mystery recordings - Tchaikovsky Sym 6 (finale)

[sidoze]

Perhaps not the best choice for the mystery orchestra game, but as the movement is isolated anyway, and as I've been listening to it quite a lot recently, I figured why not try it. Some of these interpretations are really wonderful too, I think. So if anyone would like to listen, there are 4 recordings below. Sound is decent, not great. And please note that they're all live recordings, so you probably won't be able to rummage through your collections in search of them

link to the score: http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.6_%28Tchaikovsky%2C_Pyotr_Ilyich%29

[George]

Thanks for the clips!

This is one of my favorite works. 

I will post my thoughts in a few days when I have some time to hear these.

[AnthonyAthletic]

Clip : 1

I found this a very taught, tense, highly strung reading, the strings 'quickly' reaching the climaxes within the movement, into the 'full on brass' explosions.

Could this be Mravinsky 'live' on first thoughts, after listening to his both his DG recordings I did find some similarities, (probably a million miles off being correct) LOL.  This is one I really enjoyed, the sound pretty good, which flushes over you in cascading waves...very enjoyable.

Mravinsky/Len PO for me!! ?

Clip : 2

Hardest one of the lot, the recording not quite as punchy or crisp as the first one, but somewhat darker and deeper in the strings.  Basically no idea (baffled), so I must impose a question...could this be an American orchestra? (pointing to the positives)?

Clip : 3

No comment  , this for me is one of the finest, if not the most exciting Pathetique's out there...a must for anyone, surely!!  Top three contender for me, along with the DG Stereo Mravinsky and possibly the 1955 RCA Monteux being the other in my top 3.

What actually gave it away were the sighs of the conductor (twice) within the first 18 seconds (and nope its not Sirs Colin Davis or Barbirolli, this being one of the quickest, most exciting Pathetiques in the catalogue, highly emotional and highly strung, with all the best intentions in the world.  Sadly, they don't make them like this anymore LOL

Clip : 4

Soundwise I found this the least appealing, very hard to date.  It could be 60's or earlier but my guess on the contrary; could go far as saying, this being a much slower finale than the previous ones, could this possibly be a pointer to Celibidache?  I personally don't know the Celi version on EMI but for sheer spaciousness in the finale and indeed spaciousness in general when Celi is around this is my 'intelligent' guestimate, Celi & the Munich PO from the early 1980's IIRC.

Very difficult, but very enjoyable 

[Drasko]

On clips Nos. 1 & 3 I'll go with Mr.Athletic
(and to repeat that I'll gladly take No.1 of your hands if you don't want to keep it)

No.4 is indeed the slowest but I wouldn't go for Celibidache, to me it doesn't have the interminability I usualy find in his readings and orchestra doesn't really sound round and mellow as MPO. I'll venture guess for Asahina on this one, don't know about the orchestra, Osaka, Tokyo Met?

No.2 is I think one of the top rank orchestras, deep full strings, pretty blended brass make me think German, BPO, BRSO? Performance is very good, mainstream.

caveat: computer speakers listening (didn't have the time to burn the files  )     

[sidoze]

(and to repeat that I'll gladly take No.1 of your hands if you don't want to keep it

Number 1 will not leave this flat. It has a first movement which is even more intense than the third recording (and in better sound, which gives more impact of course).

Thank you gentlemen. The second is not an American orchestra, Drasko is heading in the right direction on that one. The fourth is not Asahina; it's a European orchestra. In the next day or two I'll give the names.

[sidoze]

1 - Leningrad PO - Mravinsky - 7 June 1975, Japan

2 - Wiener Philharmoniker - Abbado - 30 May 1983

4 - NDR-Sinfonieorchester - Schmidt-Isserstedt - 24 May 1965, Hamburg

Last time I host a game like this. My taste must be awful for this forum.