Tchaikovsky

[Brahmsian]

For the ballets (containing some of the composer's greatest music) I would swear by Lanchbery and Previn. Thankfully, Warner released a set which has Previn's recordings of the full scores uncut (0190295974893) unlike in previous reissues. Likewise EMI (CFP) butchered Lanchbery's full recordings (other then "The Nutcracker") just to get them onto 2 CDs: just don't bother with those, try to find the Musical Heritage Society (US) issues which give you the whole kerjangers: "Swan Lake" is MHS532246L and "The Sleeping Beauty" is MHS532624Y. There is much more recent competition of course, but why bother? Slatkin is good, Jarvi is bizarre in places (the "Panorama" in "The Sleeping Beauty" is played like the finale of the bloody "William Tell" overture on steroids and there are some distinctly weird harp cadenzas), Pletnev is uninvolved and Gergiev is too mannered (as usual). Nope, Lanchbery and Previn rule the roost...

 

I absolutely love Bonynge in Swan Lake, Dorati in Sleeping Beauty and the very brisk Gergiev for The Nutcracker (albeit not everyone's cup of tea).

[Albion]

I absolutely love Bonynge in Swan Lake, Dorati in Sleeping Beauty and the very brisk Gergiev for The Nutcracker (albeit not everyone's cup of tea).

Beware of Dorati as he clearly nipped out to the loo during the Prologue and left the cellos to misread the bass for the tenor clef in the march (the result sounds like Charles Ives). Bonynge is good, and at least he makes sure that the orchestra reads the bloody score...

 

[Roasted Swan]

For the ballets (containing some of the composer's greatest music) I would swear by Lanchbery and Previn. Thankfully, Warner released a set which has Previn's recordings of the full scores uncut (0190295974893) unlike in previous reissues. Likewise EMI (CFP) butchered Lanchbery's full recordings (other then "The Nutcracker") just to get them onto 2 CDs: just don't bother with those, try to find the Musical Heritage Society (US) issues which give you the whole kerjangers: "Swan Lake" is MHS532246L and "The Sleeping Beauty" is MHS532624Y. There is much more recent competition of course, but why bother? Slatkin is good, Jarvi is bizarre in places (the "Panorama" in "The Sleeping Beauty" is played like the finale of the bloody "William Tell" overture on steroids and there are some distinctly weird harp cadenzas), Pletnev is uninvolved and Gergiev is too mannered (as usual). Nope, Lanchbery and Previn rule the roost...

 

I'd agree with all you say - BUT you've missed one of the very very best - Ermler with the Covent Garden Orchestra.  Wonderfully played, well recorded and with a great fusion of Russian passion and British poise.  I would always have Svetlanov in a collection too - although parts of the Nutcracker are eyewateringly harsh his Sleeping Beauty and Swanlake blaze.

[Albion]

I'd agree with all you say - BUT you've missed one of the very very best - Ermler with the Covent Garden Orchestra.  Wonderfully played, well recorded and with a great fusion of Russian passion and British poise.  I would always have Svetlanov in a collection too - although parts of the Nutcracker are eyewateringly harsh his Sleeping Beauty and Swanlake blaze.

I'll try the Ermler - thanks for the recommendation.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I absolutely love Bonynge in Swan Lake, Dorati in Sleeping Beauty and the very brisk Gergiev for The Nutcracker (albeit not everyone's cup of tea).

I tried the Gergiev a handful of years ago; alas, it was WAY too fast for me.  To my ears, it felt like all of the joy, beauty and magic had been sucked out of it.   

I'll have to revisit the Bonynge (I have a number of recordings of his--particularly operatic ones) which I've greatly enjoyed over the years. 

PD

[Brahmsian]

I tried the Gergiev a handful of years ago; alas, it was WAY too fast for me.  To my ears, it felt like all of the joy, beauty and magic had been sucked out of it.   

I'll have to revisit the Bonynge (I have a number of recordings of his--particularly operatic ones) which I've greatly enjoyed over the years. 

PD

Like I said, the Gergiev is hated or loved because of its briskness.  I'm so use to it now, I find everything else too slow.   

Bonynge is really great with ballet music, and I absolutely adore his Swan Lake.  If I didn't already have a great deal of Bonynge from a previous ballet music box set, I would have gotten the Bonynge box set released a few years ago.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Like I said, the Gergiev is hated or loved because of its briskness.  I'm so use to it now, I find everything else too slow. 

Bonynge is really great with ballet music, and I absolutely adore his Swan Lake.  If I didn't already have a great deal of Bonynge from a previous ballet music box set, I would have gotten the Bonynge box set released a few years ago.

I bought this set some years ago:



PD

[Brahmsian]

I bought this set some years ago:



PD

Yes, that is the one I have as well.  One of my favourite box sets ever!

[Florestan]

One of my favourite box sets ever!

One of mine as well.

