Your Favorite Tchaikovsky Pieces

[USMC1960s]

Not limited to any one kind of work. The pieces by Tchaikovsky you enjoy the most.

[Brahmsian]

Oh boy, I LOVE Tchaikovsky! 

Swan Lake
Sleeping Beauty
Nutcracker
Orchestral Suite No. 1 and No. 3
Violin Concerto
String Sextet - Souvenir de Florence
Symphony No. 6 'Pathetique'
Symphony No. 3 'Polish'
Eugene Onegin
Piano Trio

Not in any particular order.  This list could be much, much larger!   

[USMC1960s]

Thank you. Some of those I haven't heard yet, but will "explore" them this afternoon.

[USMC1960s]

I discovered that Piano Trio (Opus 50) a few months ago, it is amazing.

[Brahmsian]

I discovered that Piano Trio (Opus 50) a few months ago, it is amazing.

A marvelous work, indeed! 

[USMC1960s]

I like the variations on the same theme ....but Variazone VII. Allegro Moderato is my favorite.

[North Star]

I'll add Serenade for Strings and Symphonies nos. 4 & 5 to Ray's list. The Piano Trio and the ballets are among my very favourites as well. Seasons for solo piano is lovely.

[Brahmsian]

I'll add Serenade for Strings and Symphonies nos. 4 & 5

Yes indeed.  The list is endless, and yet there is still much of Tchaikovsky's music I have yet to explore (ie. operas outside of Eugene Onegin).

[mc ukrneal]

Most know the Piano Concerto No. 1. Well No 2 and 3 are both wonderful as well. Top drawer stuff, yet rarely performed.

[Brahmsian]

Most know the Piano Concerto No. 1. Well No 2 and 3 are both wonderful as well. Top drawer stuff, yet rarely performed.

I need to add those two to my discovery list.  Still have not heard these! 

[Lisztianwagner]

Tchaikovsky is absolutely one of my favourite composers.

Symphony No.4
Symphony No.5
Symphony No.6 'Pathetique'
Piano Concerto No.1
Capriccio Italien
Piano Trio
The Nutcracker
Sleeping Beauty
Swan Lake
1812 Overture
Violin Concerto
Polonaise and Waltz from 'Eugene Onegin'

[USMC1960s]

Looking at program for Boston Symphony Orchestra October 31st concert--Tchaikovsky---Melodie for Violin and Orchestra, Serenade Melancholique for Violin and Orchestra---and Elgar (Chanson de la Nuit), also Schubert Symphony No. 5. Thinking about getting tickets.

[mc ukrneal]

I need to add those two to my discovery list.  Still have not heard these! 

Pletnev is excellent. Have heard that Hyperion is also very good. I believe Gilels and Donohoe did them as well. There may be a couple more floating around, but that is about it. I can vouch for the Pletnev, the only set I have.

[Brahmsian]

Pletnev is excellent. Have heard that Hyperion is also very good. I believe Gilels and Donohoe did them as well. There may be a couple more floating around, but that is about it. I can vouch for the Pletnev, the only set I have.

Ok, I will check Pletnev out.  Thank you, Neal! 

[Brian]

Pletnev is excellent. Have heard that Hyperion is also very good. I believe Gilels and Donohoe did them as well. There may be a couple more floating around, but that is about it. I can vouch for the Pletnev, the only set I have.

DO NOT listen to the cut (e.g. Gilels) version of Concerto No. 2! Whatever recording you get, the slow movement should be around 13 minutes long. If it's only 6-7 minutes, avoid.

The Second Piano Concerto is actually my favorite Tchaikovsky concerto for any instrument.  (My reference version is Scherbakov's but I suspect there are others in better sonics. I want the Hyperion.)

My list:
Symphonies 4-5
Serenade for Strings
Hamlet
Sleeping Beauty
Souvenir de Florence
Dumka for solo piano

[mc ukrneal]

DO NOT listen to the cut (e.g. Gilels) version of Concerto No. 2! Whatever recording you get, the slow movement should be around 13 minutes long. If it's only 6-7 minutes, avoid.

No wonder Donald Duck is pissed off!

[Christo]

My attempt, partly referring back to my teens (when T. and Dvořák were my absolute favourites):

Fatum, symphonic poem (1868)
Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy (1870)
Francesca da Rimini, symphonic fantasia (1876)
Symphony No. 4 (1877)
Capriccio Italien (1880)
Serenade for Strings (1880)
Manfred Symphony  (1885)
Symphony No. 5 (1888)
Hamlet, incidental music (1891)
The Voyevoda, symphonic ballad (1891)
Symphony No. 6 'Pathétique' (1893)

BTW will be seeing The Nutcracker ballet in Prague in December. 

[Jo498]

While some of the "usual suspects", e.g the 1812 Ouverture, Nutcracker suite, the first piano concerto, the 5th and 6th symphonies were among the pieces that got me "hooked on classics" there was I time when I just could not stand to listen to them anymore. I dislike a few pieces quite a bit, e.g. the "Rococo variations" and others I can only listen to once in a rather long while (violin concerto).

Apart from the 6th symphony (his most successful symphony by far, IMO), I think some of his best works are in the "lighter genres", e.g. the three great balletts, the string serenade, souvenir de florence. The ballets are not fairly represented by the common suites (especially the standard Nutcracker suite has basically only pieces from one scene, the divertissement in the realm of candy).
Also the chamber music seems underrated although the trio is deservedly well known. I don't remember the 2nd string quartet, but the 1st one is charming and the 3rd is a rather weighty, serious piece.

[jochanaan]

At the moment it's Manfred Symphony.  But that will probably change next time I hear Symphonies 4-6 or Eugene Onegin.

[Mirror Image]

I had a Tchaikovsky phase when I was first getting into classical music but my interest and general enthusiasm for his music has faded since, but one work which stands above all of his others for me is Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique".