Peter Lundin <[log in to unmask]> replies to me:

>James Zehm wrote:
>
>>Why, why, why is it so difficult for some to crown Mravinsky with laurel,
>>what he rightfully deserves for his Sjosty, instead of bashing him in this
>>toodelly-teedely backsmirking way?
>
>Dear Mr Zehm, Yours truly, with a small collection of recordings of Dmitri
>Dimitreyev Shostakovich symphonical works, featuring a mere 16 issues where
>Yevgeni Mravinsky conducts, have, yes, "a hard time making up his mind"
>about this same conductors manners and quirkyness while performing.

Sorry, Mister Lundin, but now You are toodelly-teedeling again!

>This, Dear Sir, is my privilege and might I say; I am not alone, as the
>composer himself, even in written statement, expressed similar concerns,
>and if You Sir, had read the most basic literature concerning DDS, being a
>gentleman, would have kept Your toodelly-teedelies in Your mouth, helping
>You to perhaps to write some more accurate commentary.

You can relax mister Lundin, I know my Sjosty, and I can tell you that
Sjostakovitj admired Mravinsky alot [remember that the 8th symphony was
dedicated to Mravinsky - and that was not for nothing.  The 8th was once
one of Sjostys favourites...], but thanks to some misunderstanding or what
one now shall call it, there were longer and longer times between they met,
and Sjostakovitj expressed disappointment with Mravinskijs later recordings
of his symphonies in his late life.  However Sjostakovitj suffered from
acute depression and he escaped many people under the to times coming
feeling that they were escaping him, for political reasons.  To start with
Sjostakovitj reacts on some others behaviour - we are in the Stalin period
now - with irritation, but more and more he, like the depressed, just shrug
his shoulders and ignores in a giving up.

I know very well that Sjostakovitj didn't like Mfravinsky in everything -
at least that was the opinion he for reasons we cannot really be sure of
expressed - but if Sjostakovitj now didn't like Mravinsky, why should a
more accurate commentary from mine be that Mravinskys Sjosty recordings
are no good? Ain't I allowed to have the opinions I want?

>As for Mr Mravinsky, I consider him a splendid conductor

Aaaah!  Sounds much better than it did in the beginning of your post, or
the previous.  Now I can sleep in the night again!  *g*

>And while I agree with Deryk that the BBC legends recording of the eight
>is marvellous

Seconded! But I have it on Russian MELODIYA.

>I belive that Kurt Sanderling still have a better "all over grip" on this
>symphony.

The 8th? - Sanderling is very good, but calling hereto the ancient Gods and
all what "de gustibus..." now is called I think Mravinsky is better with
its typical DSCH-"There is no salvation"-Pathos.  For Sjosty (as Wagner),
in his life, nor in his work, really didn't bow down to such backsmirking
teedely-toodeling as affording consolation, as Mussorgskij does in his else
so great work "Boris Godunov".

>Counting the days: DSCH 100 (1906-2006)

So tell us: How many days are left!:-)

James Zehm, hoping for more teedelly-toodeling
<[log in to unmask]>