Rostropovich's Tchaikovsky

[HighlandDougie]

It was that (remastered) Manfred (often listened to via my I-Phone) that had me order the complete Markevitch after reading this topic (and a hazy memory of some of my father's LPs). The Rostropovich is also very fine and worth the price of the complete set alone. All good preparation for Sunday when off to Monte Carlo to hear Jaap van Zweden put the resident orchestra through its paces in, would you believe it, Manfred .....

[pastoralguy]

Oh help - my New Years resolution to buy less cds is crumbling at the first hurdle!!

I've always loved the Ashkenazy/Philharmonia recordings. The trumpets in the development of the first movt. of no. 6 are amazing!

Mravrinsky was my introduction to the Tchaikovsky symphonies and I've yet to find a better one.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Mravinsky was my introduction to the Tchaikovsky symphonies and I've yet to find a better one.

There isn't!

But there are valid alternatives. And he didn't record (?or ever perform?) the first three or Manfred.

[Mahlerei]

anyone looking for a fine Manfred should investigate Kitaienko and the Gurzenich orchestra on Oehms. Very satisfying indeed.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Since we're including "Manfred", perhaps we might also consider Symphony "no. 7" in E flat, which the composer sketched and then it became the 3rd Piano Concerto, plus the Andante and Finale for Piano and Orchestra. There was no scherzo, so Semyon Bogatyryov borrowed a movement from an early piano sonata, though Wikipedia disagrees with me.

[Dave2002]

Very good value: the Rostropovich. Markevich is available on two lots of Philips Duo and is a scorcher, but there is no Manfred. Jansons is sadly out of pressing at present. Barbirolli (mentioned by Alpy) and Silvestri are very good on the last three symphonies and Herbie very good on the first three. Litton was disappointing.

The set by Jansons does seem to be available - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-...5591853&sr=1-1 and is much better value than any of the single CDs. If you can tolerate downloads you might be able to get them fairly cheaply from emusic (around £2 per CD/symphony). Downloads from other sources are probably not worth it as they will cost almost as much as the CDs (singles?). Obvious streaming options don't seem to be available for the Chandos Oslo recordings right now, though there is another version of the Fifth with Jansons (Miunich). I don't know whether the box set includes the Manfred symphony. [It does - see http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Chandos/CHAN10392 - though the price at that site is higher.]

I don't know the other set (Rostropovich) but the Jansons (Oslo) and the Philips Markevich are excellent. Mravinsky is good in 4-6, though on reflection I can't say that I think his recordings/performances are better than Jansons or Markevich, though they have been highly praised and I've had my copy of the 4th on LP pretty much since it first came out on DG.

[Barbirollians]

If you can find a copy Abbado's DG coupling of No2 and 4 is very special.

[Thomas Roth]

Agree about the Abbado 2 & 4. It should be released in "The Originals" series I think. A sensational 4th with VPO.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm really surprised the Abbado isn't available.
However, I consider the Oslo/Jansons to be overrated, with a yukky, wobbly horn player in the slow movement of the 5th. I bought it on the strength of the Gramophone review that said it wasn't at all wobbly.

[Barbirollians]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tchaikovsky-...5800524&sr=1-1They are available on Amazon - deleted Privilege CD for a £5 new and 98p used !

[Alison]

However, I consider the Oslo/Jansons to be overrated:

So do I. Mind you, wasn't Gramophone influential back then ??

[Barbirollians]

Wasn't it Ted G who raved about it ?

[Alison]

Yes I'm sure it was. A generous old bean really.

[Dave2002]

I'm really surprised the Abbado isn't available.
However, I consider the Oslo/Jansons to be overrated, with a yukky, wobbly horn player in the slow movement of the 5th. I bought it on the strength of the Gramophone review that said it wasn't at all wobbly.

Many years ago Haitink did a version of Tchaikovsky 5th (maybe Alison's favourite) which was very good at the time, and probably still is. Perhaps, however, H's Tchaikovsky symphonies are not currently available. Then again, there's Koussevitsky - "interesting" sound, but an amazing performance.

[Parry1912]

Must say that the Jansons is one of my favourites. On the other hand I can't see the fuss about the Abbado 2/4 coupling. Each to their own, I guess.