Shostakovich Piano Quintet

I have two versions of this work ....

One on Linn records with the Schidlof quartet and Ian Brown (piano) + more SHCH

and also a copy on Naxos with the Vermeer Quartet and Boris Berman + Schnidke.

I am quite happy with both versions but they are the only CD's of the work I have so I can't say they are the best available.

I have heard the work live and it is great.

Maybe someone can recommend the definitive version. I bought the Linn version in a sale and the Naxos for the Schnidke !!

Hope this helps.

James H.

Thanks for the reply James. Looks like it's a fringe work! Gamophone don't seem to be wild about any version, except perhaps the Ashkenazy (deleted), but scratching about elsewhere I've plumped for the Juilliard Quartet version. It was cheap too! I'll let you know what it's like when it comes.

I only have the Brilliant recording which is a good clean recording and musically superb but as a contrast would like the Melodiya reissue of the Borodins playing with Richter.
As you said in the OP, it's a marvellous work.
BTW, I'm off to listen to a very talented young cellist playing the Cello Sonato in D minor soon. On of my current favourite Shosty pieces.

I have a very fine recording by the Borodin Quartet with Elizabeth Leonskaja. It is coupled with his piano trio No 2 - also very enjoyable It is on Teldec

Well, the Juilliard Quartet & Bronfman CD has fought its way through the postal mayhem and the Piano Quintet is excellent here. It's coupled with quartets 3, 14 & 15 and though I'm no expert they sound very good too. The recording is yop notch.