BaL 18.01.25 - Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet (Fantasy overture)

[Barbirollians]

The Pritchard was one of the first new recordings made for the launch of Classics for Pleasure and received a very positive review from the often curmudgeonly Trevor Harvey in Gramophone. I was amazed then to read CFP sold 1.1 million records in 1971 . 40,000 of the Katin/Pritchard Tchaikovsky PC1

[smittims]

Yes, they came at the right time. I thnik it was the combination of price and freshness of performance and recording. Paul Hamlyn was of course an experienced marketer with Books for Pleasure,Spring Books and Music for Pleasure behind him.

[Darloboy]

I’m going to go quite a way back - Abbado/Boston Symphony Orchestra. 1970 something (used to be coupled with Scriabin). Although few in number Abbado did some very interesting recordings with the BSO (Daphnis Suite 2, Debussy Nocturnes). Much preferred his earlier years before he got Mahlered…..

Boston/Abbado was Michael Kennedy's First Choice back in December 1981. Runner-up was Philharmonia/Muti plus LSO/Geoffrey Simon for the original 1869 version.

The only other time this piece has been covered by BaL was in February 09 when Geoffrey Norris chose the LSO/Dorati (only available on a 5 CD set at the time) with the RPO/Gatti as a single disc recommendation.

[richardfinegold]

I dug up the Monteux live recording. It has sort of a classical restraint, without over the top emoting. It is definitely worth consideration

[oliver sudden]

I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s my favourite (I don’t think I have one!) but the live Britten recording is very much worth a listen.

[Wolfram]

I dug up the Monteux live recording. It has sort of a classical restraint, without over the top emoting. It is definitely worth consideration

As is Boult, for the same reason. Doubt that it will get a mention, though.

[pastoralguy]

As is Boult, for the same reason. Doubt that it will get a mention, though.

One of my all time favourite cds is Sir Adrian conducting an all Tchaikovsky programme on the EMI STUDIO label. The main work is the Third Orchestral Suite which is given a marvellous performance including a superb violin solo by the great Rodney Friend. What a pity Sir Adrian didn’t conduct more Tchaikovsky. (Afaik).

[HighlandDougie]

He was more a Tchakovskian than many may think, and recorded also some of the composer's lesser-known music.

Indeed. Two recordings of Suite No. 3 In G Major, Op. 55, the latter of which (with the LPO and the inimitable Rodney Friend in 1975) is a great favourite. I seem to remember PG enthusing about it as well at some point.

[pastoralguy]

Indeed. Two recordings of Suite No. 3 In G Major, Op. 55, the latter of which (with the LPO and the inimitable Rodney Friend in 1975) is a great favourite. I seem to remember PG enthusing about it as well at some point.

See above…

[smittims]

There is the third symphony, recorded by Decca for RCA, the Concert Fantasia with Peter Katin, and a fine Hamlet from the early '50s. These have both, I think, been included in Sir Adrian Boult: The Decca Legacy, available as a download. And I think he recorded the first concerto with Shura Cherkassky for World Record Club.

[Barbirollians]

Boult also recorded 1812 and Romeo and Juliet for the World Record Club and were in the big Warner box The Complete Conductor from Tchaikovsky to Gershwin. He made recordings of Tchaikovsky 5 and 6 that were on the Concert Hall label but Gramophone did not like these so much.

[richardfinegold]

I listened to Abravanel/Utah last night, a filler on a Tchaikovsky Symphony disc. Here is another no nonsense approach without italics. I love Abravanel recordings and the chemistry with his orchestra but here in the closing pages the very lean tone of the strings leaves wanting a bit more opulence.

[Wolfram]

Sian Edwards is another no-nonsense performance, well received at the time, if I remember correctly. Couldn’t warm to Ivan Fischer, without really being able to put my finger on why. For drama and intensity Gergiev with the Kirov will take some beating - but of course he comes with baggage now. Karajan definitely better in Vienna than in Berlin. Bernstein you have to hear once. Looking forward to hearing what MF-W makes of it all.

[akiralx]

My favourite for a long time has been the Philharmonia/Sinopoli on DG, coupled with the Pathetique.

[Barbirollians]

A cheap copy of the Abbado has arrived coupled with his 1974 Pathetique. Thanks for the recommendation - it's very impressive.