BaL 4.06.16 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, ‘Pathétique’

**Alain Maréchal** · 27-05-16, 08:47

This is one of those BALs which should be turned on its head. It would be impossible for the reviewer to recommend a library version out of this list. It would be far better to play some examples of recordings which should be avoided at all costs, perhaps with example of how it ought to be done. A "performances on record" approach would be preferable - and it would require two hours to do that.

**akiralx** · 27-05-16, 08:55

Originally posted by Alain Maréchal View Post

This is one of those BALs which should be turned on its head. It would be impossible for the reviewer to recommend a library version out of this list.

Agreed. Not one of my favourite works, I prefer the odd numbered symphonies.

Mikhail Pletnev has recorded it three times with the Russian National O (Virgin, DG, Pentatone), and I believe all three are available?

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 27-05-16, 08:59

For me, this is one of the three greatest symphonies all time, and yet I've never really found a version about which I can say "This is the one".
I have had several versions that were excellent, but there were niggle reservations -

Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Alexander Melik-Pashayev. I had this on a Saga LP. A brilliant performance, but just before the final climactic statement of the big tune in the 3rd movement, the acoustic changes - and the previously clear sound becomes a fog.

Hallé Orchestra, Barbirolli. Always a Barbirolli fan, I had high hopes of hearing the players who first introduced this work to me, live in concert. But Pye sound was rarely up to much.

Philharmonia Orchestra,r Ashkenazy. A positive review on its first release encouraged me to buy this, but the sound balance turns it into a sort of bassoon concerto. Also, an unforgiveable brass error in the finale.

Vienna Philharmonic, Maazel. The one I return to most. A magnificent performance with stunning Sofiensaal/Decca sound. But the horns are too close in the finale (a characteristic also prominent in the 2nd movement of the 5th symphony in the same cycle).

Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Mravinsky. I know criticising this version is like criticising the Mona Lisa, but it just doesn't hold my attention. Sorry.

Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwangler. Now this is good - very good. I just want to hear WF in HD sound.

Vienna Philharmonic, Gergiev. Must VG make the Vienna Phil sound so brutal?

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Henry Lewis. I wouldn't have bought this one, but it was in the Decca Phase 4 box set, with characteristically distorted sound balance.

London Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky. This one is in the Brilliant Classics Tchaikovsky box. It's very good. On reflection, maybe this is really is the one.

Vienna Philharmonic, Karajan. This is his final digital version. A fine performance, but was recorded during DG's digital nightmare era (1984).

**pastoralguy** · 27-05-16, 09:03

For me, Paul Kletzki with the Philharmonia Orchestra which was my introduction to this wonderful piece.

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 27-05-16, 09:12

I do remember hearing a very fine Munch version, when I was on holiday in France in 1965, but I don't know which one.

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 27-05-16, 13:09

It does amaze me that Maazel's 1963/64 recording with the VPO is so much better, from a recorded sound point of view, than Karajan's version with same orchestra, 20 years later.

**makropulos** · 27-05-16, 13:27

An astonishing list. Two of my favourite versions aren't apparently available at the moment: Kletzki/Philharmonia and Matacic/Czech PO (Supraphon). The latter can certainly be had as a download (along with the 5th Symphony) from supraphononline.cz.

As other posters have already said, this is close to an impossible task.

For what it's worth, my personal favourites as well as the two above include:
Mackerras/Philharmonia (Signum)
Mravinsky/Leningrad (DG)
Böhm/LSO (DG)
Svetlanov/USSR SO (Melodiya)

but it's a list that could go on and on...

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 27-05-16, 13:50

Originally posted by makropulos View Post

. . . of my favourite versions aren't apparently available at the moment: Kletzki/Philharmonia . . .

There appears to one copy on Amazon, but that seems to be it.

**richardfinegold** · 27-05-16, 15:58

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

It does amaze me that Maazel's 1963/64 recording with the VPO is so much better, from a recorded sound point of view, than Krajan's version with same orchestra, 20 years later.

What is further amazing is that digital remastering of that era of DG recordings doesn't make them much better, unlike the Columbia, RCA, and other poorly done contemporaneous recordings. The original engineering is the culprit. Karajan used to be criticized for his interventions at the mixing console but it seems to be more systemic than that.

**richardfinegold** · 27-05-16, 16:01

Everybody has their favorites. My first recording was Monteux/Boston SO and it still holds up quite well. Solti/CSO is red blooded and carnivorous; absolutely thrilling but perhaps not quite what the Composer envisioned? I agree with Alpie about Furtwangler. Currently I listen to Kitaenko/Cologne on SACD but I won't make a claim that it is the one for all time.
I've never been a fan of the Mravisnky set of 4-6. It sounds like all the players are afraid that one miscue and off to the Gulag they go, and the brass section sounds like a Saxophone Septet.

**cloughie** · 27-05-16, 16:10

Originally posted by pastoralguy View Post

For me, Paul Kletzki with the Philharmonia Orchestra which was my introduction to this wonderful piece.

**cloughie** · 27-05-16, 16:13

Originally posted by richardfinegold View Post

Everybody has their favorites. My first recording was Monteux/Boston SO and it still holds up quite well. Solti/CSO is red blooded and carnivorous; absolutely thrilling but perhaps not quite what the Composer envisioned? I agree with Alpie about Furtwangler. Currently I listen to Kitaenko/Cologne on SACD but I won't make a claim that it is the one for all time.
I've never been a fan of the Mravisnky set of 4-6. It sounds like all the players are afraid that one miscue and off to the Gulag they go, and the brass section sounds like a Saxophone Septet.

But the Russian and French sounding horns were a characteristic of their period.

**richardfinegold** · 27-05-16, 16:30

Originally posted by cloughie View Post

But the Russian and French sounding horns were a characteristic of their period.

Yes, but that does not mean that one has to endure them for all time on a recording

**cloughie** · 27-05-16, 16:35

Originally posted by richardfinegold View Post

Yes, but that does not mean that one has to endure them for all time on a recording

No but fun every now and then!

BaL 4.06.16 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, ‘Pathétique’

BaL 4.06.16 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, ‘Pathétique’

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