Not limited to any one kind of work. The pieces by Tchaikovsky you enjoy the most.
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! :D
Thank you. Some of those I haven't heard yet, but will "explore" them this afternoon.
I discovered that Piano Trio (Opus 50) a few months ago, it is amazing.
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 28, 2015, 10:14:17 AM
I discovered that Piano Trio (Opus 50) a few months ago, it is amazing.
A marvelous work, indeed! :)
I like the variations on the same theme ....but Variazone VII. Allegro Moderato is my favorite.
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.
Quote from: North Star on September 28, 2015, 11:09:59 AM
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).
Most know the Piano Concerto No. 1. Well No 2 and 3 are both wonderful as well. Top drawer stuff, yet rarely performed.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 28, 2015, 11:15:38 AM
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! :o
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'
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.
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 11:16:26 AM
I need to add those two to my discovery list. Still have not heard these! :o
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.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 28, 2015, 11:31:18 AM
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! :)
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 28, 2015, 11:31:18 AM
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. 8) (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
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 11:38:54 AM
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! :)
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. :blank:
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.
At the moment :) it's Manfred Symphony. But that will probably change next time I hear Symphonies 4-6 or Eugene Onegin. ;D
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".
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 11:38:54 AM
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.
Or play it twice.
Not my favourite composer but Violin Concerto and the Rococo Variations are among my favourites.
Kimi: "I don't like Tchaikovsky. He's always whining."
Me: "You don't seem to mind Mahler whining."
Kimi: "Mahler whines more beautifully."
Me: ... (speechless)
Quote from: springrite on September 28, 2015, 04:59:12 PMKimi: "I don't like Tchaikovsky. He's always whining."
Me: "You don't seem to mind Mahler whining."
Kimi: "Mahler whines more beautifully."
Me: ... (speechless)
:laugh:
(Nutcracker CD recording recommendations also)
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 28, 2015, 04:44:13 PM
(Just as an aside, does anyone have a recommendation as to a DVD of The Nutcracker/Swan Lake/Sleeping Beauty or any of them by themselves on DVD? Especially The Nutcracker.
I have no idea which ballet groups/versions are good, mediocre, outstanding. I've seen a few versions, but could use some recommendations. Thanks.)
For the Nutcracker, I would get the NYC Ballet version. It "stars" a very young Macaulay Culkin, but fortunately he doesn't get too much in the way, but more to the point it gives you some fine NYCB stars of its time like Darci Kistler, Wendy Whelan, and Damien Woetzel. And best of all you get George Balanchine's incomparable staging.
For CDs, I like Dorati, and in its more manic way, Gergiev.
Back at you later on the others.
Thank you----I see quite a few DVDs and CDs on Arkivmusic
For Swan Lake, if you can be a bit more adventurous, try the one with all male dancers (aka the "Billy Elliott" version) with incredible athleticism and a different type of beauty.
Well, to cut it down to six SEVEN* or so, his Violin Concerto, Piano Trio, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Manfred Symphony, Piano Concerto No.1 and the sixth symphony. But as the greatest Russian composer (watches as M.I.'s spleen bursts, and he falls into the fetal position to die a 'orrible, excruciating death), there is so, so much more. His incidental music, for instance, is always satisfying.
* Went mad there for a second. How could I leave off one of three greatest violin concertos (along with Beethoven's and Brahms')?? Mondays - they kill me.
I feel a M.I. storm brewing. :)
He'll just have to double his tranquilizer meds. :D
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 28, 2015, 05:29:37 PM
I feel a M.I. storm brewing. :)
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 28, 2015, 05:29:37 PM
His incidental music, for instance, is always satisfying.
Nah! M.I. will just laugh and say "All of Tchaikovsky's music are no more than incidental."
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 09:58:53 AM
Oh boy, I LOVE Tchaikovsky! :)
.
.
