Tchaikovsky Pathetique - Mackerras

[Barbirollians]

This recording having received such rave reviews I ordered it - probably my first Tchaikovsky symphony purchase in a very long time . The Silvestri reissues on Royal Classics probably being the last .

It is utterly stunning . The Philharmonia play as if they were the greatest orchestra in the world ! The wind playing in particular is a delight and the performance has extraordinary passion and intensity without histrionics. Never has the great first theme in the first movement sounded so beautiful to my ears and the finale is breathtaking I put it on this morning just to give the first movement a whirl and found I had to sit and listen to it all .

I do hope that Signum have more live performances from the late great Sir Charles up their sleeves.

[makropulos]

This recording having received such rave reviews I ordered it - probably my first Tchaikovsky symphony purchase in a very long time . The Silvestri reissues on Royal Classics probably being the last .

It is utterly stunning . The LPO play as if they were the greatest orchestra in the world ! The wind playing in particular is a delight and the performance has extraordinary passion and intensity without histrionics. Never has the great first theme in the first movement sounded so beautiful to my ears and the finale is breathtaking I put it on this morning just to give the first movement a whirl and found I had to sit and listen to it all .

I do hope that Signum have more live performances from the late great Sir Charles up their sleeves.

It's a fantastic performance - but it's the Philharmonia, not the LPO, that plays like the greatest orchestra in the world (and yes, they absolutely do - it's stunning). I was lucky enough to review it and was completely bowled over by this Pathéhique - it's up there with the very best around, and very individual too.

I too hope there might be more to come from this wonderful partnership - but I don't know if there is much that Signum hasn't yet released. I can't remember if things like the Elgar 1 or Schumann 'Rhenish' - or the Philharmonia/Mackerras Brahms cycle - were recorded. It would be wonderful if they were.

[Chris Newman]

Several of Sir Charles's Signum records stemmed from the Philharmonia's decampment to the Queen Elizabeth Hall while the Royal Festival Hall was refurbished and have captured a rich sonority. Astonishingly the engineers have succeeded in getting a similar richness from the RFH in the Tchaikovsky 6. It is (with Silvestri and Pletnev) my favourite Pathetique. I think that the Philharmonia (with the right conductors) IS the world's greatest orchestra.

I hope that some time Sir Charles's farewell performances at the Royal Opera (The Cunning Little Vixen) and Glyndebourne (Cosi fan Tutte) will emerge on disc.

[Barbirollians]

Oops - of course it is the Philharmonia !

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Totally agree on this one. Spinning it for the first time, and it is simply stunning!

[jayne lee wilson]

Did you notice another live 6th on ICA from Bashmet and the Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra? Just got this, the Brahms 3 on the same disc is extraordinary, I'll report on the Pathetique as and when...

Totally agree on this one. Spinning it for the first time, and it is simply stunning!

[Barbirollians]

Having lived with this for a while now I am as enamoured of this reading as I was when I first heard it . The pppppp before the march theme bursts in is exquisite and the whole performance is just a triumph .

What news of the Bashmet jayne ? I see a rave review in IRR>

[DublinJimbo]

I recall spotting this on the Signum web site, but for some reason balked at a purchase because Tchaikovsky seemed such unusual repertoire for the great and good Mackerras.

All your eulogising here will now cost me money.