Donald Satz wrote:

>Gergiev is a treasure, and I expect much more from him in the future.

I guess I'm really on the outside here because I've heard so many great
things about Gergiev.  His Prince Igor performance in NYC was said by a
friend of mine to be stunning, but what I heard of the recording didn't
impress me all that much.  There was another recording I heard that I
didn't think much of either.  I forget what it was.  Shostakovich? The one
time I was impressed by him was at a live concert in London with the Royal
Philharmonic.  I haven't heard the Boris.  Maybe the magic will strike
there.  I hope so.

>I also like the fact that he's one of the few current conductors who
>looks like he could beat up the entire violin section of an orchestra
>and spit them out with disdain (a man's man).

If you have that DG box of late Tchaikovsky symphonies with Mravinsky and
the Leningrad Philharmonic (I think that's the one), check out the picture
of the orchestra.  Those guys look TOUGH.

As for this Shostakovich 10, I would agree that the Tenth is best heard
live.  So is most large scale music like this.  I have yet to hear a
recording of the Eighth that does justice to that great tympany outburst.
But I love recordings and made my piece with that long ago.

The Haitink that began this thread is not bad and I agree with most of the
descriptions of it.  Broad, nicely played, spacious sound.  I agree that
the first Karajan is a winner, too.  I remember a Tchenevorian that I
liked, though the orchestra was slightly undersized.  One I'd like to hear
is Ormandy, an underrated Shostakovich conductor.  And also Skrowaczewski
with Halle.  I heard a Bruckner Fourth with that combination that was
terrific.  It may have been the best playing I've heard from that
orchestra.

Roger Hecht