Your two favourite DVORAK and TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONIES

[salymap]

Dvorak no 8 in G [then no 4] was my first complete symphony when still at school. Abour 5 78 records, and a local shop kept them for me and I bought one a week at 6/8d out of my pocket money. I think it was the Czech Phil with Vaclav Talich.

How would we feel today if it was as hard to start collecting music we loved?

[antongould]

You got 6/8d pocket money every week - get you!
Dvorak 9 and 7
Tchaikovsky 1 and 2

[BBMmk2]

Dvorak: Sympnoies Nos 6 & 8.

I love the 6th. Simp;ly because pof the atmosphere that itcreates. No.8, Ithink is his best effort for the symphony.(no.9 too popular).

Tchaikovsky: No.5 and Manfred.

[ahinton]

For me - Dvořák, 7 & - er - um - 7 and Tchaikovsky 4 & 6 (and Manfred if I'm allowed to cheat).

[salymap]

Please cheat if you wish to, ahinton, everyone else does

Waldhorn mentioned the Dvorak Symphonic Variations. Not a symphony ofcourse but I have a lovely old LP of Malcolm Sargent and the Philharmonia, the '4th side' of a 2 record set, the remainder being a beautiful performance of the complte Smetana Ma Vlast.

The SV is such a lovely work to remember with the rapid changes of rhythm and the linking passages.

[Beef Oven]

Further to my post #12, this is my favourite version:

[ahinton]

Further to my post #12, this is my favourite version:

And a fine and well representative one it is, too. I just have something of a problem with appreciating much of its composer (though the symphonic poems and some of the chamber music really do have a lot going for them); some of his work just strikes me as all too urbane and lacking in the rough-edged risk-taking and sometimes high-wire emotion that I find in the very best of Smetana, but that's just a personal viewpoint - and it doesn't apply to the Seventh Symphony. Tchaikovsky, on the other hand, irritates the hell out of me; why on earth is it or should it be that any one composer manages somehow to get it so right so much of the time? In songs, chamber music, ballet scores, opera, symphonic poems, symphonies, piano music - there's such an embarassing shortage of duds, which is why I love the ghastly G major piano sonata because it does at least prove that the composer could write well below his best just occasionally!

[Ferretfancy]

It's nice to share the enthusiasm for Dvorak 7. Until now I have only had the marvellous Monteux version on LP, but it's winging its way towards me as I write, courtesy of Eloquence.I really recommend this performance to anybody who has not encountered it.

[Flosshilde]

Tchaikovsky, on the other hand, irritates the hell out of me; why on earth is it or should it be that any one composer manages somehow to get it so right so much of the time?

Professional jealousy?

I'm afraid that the ubiquity of the 9th has put me off hearing anything else by Dvorak (that, & a general un-interest in music of his period), &I haven't listened to all Tchaikovsky's symphonies (yet) so can't really have a favourite. I'll make sure I listen to Saturday's BaL

[Suffolkcoastal]

Dvorak 6 & 7, Tchaikovsky 2 & 4 (though I have a major soft spot for the 3rd).

Dvorak: Symphonic Variations from me too!

[ahinton]

Professional jealousy?

Were I that way inclined (which fortunately I am not), Tchaikovsky would be as good a place to start as any!

[3rd Viennese School]

I am one of the masses.

Tchaikovsky 6 ( my first symphony ever!)
Tchaikovsky 5 ( my third symphony that I learnt all the way through)

Dvorak 7 ( the only symphony I heard during the "Pop Music" era)
Dvorak 9 ( my second symphony that I learnt all the way through)

Be nice if they did Dvorak symphony no.1 though.
An under rated symphony. Mvt 1 and the scherzo are very good. Never ever gets played! (it is the longest symphony however!)

3VS

[jayne lee wilson]

Actually 3VS, if you restore all cuts in No.1 and play all repeats in No.2 (the latter not even published till 1959!) then No.2 can easily take over an hour, and it's equally mazy, Wagner-influenced and fascinating... another romantic epic to get lost inside.

[teamsaint]

Professional jealousy?

I'm afraid that the ubiquity of the 9th has put me off hearing anything else by Dvorak (that, & a general un-interest in music of his period), &I haven't listened to all Tchaikovsky's symphonies (yet) so can't really have a favourite. I'll make sure I listen to Saturday's BaL

ANYTHING else? really? Wow.

Edit: mind you, I have pretty much had it with the Slavonic dances thanks to "Breakfast".

[3rd Viennese School]

Jayne

I thought the only repeat in both Dvorak symphony no.1 and 2 is the exposition of mvt 1. Symphony no.1 does have a long exposition as well!

3VS

P.P.P.S. The key scheme in Dvorak 1 is the same as Beethoven 5! C minor/ A flat major / C minor/ C major.