Tchaik symphonies

In 4,5 and 6 Yevgeny Mravinsky, the best by a long, long way!

Jansons for the rest!

Radio 3 for the next week should give more than a few pointers, it's The Tchaikovsky Experience, non-stop from yesterday until Friday night.

Steve.

Have to agree with Basil about Mravinsky.

Thanks Graham and Basil - he seems to have recorded them for DG in both stereo and mono - is there are preference between the two.

Rob, I have been listening to a reasonably amount of the Radio 3 broadcasts but annoyingly, most of the symphonies being put out and times when I can listen are the BBC's own concerts.

regards, Tam

It's just not the same clicking onto a classical thread and not finding a little [or large!] contribution from Fredders!!

Tam

Ideally get both! Both are available as 2CD DG Originals.

The stereo recordings are, on the whole, much better in recorded sound and not quite as wild. Also, Kurt Sanderling conducts the Fourth in the mono set, whereas Mravinsky conducts all three in the stereo set.

Graham

quote:

It's just not the same clicking onto a classical thread and not finding a little [or large!] contribution from Fredders!!

I don't think Tchaikovsky is Fredrik's cup of vodka!

As no one else has done it, I feel it only fair to mention the Leningrad Philharmonic. The unique sound of the brass and indeed the whole orchestra adds something very special to the recordings.

My vote would be for the stereo as well!

Basil

I would have mentioned the very special contribution of the Leningrad players, had I not done so a couple of months back in response to a similar request started by Milo Tweenie here. If I knew how to attach that earlier thread, I would!

Incidentally, if you love the Mravinsky Tchaikovsky, you should hear the Czech PO recordings of Five and Six conducted by Lovro von Matacic on two separate Denon issues (again, I'd attach a link if I knew how!).

Graham

PS Just checked Matacic on Amazon. They're now available as a 2CD budget set.

I have them!

I love the east European orchestras; another favourite is Ma Vlast with the Czech PO and Vaclav Talich.

Do you mean this thread Graham?

Thanks for mentioning it, must have passed me by at the time.

regards, Tam

Yes indeed, Tam. You are a clever chap!

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Tam

Ideally get both! Both are available as 2CD DG Originals.

The stereo recordings are, on the whole, much better in recorded sound and not quite as wild. Also, Kurt Sanderling conducts the Fourth in the mono set, whereas Mravinsky conducts all three in the stereo set.

Graham

I agree that the best 4, 5 and 6 are from Mravinsky. I think this music really thrives on this added excitement. I also probably prefer the stereo set, but the mono is not far behind!
For 1-3 I would go for another Russian, Markevitch (Phillips), or possibly for Jansons (Chandos).

For the first three, don't overlook Karajan. After a period of thinking that he was overrated, I went back to them and started to appreciate them all over again. The three are available on a DG 2-CD set at a good price.

Mavrinsky for 4, 5 and 6, with Jansons not too far behind. Pletnev's "Pathetique" is quite an experience, too.

Ken

What about Igor Markevitch's 1970's recordings on Philips with the LSO? Great performances and generally excellent sound. There's a Manfred in the set too. It was available as a budget set but I'm not sure if it is still available.

quote:

Originally posted by northpole:
It's just not the same clicking onto a classical thread and not finding a little [or large!] contribution from Fredders!!

Dear Peter, and Friends!

Well, I was not going to reply as though I know four of the six rather well, I only can enjoy the Pathetique. The very honesty and tragedy of this work, rather than some worked up rhetorical enthusiasm in all the rest, at least in my view, mark it out as one of the great symphonic peaks.

The thing that perplexes me is that I have only ever found two readings that let me into the work without distracting me along the way with false emotion and applied drive. And one of these perplexes me in another direction, as it was recorded in Berlin just as Crystal-night was taking place, and the full ferocity of the Nazi regime was becoming apparent. This is the set that Furtwangler set down for HMV. How could he bring himself to do it? I find it unlistenable these days for extra-musical reasons.

