Tchaikovsky

[xochitl]

tchaikovsky to me is like a friend you love above all others but sometimes just need to get away from until you crave him again

[Karl Henning]

I am continuously amazed at the ability of finding a piece of classical music that once "did nothing for me", only months (or several years later!), in this specific example, to now make a remarkable impression and turn a once (meh, or blah piece) into a WOW, this is great piece!

For me, this has just occurred this week with one of Tchaikovsky's most famous pieces:  Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.

I haven't been able to stop listening to this piece over the last week.   I almost literally used to detest this piece.  I've fallen in love with it now.

One reason is David Brown's biography on Tchaikovsky from 2007.  He talks a great deal about this piece, and describing it, and its various sections and motifs (ie. almost leitmotifs, a la Wagner).

It made an almost universally wide favourable impression, upon Tchaikovsky's revisions on all 5 of the "Mighty Handful" group of Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin.

And now it has also done the same with me.

PS - Just another reminder of how important it is to never, ever give up on a piece of music that you may not like.  It may take years, but eventually upon revisiting later one - can indeed make you change your tune on it. 

This means:  Perhaps someday I can the same turnaround impression with Francesca da Rimini (currently another ho-hummer for me), but I will revisit it.

Excellent, Ray!

[Brahmsian]

A piece that I particularly like, but hardly ever gets any mention, is Tchaikovsky's Festival Coronoation March.  (not the Danish one)

Not one of his major pieces.  For lovers of Tchaikovsky's music, your thoughts? 

[71 dB]

When I got into classical music late 90's, Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings was one of the key works for me (I also liked Dvorak's Serenade for Strings). So, Naxoses 8.550404 and 8.550419 were among the first CDs in my classical music collection. Then Elgar happened and I pretty much put side many composers. I didn't really listen to Tchaikovsky for 10-15 years! Taneyev became my favorite Russian composer.

Couple of months ago I saw half an hour of The Sleeping Beauty ballet on TV. I was impressed by the music. This was the igniting spark for my current Tchaikovsky re-discovery. After some 15 years I listened to the Serenade for Strings & Souvenir de Florence disc (8.550404). It was a nostalgic experience. I also realised I have String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 (8.550847). It's funny how you forget what you have. I must have bought the String Quartets disc for Andante cantabile (in 2000 according to my book-keeping).

I feel I have come to a "full circle" with classical music and it's time to start round 2. I think I have explored "obscure" composers more than many well known composers. I have more music by Johann Rosenmüller than by Tchaikovsky. 

Another thing is that I get back to my way of exploring, collecting and listening to classical music. I won't be a slave of internet discussion boards (GMG). I will do against recommendations if I feel like it. I am different from most people, so I must do things differently. I won't buy half a century old monophonic, noisy and distorted recordings that cost an arm and a leg just because someone here claims them to be THE BEST performances ever. No no, I will pick up the £0.01 + shipping Naxos and most probably will be satisfied with the performance and sound. If it happens to be a crappy Naxos then I might consider another performance. I find collecting Naxos enjoyable and fun. It is my thing. It's my way of being "silly". My way of expressing myself. It makes me feel good. Considering between 10 "great" performances only drives me nuts, so I will stop doing that!

Other labels are for composers/works Naxos ignores or plans to release 100 years from now...

I have ordered 8.555873-74 (Swan Lake) and 8.550519 (Rococo Variations etc.). The latter disc has also Kol Nidrei by Bruch which I find a great work. With the symphonies I will go with Naxos too, saccharine or not! 

[mszczuj]

Have you got NAXOS Tchaikovsky Piano Trio? It is one of my absolutely favorite records.

[asin]B0000013S5[/asin]

[mc ukrneal]

When I got into classical music late 90's, Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings was one of the key works for me (I also liked Dvorak's Serenade for Strings). So, Naxoses 8.550404 and 8.550419 were among the first CDs in my classical music collection. Then Elgar happened and I pretty much put side many composers. I didn't really listen to Tchaikovsky for 10-15 years! Taneyev became my favorite Russian composer.

Couple of months ago I saw half an hour of The Sleeping Beauty ballet on TV. I was impressed by the music. This was the igniting spark for my current Tchaikovsky re-discovery. After some 15 years I listened to the Serenade for Strings & Souvenir de Florence disc (8.550404). It was a nostalgic experience. I also realised I have String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 (8.550847). It's funny how you forget what you have. I must have bought the String Quartets disc for Andante cantabile (in 2000 according to my book-keeping).