Piano Trio
Could you imagine if Tchaikovsky had been a student of Brahms and had brought this work to him for his critique? ;) "
Ahem, well,
Pete, you've got some wonderful melodies here, and your development is not too bad, but let's see what we can do about tidying this up a wee bit technically, would that be okay with you?"
Quote from: Scion7 on September 28, 2015, 05:26:07 PM
Well, to cut it down to six SEVEN* or so, his Violin Concerto, Piano Trio, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Manfred Symphony, Piano Concerto No.1 and the sixth symphony. But as the greatest Russian composer (watches as M.I.'s spleen bursts, and he falls into the fetal position to die a 'orrible, excruciating death), there is so, so much more. His incidental music, for instance, is always satisfying.
* Went mad there for a second. How could I leave off one of three greatest violin concertos (along with Beethoven's and Brahms')?? Mondays - they kill me.
I didn't know Shostakovich composed The Nutcracker.
Quote from: springrite on September 28, 2015, 05:24:06 PM
For Swan Lake, if you can be a bit more adventurous, try the one with all male dancers (aka the "Billy Elliott" version) with incredible athleticism and a different type of beauty.
Meaning the Matthew Bourne production, which should indeed be seen at least once.
^ re: Nutcracker - what in the world are you talking about??
And springrite, you've quoted my post under USMC's name above - he might take offense to that, and possibly flashback to Parris Island mode, and there could be trouble.
Quote from: Scion7 on September 28, 2015, 05:46:32 PM
^ re: Nutcracker - what in the world are you talking about??
You did say "the greatest Russian composer". 😈
I think PITch. wrote a large number of excellent works, a couple of great symphonies and concertos, and is overall very listenable. But I rarely " connect" with his music in the way I do with later Russians, like Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and above all Shostakovich.
PITch. also has the handicap of me having heard his symphonies only in performances that could induce diabetic comas, so sugary were they. Dudamel's Fifth was the first performance of that work that made me want to hear it again.
(Still laughing at "Parris Island mode") :) :)
My faves, in no particular order:
Serenade for Strings (grew up with the Ormandy/Philadelphia version)
Eugene Onegin (the Met Opera DVD with Gergiev, Hvorostovsky and Fleming - in Robert Carsen's spare, light-filled production - is fantastic)
All six symphonies - yes, even the first three (of many fine recordings, Jansons/Oslo is a pretty great set).
--Bruce
This bantering reminded me of a 2008 bantering thread I started as dave b, before I lost all my username log in info and had to start over recently, with a different username:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,6833.msg160380.html#msg160380
This is what can happen when you ask a question here that you yourself don't know the answer to :)
His 6th Symphony is my favorite, of his symphonies, that is. Piano Trio is another favorite, along with Serenade for Strings.
Still looking at those DVDs and CDs of Nutcracker and the other 2 ballets---quite a few performances.
Quote from: Scion7 on September 28, 2015, 05:26:07 PM
Well, to cut it down to six SEVEN* or so, his Violin Concerto, Piano Trio, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Manfred Symphony, Piano Concerto No.1 and the sixth symphony. But as the greatest Russian composer (watches as M.I.'s spleen bursts, and he falls into the fetal position to die a 'orrible, excruciating death), there is so, so much more. His incidental music, for instance, is always satisfying.
* Went mad there for a second. How could I leave off one of three greatest violin concertos (along with Beethoven's and Brahms')?? Mondays - they kill me.
Like Jeffrey, I prefer the later Russians to Tchaikovsky. I suppose a lot of it has to do with the harsher political environment that say Prokofiev and Shostakovich (and later Schnittke) had to compose under that helped 'shape' their music. I really can't put my finger on it but I think these particular Russians tapped into an emotional world that other composers still writing in a Romantic style couldn't hardly relate to or even fathom. This hostile environment really gave birth to so many composers I admire and, of course, I'm talking about the branches from the USSR as well like Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia. etc. where the Soviet takeover really forced many composers to create some of their most mind-numblingly powerful work in secret. It seems this kind of pressure caused many of them to be even more individualistic. Of course, some composers like Mosolov or Popov, etc. weren't so lucky. Anyway...what were we talking about again? ;)
I suppose I should say which ones I think are great.
The last three symphonies*, the violin concerto, Souvenir de Florence, the Mozartiana suite, Romeo and Juliet, Francesca da Rimini.
*in non sugary performances. My overall favorite recording is Solti's Fourth.
Good choices, from what little I know (so far).
Piano Trio
Serenade for Strings
Symphonies Nos. 1 and 6
Manfred
Orchestral Suites
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 28, 2015, 06:24:18 PM
the Mozartiana suite,
[referring to the symphonies] *in non sugary performances. My overall favorite recording is Solti's Fourth.
I seriously doubt that non-sugary performances of the Mozartiana are possible...
I think there are great things in the 4th and 5th symphonies (and also the violin concerto) but they also have passages or whole movements I can hardly take anymore. A few years ago I thought I had overcome the repulsion some of Tchaikovsky's music had acquired for me but I found that I still could not stand to listen to e.g. the 4th or 5th symphony twice in an afternoon for comparison purposes. The inner movements of the 5th can be sickly sweet at times, the finale spoils the effect by turning to the major mode right in the beginning which makes the "wild hunt" of the remaining movement rather moot.
In the 4th I quite like the first 3 movements (despite the annoyingly pretentious "fatum" fanfare), the pizzicato scherzo is really brilliant fun, but the finale is a shallow noisy mess in my ears.
So if I had to pick favorites, I'd probably go with
6th symphony
Souvenir de Florence
String serenade
b flat minor piano concerto
1st symphony
Francesca da Rimini (probably my favorite of the shorter orchestral pieces but I am not sure I ever heard "the Voyvoda" or "Hamlet")
(Would have to re-listen to the ballets to pick a favorite, so I leave them out.)
Quote from: USMC1960s on September 28, 2015, 06:13:13 PM
Still looking at those DVDs and CDs of Nutcracker and the other 2 ballets---quite a few performances.
If you missed it here is a thread on Tchaikovsky ballets that you can check out, there are even few posts on DVDs though this is not very dance oriented forum. Here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,3457.msg645844.html#msg645844
Serenade for Strings
Suite No. 3
Quartet No. 1 (also possibly No. 2)
The Seasons
Piano Concerto No. 2 isn't on the same level, but I wanted to mention it anyway. I used to like the 6th Symphony but am not sure I still do.
Drasko, thanks. This site is so massive that even though I've been on it 7 years, its resources are virtually unlimited. Will check out that thread, thanks again.
A Top 10, with favorite versions
Symphony No.1 "Winter Dreams" (Jurowski/LPO)
Symphony No.4 (Szell/LSO)
Symphony No.5 (Szell/Cleveland)
Symphony No.6 (Bernstein/New York DG)
Violin Concerto (Belkin/Ashkenazy/New Phil)
Piano Concerto No.2 (Cherkassky/Kraus/Berlin Phil*)
Swan Lake (Svetlanov/State Symphony)
The Nutcracker (Dorati/Concertgebouw)
Marche Slave (Ormandy/Philadelphia)
The Tempest (Abbado/Chicago)
*This is, unfortunately, the Siloti (truncated) edition but the passion of the playing, and the orchestral clarity of this 60-year-old recording, makes it my favorite despite the loss of music in the slow movement.
Sarge
Quote from: Jo498 on September 28, 2015, 11:32:25 PM
Souvenir de Florence
Thanks for mentioning this ahead of me 8)
Quote from: Mirror Image on September 28, 2015, 06:16:25 PM
. . . Anyway...what were we talking about again? ;)
Tchaikovsky
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 09:58:53 AM
String Sextet - Souvenir de Florence
And of course:
Ray in reply #1 !!! 0:)
In terms of which version of the ballets on cd, I'd go with:
Nutcracker: Mackerras or Ashkenazy
Swan Lake: Dutoit
Sleeping Beuaty: Gergiev or Rozhdestvensky
Thank you---my revised favorites list:
Piano Trio, Op. 50
Serenade for Strings
the 3 ballets
Souvenir de Florence
I wanted to mention another lovely Tchaikovsky work.
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 41
Quote from: Mirror Image on September 28, 2015, 06:16:25 PM
Anyway...what were we talking about again? ;)
We were just chatting among ourselves while waiting for you to chime in. ;D
I don't really like listening to Tchaikovsky, here is a list of the composers I prefer . . . .
0:)
Quote from: karlhenning on September 29, 2015, 06:31:49 AM
I don't really like listening to Tchaikovsky, here is a list of the composers I prefer . . . .
0:)
Hey! Jeffrey started it! ;) ;D Oh, and I did mention my favorite Tchaikovsky work:
Symphony No. 6. :)
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 28, 2015, 05:57:16 PM
You did say "the greatest Russian composer". 😈
I think PITch. wrote a large number of excellent works, a couple of great symphonies and concertos, and is overall very listenable. But I rarely " connect" with his music in the way I do with later Russians, like Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and above all Shostakovich.
PITch. also has the handicap of me having heard his symphonies only in performances that could induce diabetic comas, so sugary were they. Dudamel's Fifth was the first performance of that work that made me want to hear it again.
Ah-
HAH!
Quote from: springrite on September 29, 2015, 06:00:27 AM
We were just chatting among ourselves while waiting for you to chime in. ;D
:P
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 29, 2015, 04:56:46 AM
In terms of which version of the ballets on cd, I'd go with:
Nutcracker: Mackerras or Ashkenazy
Swan Lake: Dutoit
Sleeping Beuaty: Gergiev or Rozhdestvensky
Those look good,
Neal. :)
My CD recommendations:
Nutcracker - Gergiev/Kirov
Swan Lake - Bonynge/National Philharmonic
Sleeping Beauty - Dorati/Royal Concertgebouw
Quote from: karlhenning on September 29, 2015, 06:42:17 AM
Ah-HAH!
But I did go on to post this.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 28, 2015, 06:24:18 PM
I suppose I should say which ones I think are great.
The last three symphonies*, the violin concerto, Souvenir de Florence, the Mozartiana suite, Romeo and Juliet, Francesca da Rimini.
*in non sugary performances. My overall favorite recording is Solti's Fourth.
Symphony 6 'Pathetique'
Serenade for Strings
Francesca da Rimini
Romeo and Juliet
Symphony 1 'Winter Daydreams'
Hamlet
Symphony 4
Symphony 5
Where did I see these titles (well, all except one) before? ;)
I am the only one who has Symphony No. 3 "Polish" in their list of favorite Tchaikovsky pieces. ;D I am not shocked. :)
Well, I do like it . . . so much Tchaikovsky to like . . . .
0:)
My favourites:
Symphony No. 3
Manfred (I would actually put all seven of the symphonies here)
Francesca da Rimini
Romeo and Juliet
The Tempest
Swan Lake
Piano Concerto No. 1
Concert Fantasy
Quote from: Maestro267 on October 07, 2015, 01:55:36 AM
My favourites:
Symphony No. 3
Manfred (I would actually put all seven of the symphonies here)
Francesca da Rimini
Romeo and Juliet
The Tempest
Swan Lake
Piano Concerto No. 1
Concert Fantasy
Yay! Another fan of the No. 3 as one of their favourites to join me! ;D
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 07, 2015, 04:51:48 AM
Yay! Another fan of the No. 3 as one of their favourites to join me! ;D
And me! It is a real roller coaster of a symphony: melancholy and joyful, serious to the point of bombast, and yet at times subtle.
The first three symphonies are unjustly ignored, as the cliche' goes.
Quote from: Cato on October 07, 2015, 05:31:27 AM
And me! It is a real roller coaster of a symphony: melancholy and joyful, serious to the point of bombast, and yet at times subtle.
The first three symphonies are unjustly ignored, as the cliche' goes.
I particular adore the first and final movements! :)
My favorite PC1 performance is Lev Oborin´s with the USSR State Radio SO conducted by Alexander Gauk. If you can stand the 1948 Soviet sound, you´re in for a real treat.
https://www.youtube.com/v/Yd7oSivpgx8
Quote from: Cato on October 07, 2015, 05:31:27 AM
The first three symphonies are unjustly ignored, as the cliche' goes.
Yes. Agree with this.
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 07, 2015, 05:49:39 AM
I particular adore the first and final movements! :)
I am very partial toward the slow movement, but it is difficult to choose!
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on October 07, 2015, 08:13:32 AM
Yes. Agree with this.
The
First Symphony especially, and again I am partial to the slow movement in that one also, although the opening movement is so evocative of the "Winter Dreams" title.
Piano Trio
String Sextet Op. 70
String Quartet No. 3
Symphonies 4,5,6
The Ballets
Piano Concerto No. 1, 2
Lots of cliché choices coming.
All 3 ballets
VC
PC 1
Souvenir d'un lieu cher
1812
Romeo and Juliet
Cherevichki
The Queen of Spades
String quartets 1 and 3
Souvenir de Florence
6 romances op. 57
Symphonies 1, 3 and 6.
Quote from: Alberich on October 28, 2015, 06:24:40 AM
Lots of cliché choices coming.
Well, to borrow a phrase from
Jeeves: I believe that
Tchaikovsky has given satisfaction, sir.
Surely, Tchaikovsky is an unbeatable favorite. Words that some people use for describing him such as 'sugary' or 'saccharine' don't have importance on me. Tchaikovsky composed some of the most indescribable-beautiful music, with an important dose of passion.
All the symphonies + Manfred
Piano trio
Souvenir de Florence
Francesca da Rimini
The Voyevode
Romeo and Juliet
The Tempest
Swan Lake
Violin concerto
The 3 piano concertos
Grand Piano sonata, op. 37
Orchestral suites 1, 3 and 4
Did I mention the String Quartet no.1? Or The Seasons? Or the Suite no.3? Those are all really great music with no reservations. Also the string sextet and string serenade. And probably all of Onegin & Queen of Spades. (Taruskin is an uneven musicologist but the chapters on Tchaikovsky in Defining Russia Musically very much helped me get into his operas.)
An old thread, but since l never saw it before tonight and since Tchaikovsky jump-started my interest in serious music, why not!
Favorite symphony: No. 4. With an extended oboe solo ( probably the first one l ever paid attention to, which nudged me towards learning the instrument ) opening the second movement, an unusual scherzo and a roof-raising finale to balance the gravitas of Movement 1, l can honestly say that I've enjoyed every rendering of this work that I've heard.
Favorite ballet: Nutcracker. Makes me a little kid again.
Favorite concerto: Violin. First movement, a generous helping of simple good feeling. Second movement, an old man's tale. Finale, off to the races ( interrupted by reaction shots of certain characters in the crowd ).
Favorite chamber work: Piano Trio in A minor. Full-blooded passion, framed with the elegant nobility found in all of Tchaikovsky's best work.
That'll do,
LKB
Quote from: LKB on December 09, 2017, 09:50:43 PM
An old thread, but since l never saw it before tonight and since Tchaikovsky jump-started my interest in serious music, why not!
Favorite chamber work: Piano Trio in A minor. Full-blooded passion, framed with the elegant nobility found in all of Tchaikovsky's best work.
That'll do,
LKB
One of the best piano trios ever.
- Piano Concerto No 1
- Piano Concerto No 2
- Violin Concerto
- Symphony No 6
- All Ballet Suites
- The Seasons
- Variations on a Rococo Theme
- Serenade Melancolique Op 26
- Serenade for Strings Op 48
- Andante Cantabile for Cello Op 11