The other set that worked [in the days when I still had LPs!] was Klemperer's estimable set with the Philharmonia, originally on English Columbia [EMI]. No whipping up of tension here - just a real long term grasp of how to build tension inexorably over a whole 45 minutes. And only 45 minutes! Yes! This was a truly forward moving performance, like his Brahms, and just as accute, but never flashing with short term excitement. The charnel house tragedy of the finale is without parallel in Klemperer's hands. The Waltz, a mancing conspectus of how all too many humans regard deviation, the March of a similar power to those movements from Schostakowitch, and the First movement as classically proportioned as the opening of the Eroica - long perhaps, but wonderfully lucid. It is incredibly sad.

I just wish some enterprising company would re-issue it as clearly EMI have no such intention. I live with the memory of my old LP! I love this work.

Not much help, but watch out for this if it ever comes out. The Furtwangler is well transfered on NAXOS if you fancy it.

Kindest regards from Fredrik

BBC Radio 3 have a Mravinsky/Leningrad PO Tchaikovsky Sixth programmed as part of Rob Cowan's show tomorrow (Friday) shortly after noon. The website doesn't indicate which recording will be played (there are at least two 'official' live recordings in addition to the two DG studio recordings discussed above). Got to be worth a listen, though!

Rob Cowan played Markevich's Fourth on the show yesterday, which I found seriously underpowered. I wonder if the Abbado/VPO version from the 1970s is as good as I remember it from the LP days?

Graham

Thanks Graham. Annoyingly I am at work then and will be unable to listen. However, I included the stereo set with an order from Amazon the other day, so I shall report back in due course.

regards, Tam

quote:

Rob Cowan played Markevich's Fourth on the show yesterday, which I found seriously underpowered.

If you found this "underpowered", perhaps you would like another LSO version with George Szell from 1962? A great sounding DECCA but over powered for me.

The 4th isn't my favourite from the Markevich set; that honour is shared by 1 and 5.

Dear friends,

I am asleep. This thought struck me when I read through before posting about the Pathetique. If you want all Six Symphonies, I will heartily recomend the Markewitch set on Philips.

This used to be on two double packs od CDs [unfortunately necessitating a side change somewhere in No 5 as I remember], and if you find it it will be budget and very fine, with a nice exciting, almost forward recording. No musical eccentricties, but a nice sense of drive, rhetoric, and enough tenderness, and sweet string playing to contrast the bigger musical statements. The LSO was a real crack band in the 1960s, as today...

Kindest regards from Fredrik

A big thank you to everyone who recommended the Mravinsky. Have just listened to the 4th and it was simply stunning, like hearing the work for the first time.

regards, Tam

Tam, I rather envy you in being able to listen to these recordings for the first time. The Fifth and (especially) Sixth are, if anything, even more revelatory, I think. Have you listened to them yet?

G

Graham, I can see what you mean. There was something so fresh about the reading of the 4th. Someone (possibly earlier on this thread, possibly elsewhere) mentioned that it makes a difference hearing the repertoire from Russian orchestras as there are significant differences in the instruments. I don't know how much that contributes.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to listen any further. I was unable to get near my hi-fi yesterday and after returning from one of those days at work with a headache, I decided it wasn't quite the think. However, given your comments I am very much looking forward to them (and will post back once I've listened).

regards, Tam

quote:

Someone (possibly earlier on this thread, possibly elsewhere) mentioned that it makes a difference hearing the repertoire from Russian orchestras as there are significant differences in the instruments. I don't know how much that contributes.

Never one to resist blowing my own trumpet (sorry), but that was me on page 1!

BTW Tam, did that CD turn up OK?

Thanks, and quite right you were too - knew I wasn't imagining it.

The CD turned up fine thanks - and I had planned to give it a listen on Sunday but.... I will do so in the next couple of days and post back.


regards. Tam

Tam, I had strong views on the sound of the Leiningrad PO, but they were posted elsewhere. No matter. You do need to get down to hearing what Mravinsky was able to persuade his players to perform in the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. I think that you'll be amazed.

G