BaL 30.06.12 - Tchaikovsky's 3rd Symphony in D "Polish"

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Technically, Manfred isn't a symphony.

[BBMmk2]

Well, symphonic, EA!!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A2-Level Music Examination; Section B: The Symphony in the 19th Century.

Technically, Manfred isn't a symphony.

Discuss.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I know for sure that Abbado did 2 and 5 in his DGG years (1970s recordings, of which 5 is my personal favourite performance of the work)

He also did the Fourth with the VPO; it got a "Rosette" in the Penguin Guide of the time, upon which recommendation I bought the cassette. Very disappointed: the cymbals sounded like biscuit tin lids.

[amateur51]

He also did the Fourth with the VPO; it got a "Rosette" in the Penguin Guide of the time, upon which recommendation I bought the cassette. Very disappointed: the cymbals sounded like biscuit tin lids.

Blimey ferney

I was just contemplating getting that set - thanks for the warning

Maybe it's a HIPP thang

[Barbirollians]

I love that DG Tchaikovsky 4 with Abbado .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I love that DG Tchaikovsky 4 with Abbado .

You're by no means the only one, Barbi. Maybe it was an early DG cassette and they hadn't mastered the medium? I was so disappointed I never really played it more than a couple/three times: Szell on LP was such a better experience I didn't really see the need to pursue the Abbado any more!

[jayne lee wilson]

Technically, Manfred isn't a symphony.

As the logical positivists might have said, what exactly do you mean by "technically"?

(Roehre - scroll down the amazon page to reviews to see detail on EA's Abbado link...or just look at the back of Petrushka's box.)

[HighlandDougie]

You're by no means the only one, Barbi. Maybe it was an early DG cassette and they hadn't mastered the medium? I was so disappointed I never really played it more than a couple/three times: Szell on LP was such a better experience I didn't really see the need to pursue the Abbado any more!

The cassette was pretty poor quality (I have a hazy memory of it being mid-price - I may still have it so should check) but the CD sounds fine. Abbado/LSO doing the 4th at Birmingham Town Hall (one of those much-missed Shell-sponsored tours of the provinces) in about 1979 - stunning. Which is more than can be said for his 3rd. I've just listened to Markevich but I cannot get enthused about it at all as a symphony.

[Acavus]

Where did you hear that Manfred, Acavus?

...even worse than the parcelforce fee is the dread phrase on the track and trace page:
AWAITING PRESENTATION TO CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER
- which usually remains unchanged for 5 days... so, Tokyo - Coventry, 3-4 days. Coventry Parcelforce, via customs, to Liverpool, 7-10 days. Double AARGH!

I know the feeling!

The Manfred was in London in the early 1980s with the LSO. I also heard him a couple of times with the Philharmonia in the RFH, most recently in a concert featuring a truly great Rachmaninov 2. I had tickets for a Philharmonia concert he was due to give two days after he died. I vividly remember hearing that he had cancelled due to ill health, and the next day that he had died. With the more-or-less simultaneous retirement of Kurt sanderling, I really felt that an era had passed.

On the subject of Svetlanov, I am hugely enjoying a couple of recent Melodiya releases: the 2 (and-a-half) Borodin symphonies plus some smaller pieces; and a collection of Balakirev orchestral music.

[Barbirollians]

Ah the Szell - a very fine record nearly as good as his awesome Fifth . The record with the tale that Culshaw deliberately played it back dulled so that Szell went out and did another extra blazing take !

I do think that the Polish is Tchaikovsky 's weakest symphony but I am fond of it .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The cassette was pretty poor quality (I have a hazy memory of it being mid-price - I may still have it so should check) but the CD sounds fine.

Thanks, Dougie: I must give the performance another hearing sometime.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I have the Jansons and Rostropovich. I have a major soft spot for this symphony and always enjoy listening to it. The slow movement in particular helped to get me through a very difficult time a few years ago.

[akiralx]

Technically, Manfred isn't a symphony.

More of a symphony than the Alpine Symphony!

[Hornspieler]

I do think that the Polish is Tchaikovsky 's weakest symphony but I am fond of it .

Yes, I have to agree with you there Barbie, 100%

HS