I feel I have come to a "full circle" with classical music and it's time to start round 2. I think I have explored "obscure" composers more than many well known composers. I have more music by Johann Rosenmüller than by Tchaikovsky. 

Another thing is that I get back to my way of exploring, collecting and listening to classical music. I won't be a slave of internet discussion boards (GMG). I will do against recommendations if I feel like it. I am different from most people, so I must do things differently. I won't buy half a century old monophonic, noisy and distorted recordings that cost an arm and a leg just because someone here claims them to be THE BEST performances ever. No no, I will pick up the £0.01 + shipping Naxos and most probably will be satisfied with the performance and sound. If it happens to be a crappy Naxos then I might consider another performance. I find collecting Naxos enjoyable and fun. It is my thing. It's my way of being "silly". My way of expressing myself. It makes me feel good. Considering between 10 "great" performances only drives me nuts, so I will stop doing that!

Other labels are for composers/works Naxos ignores or plans to release 100 years from now...

I have ordered 8.555873-74 (Swan Lake) and 8.550519 (Rococo Variations etc.). The latter disc has also Kol Nidrei by Bruch which I find a great work. With the symphonies I will go with Naxos too, saccharine or not! 

If you want really cheap (and totally reasonable performances), there is the Tchaikovsky 100 (Rise of the Masters) for $1.99 (mp3 download). For that price it is a steal as all (perhaps most?) are from BIS (certainly the symphonies anyway). It doesn't include the complete Swan Lake. I think you'd need to supplement with Sleeping Beauty as well, but it's got all the symphonies (including Manfred). You'd also have to supplement with Piano concerto 2&3. Trio is there. Violin Concerto too.

[71 dB]

Have you got NAXOS Tchaikovsky Piano Trio? It is one of my absolutely favorite records.

[asin]B0000013S5[/asin]

Not yet but I'm definitely considering it!

I'm listening to Symphony #1 (Karajan, mp3). Not too much sugar for my taste...

[Brian]

So, Naxoses 8.550404 and 8.550419 were among the first CDs in my classical music collection.

Wow. Me too. In fact I believe that the CD with the Josef Suk serenade (550419?) was one of the two first CDs I ever purchased.

[71 dB]

Wow. Me too. In fact I believe that the CD with the Josef Suk serenade (550419?) was one of the two first CDs I ever purchased.

The Dvorak/Suk Serenades for Strings disc (8.550419) is very nice. In fact I don't think I have heard any work by Dvorak which I like as much as his Serenade for Strings. Other early Naxos discs in my collection were Sibelius' Symphonies 2 & 7 (8.550198), Piano Concertos by Chopin (8.550123) and 2nd Piano Concerto by Rachmaninov (8.550117).

[Leo K.]

Some time ago I really thought I was done with Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto, until I returned to the Horowitz/Toscanini, a studio recording from 1941.    It is absolutely stunning. It is not only a return to an old favorite work, but also an old recording that I have not heard in over twenty years.

[Octave]

I'm sorry if this has been much discussed, but a little forum-trawling didn't turn up much discussion of the mammoth Brilliant Classics Tchaikovsky Edition (60cd).  Virtually the only thing in it that I'm already keen to hear is the Ansermet ballets, but many of the other performances look interesting.  I ask because Amazon UK is selling the box for ~14 pounds.  I still don't want to impulse-buy the thing if it will become nothing but a doorstop.

[mc ukrneal]

I'm sorry if this has been much discussed, but a little forum-trawling didn't turn up much discussion of the mammoth Brilliant Classics Tchaikovsky Edition (60cd).  Virtually the only thing in it that I'm already keen to hear is the Ansermet ballets, but many of the other performances look interesting.  I ask because Amazon UK is selling the box for ~14 pounds.  I still don't want to impulse-buy the thing if it will become nothing but a doorstop.

Depends on what you already have, but you can't buy the Ansermet ballets separately for even this low amount. Do you have any of his piano music? Ponti is not my first choice, but would at least introduce you to it. I'm not a huge fan of the LSO/Rozhdestvensky 4-6, but the others might be ok. I imagine the Suites by Marriner are at least decent and these are works well worth hearing. I can't imagine Janis as anything less than acceptable and probably wonderful. Endellion I have and they are good. I believe most of those operas are older recordings, so sound may be an issue, but to be honest, they also look quite interesting (and should sound authentic based on the perfomers I see). FOr that price, if you like 5 discs, it's a win.

[jlaurson]

HA! That picture looks like Toscanini is corralling poor Horowitz: "Eh, whattabaouta 'dis 'I-ah-don't-ah-know-a' business. You WILL-a marry my daughter, frocio!"

[Cato]

Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony was on the radio today, but I only heard part of it.

I first experienced the work via a 1950's RCA mono recording with Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

That remains one of the greatest performances of the work I have ever heard, despite the monaural sound.



Everything about it was "more than perfect," if one might use such a phrase.

Seemingly, that performance is not available right now.  This one might be similar:

http://www.amazon.com/Koussevitsky-Conducts-Tchaikovsky-Symphonies-Performances/dp/B0029LL76O/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1367780560&sr=1-1&keywords=tchaikovsky+symphony+5+%2B+koussevitzky

[mc ukrneal]

Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony was on the radio today, but I only heard part of it.

I first experienced the work via a 1950's RCA mono recording with Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

That remains one of the greatest performances of the work I have ever heard, despite the monaural sound.



Everything about it was "more than perfect," if one might use such a phrase.

Seemingly, that performance is not available right now.  This one might be similar:

http://www.amazon.com/Koussevitsky-Conducts-Tchaikovsky-Symphonies-Performances/dp/B0029LL76O/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1367780560&sr=1-1&keywords=tchaikovsky+symphony+5+%2B+koussevitzky

I have been collecting Tchaikovsky 5's for my listening project (cd's only), and I have the second one you listed, but have not really given it a solid listen yet. But are you sure about the 1950 date? So far, I have come across three recordings with Koussevitsky conducting - 1942 (NYPO), 1943 (BSO, the one you posted the link for), and 1944 (BSO, from BSO Live, green cover from Sessions of November 22, 1944). I cannot see the picture you posted (just get the 'x'). The Koussevitzky site only lists two recordings with the BSO (1943 and 1944). Could 1950 be the copyright date for the LP, but not the recording date? Very curious...

[Karl Henning]

The reason I started this thread is this. Last night I helped out a friend of mine who owns a security guard company. Since I am 95% retired from the practice of criminal law in the inner-city courts of Boston, I did an overnight shift last night, and listened most of the night to my ipod with Tchaikovsky recordings on it as a separate playlist.

I had not had the opportunity before to listen to these works uninterrupted, in a leisurely way, with absolutely nothing to distract my attention from the music itself.

I had listened to it before, but last night I began to appreciate that composer more and more. Not because of any technical reason. I'm not experienced enough for that. Just the sound of his music, is what I liked, compared to many other composers.

Very nice, Dave! Often all it takes, is undivided attention.

[Karl Henning]

The recent re-airing of the canard that the Tchaikovsky symphonies are just pretty tunes set me both to revisiting the Opp. 64 & 74, and to listening to an orchestral Suite or two.  And this composer is impressed anew with how Tchaikovsky knew his business.  One could argue that that is the case with the Suites — that they are just pretty tunes (and let's point out straight up that there is nothing wrong with that; or, more specifically, that in fact, rather than any compositional weakness, it takes great talent to write fabulous melodies, and Tchaikovsky's melodic invention was an astonishingly deep gift).

It does not take a great ear to hear that a Tchaikovsky symphony works a bit differently to a Brahms symphony (e.g.); but it is IMO a vulgar intellect which pins that difference to a fallacious 'evaluation' that Tchaikovsky is therefore Brahms's inferior.  And if a listener cannot perceive a difference in the level of musical argument between a Tchaikovsky symphony and a Suite, he ought to refrain from offering pronouncements on the question.

Okay, mini-rant over.

[Karl Henning]

Hah! Well, one doesn't like what one doesn't like.

[Karl Henning]

And to your credit, you didn't come in saying, Tchaikovsky isn't a patch on Koechlin . . . .

[Karl Henning]

After reading over the discussion in the 5th Symphony thread, just this morning I again dusted off the work and began to listen to Ormandy leading the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.

Unfortunately I didn't last more than a few minutes.

I can readily attest to the greatness of the music, but must admit that it is not my cup of tea.

Even if from a samovar.

It's all right, we can still be mates.