there are far less idiomatic performances of these works selling at 3 times the price) are just more icing on the cake. If you just know Shostakovich's music from the more serious works then you only know a part of him. This cd shows that Shostakovich could smile albeit with a wry grin.
37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I defy anyone to listen to this CD and not smile throughout at the sheer infectiousness of this music. The Waltz 2 from Jazz Suite No. 2 is just a joy - and taken at a far more satisfyingly exhilarating pace than the rather dowdy version in 'Eyes wide shut'. A CD to listen to again and again!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
ITA ALL THAT JAZZ
THE MELODIES ARE AS ONE EXPECTS, BUT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS AND ORCHESTRATIONS, STILL ITS O.K. AS BACKGROUND IN A CAR.
Published 1 day ago by RAYMOND E. SUMMERLIN
the master at work
Shostakovich is the master. These pieces perfectly complement the deeper works which we all love.
what a hero and inspiration to us all he is. Highly recommended.
what a hero and inspiration to us all he is. Highly recommended.
Published 3 months ago by AlanMesar
Well-received Present
This was a small present for my wife, well-received.
(and very reasonably priced!) It arrived quickly, too. Thank you.
Bob Costa.
(and very reasonably priced!) It arrived quickly, too. Thank you.
Bob Costa.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. R. J. Costa
very bad
This was very disapointing,
sound & tone bad, not worth the money,it has been put in the charity bag.
LWB
sound & tone bad, not worth the money,it has been put in the charity bag.
LWB
Published 6 months ago by Mr. Leslie Ballard
uplifting
This is the light side of Shostakovich but no less amazing. Thrilling to listen to. Nice recording and a great value price. Can't go wrong.
Published 7 months ago by robin bath
Good performance of this music
Previously, I had only heard the jazz suites on the radio so wanted to buy a CD. This is a good recording, played at a good speed. Read more
Published 15 months ago by N. Hudson
Jazz Suite is Sweet
What an excellent CD we are really enjoying it, as usual Amazon delivered promply and the CD was in great condition, many thanks. Fred Welland
Published 21 months ago by A. Welland
Shostavich
CDs arrived on time. The track I was looking for was there and sounds OK. It serves it purpose.
Published on 15 Mar 2010
Jazz suites 1/2
Have heard snippets from both these pieces over the years so decided to listen to the complete works. I really enjoyed listening to both suites in their entirity.
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by G. Ross
A must for everyone
I will be short and sweet. Everyone and I mean everyone should have this in their CD collection. It is a joy to listen to over and over again. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009 by D. W. Jones
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