First Three Tchaikovsky Symphonies

[BBMmk2]

I might see about the Dorati recording!

[Dave2002]

I might see about the Dorati recording!

Very fierce bass sound - and some background rumbles - at least in my remastered Mercury version which I dug out of the box. The performances seem OK so far, though - will come back to this. I used to like the Supraphon LP of Number 1 - must have been this one from around 1961 with Smetáček - http://plade-klassikeren.dk/en/tchai...supraphon.html

[pastoralguy]

Not forgetting the four Tchaikovsky Orchestral Suites which Dorati recorded for Mercury with the New Philharmonia. We don't hear these in the concert hall much these days, nor indeed on the radio, yet they all contain some really lovely music. Indeed, Boult thought the Suite No. 3 fully deserved a place alongside the six symphonies and recorded it twice. If memory serves, it was his EMI version with the LPO that was the top choice of the work in a BAL some time ago.

Maybe the Proms organisers could arrange for all four Tchaikovsky Suites to played in a single season sometime. In particular, it would be fun to see the four accordionists required for the 2nd Suite's 'Scherzo Burlesque' up on the RAH platform. It would be a new and unique experience for all concerned, since the last Proms performance of the work took place as long ago as 1930!

That Boult recording of the Tchaikovsky third suite is one of my favourite recordings of all time. He, imho, really catches the sweep of the work with the finale being genuinely exciting. Sure, the playing of the LPO has a few blemishes but I'd sooner have that than some of the squeaky clean versions that I've heard.

The last time I heard the Second Suite the accordions were played by a horn and bass player from the RSNO under Lazerev about... a long time ago!

[richardfinegold]

Very fierce bass sound - and some background rumbles - at least in my remastered Mercury version which I dug out of the box. The performances seem OK so far, though - will come back to this. I used to like the Supraphon LP of Number 1 - must have been this one from around 1961 with Smetáček - http://plade-klassikeren.dk/en/tchai...supraphon.html

I don't own the Mercury Box (Vol.3) that has the
Tchaik Sym 1-3. I have the other 2 Mercury Volumes that contain 4-6 and I didn't think the bass was anything out of the ordinary for a recording of that vintage