[LKB]

When l need a complete Nutcracker, l have a sentimental attachment for Dorati with the RCO.

Swan Lake/Nutcracker/Sleeping Beauty suites, give me Rostropovich and the BPO.

With caveats ( mostly the annoying solo oboe ), the old Rozhdestvensky complete Swan Lake on Melodiya has always filled the bill.

I'm not so picky with Sleeping Beauty, Previn is fine.

[Roasted Swan]

I tried the Gergiev a handful of years ago; alas, it was WAY too fast for me.  To my ears, it felt like all of the joy, beauty and magic had been sucked out of it. 

I'll have to revisit the Bonynge (I have a number of recordings of his--particularly operatic ones) which I've greatly enjoyed over the years. 

PD

to the bolded text - agree 100%!!!  The Bonynge are very fine but to be fair there are a lot of very good versions around.  Just NOT Gergiev!

[Brahmsian]

to the bolded text - agree 100%!!!  The Bonynge are very fine but to be fair there are a lot of very good versions around.  Just NOT Gergiev!

Well..some of us enjoy the Gergiev.  And I am not the only one here who does. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Well..some of us enjoy the Gergiev.  And I am not the only one here who does. 

That's fair. 

PD

[Albion]

Why are Tchaikovsky's four lovely orchestral suites never played now? My favourite recordings are, perhaps surprisingly, those by Neville Marriner on Capriccio in Stuttgart since these need clarity rather than over-emoting. Certainly not typical Marriner repertoire, but he pulls it off and has a superb orchestra which he just lets do its business: great stuff...

[Karl Henning]

Why are Tchaikovsky's four lovely orchestral suites never played now? My favourite recordings are, perhaps surprisingly, those by Neville Marriner on Capriccio in Stuttgart since these need clarity rather than over-emoting. Certainly not typical Marriner repertoire, but he pulls it off and has a superb orchestra which he just lets do its business: great stuff...

I'll bet those are good.

[Albion]

I'll bet those are good.

If you can find them, you certainly won't be disappointed: the sonics are splendid and Marriner is non-interventionist, just letting things flow whilst making sure that all the colour is there (and they are gorgeously scored). Over the years I've had several sets of the Suites which I binned because they tried to treat the works in the manner of the symphonies and over-egged the cake, resulting in blowsy dross, soggy tempos and general exhaustion. Marriner's is the set to get...

[Florestan]

I have the Brilliant Classics twofer reissue.

[Harry]

If you can find them, you certainly won't be disappointed: the sonics are splendid and Marriner is non-interventionist, just letting things flow whilst making sure that all the colour is there (and they are gorgeously scored). Over the years I've had several sets of the Suites which I binned because they tried to treat the works in the manner of the symphonies and over-egged the cake, resulting in blowsy dross, soggy tempos and general exhaustion. Marriner's is the set to get...

I would politely disagree with that assessment. Marriner for me is the James Last of classical music, at least he is in the Suites by Thaikovsky.     Too fine tuned and polished to a gloss that blinds the ears for all the fine intricacies of the suites. If one really wants a sublime performances of these suites, Antal Dorati is the one!

[Roasted Swan]

I would politely disagree with that assessment. Marriner for me is the James Last of classical music, at least he is in the Suites by Thaikovsky.     Too fine tuned and polished to a gloss that blinds the ears for all the fine intricacies of the suites. If one really wants a sublime performances of these suites, Antal Dorati is the one!

Interestingly I was playing in a concert the other week and I was chatting to an old colleague about Neville Marriner - I never worked with him but my colleague had.  Apparantly(!) whatever piece he was conducting, regardless of the time signature he gave exactly the same 2 clicks in - in the right tempo for the piece but it was always click click go.  I made the point that the old Argo/Academy of St. Martins recordings still have an energy/dynamism/freshness that comes up very well regardless of changes to performing practice/Historical awareness etc etc.  His explanation of that was that Marriner surrounded himself with the very finest, most characterful players who were also willing to take musical risks.  So basically Marriner went "click click go" and off these brilliant players went.  He also said - something I cannot confirm! - that most of the AofSM recordings were famously/allegedly fuelled by Heineken and that many were made with the players at least half-drunk.

In fairness I think there are fine later recordings - Walton film music for example or the Barber of Seville - when it seemed to work for larger groups too.  I have both the Marriner/Tchaikovsky Suites and complete Tchaik Symphonies.  I agree with Albion that they sound very fine but I also agree with Harry that (for me) they lack that Slavic fire that Pyotr Il'yich really needs.  Probably not enough Heineken.

[Florestan]

most of the AofSM recordings were famously/allegedly fuelled by Heineken and that many were made with the players at least half-drunk.

A most HIP practice, for sure. 

I also agree with Harry that (for me) they lack that Slavic fire that Pyotr Il'yich really needs.  Probably not enough Heineken.

For true Russian fire they'd have needed vodka.