Your favourite Tchaikovsky symphony recordings ?

[Barbirollians]

These so oft recorded and played works .

My introduction to them began with Rostropovich's Pathetique which did not really shine for me - perhaps a typically bad early 80s LP pressing was to blame. Then Karajan's 1-3 and Mravinsky's 4-6 on cassette - recordings immensely different but of which I am still fond .

Now if I feel the urge to hear them probably - Barbirolli's 4-6 , Silvestri's indulgent 5 , Abbado's DG 2 and 4 but most of all Szell's CBS No 5 .

What are your favourites ?

[makropulos]

Ah - coincidentally I've just been listening to a lot of Tchaikovsky lately. My favourites are a funny old bunch but they include:
Mravinsky 4-6 (DG stereo)
Matacic 5 and 6 (Supraphon)
Svetlanov 1, 2, 4, 5 (Canyon Classics - I think now on Warner - the live performances given by the USSR SO in Japan)
Tilson Thomas 1
Böhm 4-6 (DG, with the LSO - I've always been fond of these but for Böhm's Tchaik at its best there's a truly thrilling live 4 with the Czech Phil on Orfeo)
Szell 4 (Decca)
and most recently a wonderful live 6 with Mackerras and the Philharmonia (Signum)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Maazel/VPO Symphony no. 4 (Decca)
The whole set is Maazel at his best.

[BBMmk2]

Tchaik's Symphony No.6 "Pathetique". Berliner PO, Abbado.

[Mr Pee]

Pappano's recent set of 4-6 with the Santa Cecilia Orchestra is up there with the very best, I think.

[amateur51]

Pappano's recent set of 4-6 with the Santa Cecilia Orchestra is up there with the very best, I think.

Cheers Mr Pee

Cheap as chips here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-Symphonies-Antonio-Orchestra-Accademia/dp/B000LMPE08/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

Two CDs - could you advise re dodgy side breaks please, Mr Pee?

[Mahlerei]

Abbado's 2 & 4 (DG) and 'Manfred' from Kitaienko/Gurzenich (Oehms).

[Mr Pee]

Two CDs - could you advise re dodgy side breaks please, Mr Pee?

With pleasure!

The side break occurs between movements 2 and 3 of Symphony no. 5.

I reallt don't think you'll be dissapointed with the set, and at that price it's an absolute steal. Without having to break any windows!!

[Mandryka]

A controversial choice, maybe, but I think Guisseppe Sinopoli's Pathetique needs to be heard - as does Bernstein's even greater (but equally controversial) 1987 reading.

I think Markevitch has a unique way with the first three symphonies (LSO double disc set on Phillips).

I'm still waiting to hear Klemperer's Pathetique, which everyone tells me has to be heard to be believed (though not in a good way!).

[Nick Armstrong]

The side break occurs between movements 2 and 3 of Symphony no. 5.

Perfect! It's at that point that the piece turns from being quite good to not very good, and I usually stop listening!

[amateur51]

With pleasure!

The side break occurs between movements 2 and 3 of Symphony no. 5.

I reallt don't think you'll be dissapointed with the set, and at that price it's an absolute steal. Without having to break any windows!!

Arf arf!

Many thanks, Mr Pee - it's on the list

[amateur51]

A controversial choice, maybe, but I think Guisseppe Sinopoli's Pathetique needs to be heard - as does Bernstein's even greater (but equally controversial) 1987 reading.

I think Markevitch has a unique way with the first three symphonies (LSO double disc set on Phillips).

I'm still waiting to hear Klemperer's Pathetique, which everyone tells me has to be heard to be believed (though not in a good way!).

And Furtwangler's - in a good way!

Welcome back from your hols, Mandryka - you were missed

Thanks for the Sinopoli heads-up - I thought I was his last-surviving admirer I see that there is a re-issue of his Mahler set but it's on far fewer discs than the original offering and involves many side-breaks

[Roslynmuse]

Bernstein's No 2 was my introduction to the work and I listened to it again after 30-plus years quite recently - it's a gripping performance, although the 2nd mt is perkier than we often hear (I like it like this) and there's a tiny cut in the last movement.

I like Toscanini/ Philadelphia in No 6 but the sound quality is very poor; no particular favourites for the others. I got to know them through a variety of recordings and broadcasts - Markevitch, Rostropovich, Muti (No 2), Szell (No 4), Schuricht (No 5), Munch (No 6) and a couple under Uri Segal broadcast around 1980 including Manfred. Remember some shattering live performances in Liverpool of No 6 (Walter Weller in 1979 and Marek Janowski in 1982) and No 4 (Louis Fremaux in 1983 - incidentally Fremaux celebrated his 90th birthday last Saturday!).

[barber olly]

Maazel/VPO Symphony no. 4 (Decca)
The whole set is Maazel at his best.

Good to see someone championing Maazel, certainly agree particularly re 1,3,4 and Manfred. We are probably now into his sixth decade of recordings, I often think that he is insufficiently praised for his achievements.
On to the main task, and with the vast no of recordings on my shelves I will no doubt miss some of the gems.

Manfred Despite cuts I still like the Kletzki which was my introduction to it, Svetlanov and for its interesting waywardness Ahronovitch.

Sym 1 Maazel, Tilson-Thomas, Svetlanov
Sym 2 Previn, Giulini, Svetlanov, PCO Solti
Sym 3 Maazel, Temirkanov, Markevitch
Sym 4 Maazel, Mravinsky, Argenta, Barbirolli, M Jansons (Most exciting live performance was LeningradPO/Halle/A Jansons, City Hall Sheffield many years ago), Szell, Ashkenazy and Munch. Most dull was Wolff on Ace of Diamonds.
Sym 5 Kempe, Mravinsky, Krips, Barbirolli, Karajan DG 1960s
Sym 6 Kletzki, Mravinsky, Reiner, Barbirolli, Karajan 1960s (Most quirky 3rd movement Martinon) (Most atmospheric live performance Halle/Barbirolli, City Hall Sheffield, there was a howling gale blowing outside and in finale could hear this through the air vents in the hall)

This thread reminds me I have not had a good Tchaik listening session recently!

[HighlandDougie]

Ferenc Fricsay's November 1960 recording of No 6 (with the Bavarian RSO) is, notwithstanding a bar or two missing at the beginning of the symphony, an intensely moving performance which no other recording or live performance I've heard, not even Furtwängler's, matches, in my unhumble opinion. The coupling - Annie Fischer in the 3rd Bartok Concerto - is pretty special as well.