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

[Beef Oven!]

Wow That's an intense exposure. You should relax with a few hours of Led Zeppelin

Maybe Hawkwind!

[Petrushka]

Having worked my way through all these CDs in the last 72 hours

There is absolutely no way that I could subject myself to that kind of intense exposure to any piece of music let alone to the Pathetique of all things.

Pity the poor reviewer therefore. Mind, I'm sure the majority require little more than a refresher. But then, if she hasn't listened to all of them how can she give a proper verdict?

[cincinnatus]

There is absolutely no way that I could subject myself to that kind of intense exposure to any piece of music let alone to the Pathetique of all things.

Pity the poor reviewer therefore. Mind, I'm sure the majority require little more than a refresher. But then, if she hasn't listened to all of them how can she give a proper verdict?

She's not expected to listen to them all, Petrushka. A couple of years ago I e-mailed CD Review(as was) because there had been 3 BALs quite close together where we had been told the number of recordings the reviewers had listened to and it was only a fraction of the number on EA's list. The editorial team told me that when there are a very large number of available recordings the reviewer is only expected to consider a significant proportion of them.

[Beef Oven!]

She's not expected to listen to them all, Petrushka. A couple of years ago I e-mailed CD Review(as was) because there had been 3 BALs quite close together where we had been told the number of recordings the reviewers had listened to and it was only a fraction of the number on EA's list. The editorial team told me that when there are a very large number of available recordings the reviewer is only expected to consider a significant proportion of them.

It’s only three hours each day. I listen to music for about 4 or five hours per day anyway - some days double that. The important point in all this is that the new kid on the block is very good indeed in this symphony.

[pastoralguy]

I'm not even sure that reviewers listen to the whole performance in its entirety. A little bird once told me that reviewers, faced with a huge number of recordings, start out with a catalogue of points they wish to examine and simply listen to that 'bit' to see if it measures up. It must save time as well as sanity!

[HighlandDougie]

The bars are missing from the Tchaikovsky, aren't they?

Oops - yes, definitely not the Bartok - my increasingly addled brain had mixed up the performances in my mind. However, listening to Fricsay live vs Fricsay/Berlin, I'd be hard pressed to tell that the supposed 5 bars are missing, which is what is said about this live recording (not that Orfeo own up to any such thing in the CD documentation). It's still a great performance, though.

[zola]

She's not expected to listen to them all, Petrushka. A couple of years ago I e-mailed CD Review(as was) because there had been 3 BALs quite close together where we had been told the number of recordings the reviewers had listened to and it was only a fraction of the number on EA's list. The editorial team told me that when there are a very large number of available recordings the reviewer is only expected to consider a significant proportion of them.

It seems that Marina Frolova-Walker did listen to at least part of all available recordings as detailed here from the Record review website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4fv78szmZmvB73p2bstPVTT/building-a-library-living-with-the-pathetique

[pastoralguy]

It seems that Marina Frolova-Walker did listen to at least part of all available recordings as detailed here from the Record review website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/arti...the-pathetique

Very informative. Thanks.

[Barbirollians]

My first recording was the LPO/Rostropovich on EMI Eminence - it was re-released on CD a few years back but nla it seems . I liked the work but it was far from a recording that spoiled me for the rest - next came BPO/Karajan (DG) - excellent -- Mravinsky stereo ( a bit too intense ) - Pletnev /RNO - another excellent recording - Bernstein /NYPO - too slow undoubtedly in the finale but extraordinarily moving -Halle/Barbirolli - lovely passionate performance but strings a bit stretched and recording disappointing. Furtwangler 1938 - quite marvellous but a one-off in style all cumulative emotional power rather than whipped up excitement- Kletzki/Philharmonia - wonderfully played , idiomatic conducting very exciting and then the last recording of the work I bought ( until today when I ordered that live Fricsay ) Philharmonia/Mackerras - everything is just right , some may be more exciting in parts but as a whole a perfect library choice .

It seems that last time Mravinsky won - with Gunter Wand as modern choice ! and Mengelberg as historical favourite back in 1996.

[pastoralguy]

Loving the accent...

[EdgeleyRob]

Loving the accent...

Oh yes,she can talk Russian music to me any day of the week.

[Barbirollians]

Reminded by that extract to play the Furtwangler again !

[pastoralguy]

And Karajan bounds ahead...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And Karajan bounds ahead...

... overtaken on the inside lane by Mravinsky ...

[EdgeleyRob]

... overtaken on the inside lane by Mravinsky ...

If they did in play betting this would be the one IMO.