BaL 14.01.17 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 4 in F minor

[seabright]

The Stokowski / NBC Symphony RCA 78s recording of 1941 is "still available," as Cala doesn't have a deletions policy (CACD0505) though of course it will be too ancient-sounding to get a mention. His even older 1928 Philadelphia 78s on the 'Pearl' CD label won't be on anyone's list however, as they went out of business years ago. I wonder if the Rozhdestvensky / USSR Large Radio Symphony Orchestra recording of 1971 is the same performance as the 'Russian Federation' one shown in the main listing? I also wonder how many recordings in total this work has had over the decades. For instance, was there ever a complete pre-electric acoustic 78s set?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I could be wrong but I have a memory that Rob C is rather fond of that record and I bought it on his recommendation .

Indeed - and it got a "Rosette" in the Penguin Guide, which prompted me to get it on cassette. Alas, the DG recorded sound on that tape release was appalling - even by my standards of tolerance, and I wrote the performance off as a result. Only when I heard a CD release did I hear what all the adulation was about.

Still much preferred the Szell - and the Mravinsky and Karajans.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Stokowski / NBC Symphony RCA 78s recording of 1941 is "still available," as Cala doesn't have a deletions policy (CACD0505) though of course it will be too ancient-sounding to get a mention. His even older 1928 Philadelphia 78s on the 'Pearl' CD label won't be on anyone's list however, as they went out of business years ago. I wonder if the Rozhdestvensky / USSR Large Radio Symphony Orchestra recording of 1971 is the same performance as the 'Russian Federation' one shown in the main listing? I also wonder how many recordings in total this work has had over the decades. For instance, was there ever a complete pre-electric acoustic 78s set?

I remember reading in Paul Robinson's book on Stokowski that he recorded a version in which he re-orchestrated the opening fanfare, believing that it was more effective to have the trumpets at the start as well as the Horns! I've never heard this except in my imagination - and cannot imagine how the conductor thought that the repetition of trumpets was an improvement!

[Richard Barrett]

Sorry to hear you have a low opinion of the great Russian composer, Richard. One of my top five composers.

I don't have a low opinion of him actually, I just don't feel I've made contact with his work yet. I expect I'll get there in the end (preferably some time beforehand). Now that this piece has been brought up I shall certainly dust off my Celibidache CD of which I realise my recollection is quite hazy.

[Barbirollians]

Szell would be my first choice too I think but there is much to be enjoyed in Barbirolli's live Halle version as well as the others I have mentioned above . Silvestri too should not be forgotten .

[Beef Oven!]

It's another Mission Impossible for BaL Good luck, Rob C!

Mravinsky/Leningrad PO was my first LP of the Tchaik 4 back in 1974 and since then I've bought umpty-ump versions, including almost all of Karajan's, Szell, Abbado x 2, Solti CD & DVD (I was present at the DVD performance), Rozhdestvensky/BBCSO, LSO/Böhm, LPO/Jurowski, VPO/Maazel, VPO/Gergiev, Leningrad PO/Rozhdestvensky and probably a few more hidden away somewhere.

If I had to choose just one from these I'd go for LPO/Jurowski, a truly outstanding performance (recorded live) that makes you hear the piece as if for the first time. No mean achievement and coupled with an equally enthralling 5th.

I’ve listened to Gergiev VPO, Maazel VPO and Celibidache MPO tonight and really enjoyed this symphony. I’d put Gergiev at the head of these three. Has the right balance of fire, finesse and sheer beauty in terms of the delivery and orchestral sound.

But your recommendation of the Jurowski LPO captured my imagination - I’ve really enjoyed the LPO concerts that I’ve been to over the last 12 months and they are fast becoming my current favourite orchestra. Also, I really enjoyed the live Jurowski LPO Brahms 2 disc that I bought (BaL winner, IIRC). So, I’ve ordered the live CD of 4 & 5 by Jurowski and the LPO. I also saw the LSO Szell that you mentioned for £1, so I snapped that up, too.

[Alison]

You won't be disappointed by the Jurowski, Beef.

We are right gonna miss different editions this time

[BBMmk2]

Right now I couldn’t possibly pick an overall favourite, so I’m looking forward to this BaL, hoping it will provide some clarification for me and help me identify a preference.

I have:

Karajan EMI & DG (all recordings)
Jansons
Celibidache
Gergiev
Maazel

That's the cycle I have, Beefy. The Maazel, possibly the best one?

[seabright]

I remember reading in Paul Robinson's book on Stokowski that he recorded a version in which he re-orchestrated the opening fanfare, believing that it was more effective to have the trumpets at the start as well as the Horns! I've never heard this except in my imagination - and cannot imagine how the conductor thought that the repetition of trumpets was an improvement!

Interesting that no-one's yet mentioned what Silvestri does to the opening fanfares. Let's hope RC duly provides a demo!

[Jonathan]

This work was the first of his symphonies that I got to know well. One of my university friends was mad keen on Tchaikovsky and suggested I listen to all of them and follow them using his scores. This work was to me the most easily accessible at the time and I still listen to it ocassionally. I don't have a famous recording - mine is the Naxos one by Adrian Leaper but I find his finale particularly well done. Interestingly, my ex-wife was mad keen on "Winter Daydreams" so I know that one very well as well!

Not sure if this was in the list but there is also a 4 hand arrangement by Taneyev of the 4th Symphony on Divine Art, played by the late Anthony Goldstone and his now widow, Caroline Clemmow.

[visualnickmos]

I remember that many years ago, I bought the CfP (LP) with, I think the "Great Britain Youth Orchestra" (?) conducted by Oivin Fjelstad. IIRC, it is a blisteringly superb version.... I don't think it ever made it to CD - I've kept my eye open.

[Beef Oven!]

You won't be disappointed by the Jurowski, Beef.

Good, looking forward to its arrival!

We are right gonna miss different editions this time

Some more than others!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

We are right gonna miss different editions this time

Don't mention Symphony no. 2 then.

[Beef Oven!]

That's the cycle I have, Beefy. The Maazel, possibly the best one?

I bought that cycle last summer in a Japan HDCD issue. Great sound quality. As to whether it’s possibly the best? I don’t know, probably not! I will say that the Gergiev's VPO #4 knocks Maazel's into a cocked-hat.

[Hornspieler]

Interesting that no-one's yet mentioned what Silvestri does to the opening fanfares. Let's hope RC duly provides a demo!

Well I can confirm that, because that how he insisted that we played the opening his way instead of Tchaikowsky's.*

Instead of a triplet semiquavers, he insisted that we play3 demi-semi quavers and then demi-semi quaver gap before the final 2 quavers in the bar.

But when we reached that climactic finale, the trumpets were allowed to play that fanfare as written on the score.

Eccentric? Yes. but that is what made Silvestri a great interpreter - particulaly in his rendering of British Music ("Elgar, Vorgan Williams, Vaultan, etc.)

He was the Guvnor and we just had to do as we were told.

HS

* See the musical notation at the top of Alpie's opening post.