Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Time was that to make Tchaikovsky a whipping boy for the worst excesses of romanticism, an emblem of "hysteria" and bathetic self-indulgence, became critically fashionable. But with this composer, the court of popular opinion has proved more far-sighted than that of the critics. The power of his finest scores--in the hands of a truly sympathetic interpreter--remains unforgettably gripping, and nowhere more so than in the symphony he premiered just days before his controversial death. Valery Gergiev taps into the theatrical sensibility evidenced by his dynamic Kirov Opera recordings of Mazeppa, Iolanta, and Pique Dame to shape a psychological drama of devastating intensity in his account of the nihilistic Pathétique. He fires up the Kirov orchestra to a fevered pitch of inspiration, summoning a great luxuriance of sound and coloristic detail, from brass chorales as rousing as those on Judgment Day and imaginatively sprung wind solos to the composer's trademark roulades, dispatched with thrilling ensemble. The use of vacuum tube equipment for the recording results in a warm sonic focus, with particularly full-bodied bass, giving the score's blackest moments a vividly frightening presence. Gergiev stresses Tchaikovsky's most provocative shocks (you can hear his own gasps on occasion if you listen closely enough), as in the explosive rupturing of the pppppp in the middle of the first movement. But in addition to dramatic savvy, he grasps Tchaikovsky's radical new concept of the symphonic journey, with its reversal of Beethoven's affirmative model through the Adagio finale's valedictory plunge back into silence (Mahler would follow a similar pattern in his Ninth). Also included is a bracing, epic, and thoroughly convincing performance of the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture showing the Kirov band in terrific ensemble. Stereotypes of Tchaikovsky's music as expressing the "Russian soul" notwithstanding, Gergiev's spectacular, impassioned interpretations give us a composer that is universally moving. --Thomas May

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm, Music, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Valery Gergiev, St.Petersburg Kirov Orchestra, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral, Romantic Overture for Orchestra, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic

Average customer rating:

Competent, well played, but a disappointment from this conductor

OVERRATED GERGIEV

Perfect.

Don't worry, the sound effects only happen between the movements

In just one word: Astounding!

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring / Alexander Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra

Tchaikovsky-1812 Overture (White Nights - Romantic Russian Showpieces)

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Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4,5 & 6

Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies

ASIN: B000031X7X
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

Symphony No.6 In B Minor, Op. 74 'Pathetique': Adagio - Allegro Non Troppo
Symphony No.6 In B Minor, Op. 74 'Pathetique': Allegro Con Grazia
Symphony No.6 In B Minor, Op. 74 'Pathetique': Allegro Molto Vivace
Symphony No.6 In B Minor, Op. 74 'Pathetique': Finale. Adagio Lamentoso - Andante
Symphony No.6 In B Minor, Op. 74 'Pathetique': Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture After Shakespeare

Amazon.com

Time was that to make Tchaikovsky a whipping boy for the worst excesses of romanticism, an emblem of "hysteria" and bathetic self-indulgence, became critically fashionable. But with this composer, the court of popular opinion has proved more far-sighted than that of the critics. The power of his finest scores--in the hands of a truly sympathetic interpreter--remains unforgettably gripping, and nowhere more so than in the symphony he premiered just days before his controversial death. Valery Gergiev taps into the theatrical sensibility evidenced by his dynamic Kirov Opera recordings of Mazeppa, Iolanta, and Pique Dame to shape a psychological drama of devastating intensity in his account of the nihilistic Pathétique. He fires up the Kirov orchestra to a fevered pitch of inspiration, summoning a great luxuriance of sound and coloristic detail, from brass chorales as rousing as those on Judgment Day and imaginatively sprung wind solos to the composer's trademark roulades, dispatched with thrilling ensemble. The use of vacuum tube equipment for the recording results in a warm sonic focus, with particularly full-bodied bass, giving the score's blackest moments a vividly frightening presence. Gergiev stresses Tchaikovsky's most provocative shocks (you can hear his own gasps on occasion if you listen closely enough), as in the explosive rupturing of the pppppp in the middle of the first movement. But in addition to dramatic savvy, he grasps Tchaikovsky's radical new concept of the symphonic journey, with its reversal of Beethoven's affirmative model through the Adagio finale's valedictory plunge back into silence (Mahler would follow a similar pattern in his Ninth). Also included is a bracing, epic, and thoroughly convincing performance of the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture showing the Kirov band in terrific ensemble. Stereotypes of Tchaikovsky's music as expressing the "Russian soul" notwithstanding, Gergiev's spectacular, impassioned interpretations give us a composer that is universally moving. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Competent, well played, but a disappointment from this conductor.......2007-02-22

Expectations are high for an great conductor, and since Gergiev aspires to be one, we can't judge this live Pathetique from Finland (1995) by any standard but the highest. Actually, there's no need to go that far, because this stylish, well-played performance is almost tepid at points, and the overall feeling is one of shapeliness and decorm. Why Gergiev thought that Tchaikovsky's intense outbursts needed dampening down is byeond me. Even the waltz rhythm of the second movement is underplayed, almost somber.

The third movement Scherzo, which begins quite fast, has surges of energy that bring a thrill, but Gergiev would go on, in live performances with the Vienna Phil., to turn his Pathetiques into highly charged events. Here we get a hint of that in the climax of the last movement, as well as the Scherzo, but there are other recordings (from Furtwangler, Toscanini, Mravinsky, Temirkanov, Reiner, and Giulini) that burn much brighter and bring deeper cathartic release. Mark this down as one of Gergiev's rare misses in Russian repertoire. The filler, Romeo and Juliet, is just as subdued.

OVERRATED GERGIEV.......2007-02-08

Once again Gergiev proves he is a lousy Tchaikovsky interpreter.The kirov players play well as they have done in years past with Tchaikovskys music but thats the only thing going for this version,there is plenty more out there that are far better namely Eugene Ormandy (columbia 1960)philidelphia,Charles Dutiot (decca)montreal symphony,and some others.karajan,and jansons are good also.

Perfect........2006-09-09

This music is presented in a way that allows your imagination to run wild in essence of the Disney classics such as Fantasia and Sleeping Beauty. And I mean that with all respect, Maestro Gergiev.

This is the recording that I judge all 6th's off of. The incredible depths of depression found in the outer movements are intense to the utmost degree! The more profound tempo that he takes (which is not often found) makes the climactical moments all the more heightened. And the climax of the march is practically orgasmic!!!

A wonderful recording. The passion, imagination, and drive that is demanded by Tchaik!

Don't worry, the sound effects only happen between the movements.......2006-06-22

In preparing this review, I puzzled over the differences between this and Valery Gergiev's Pathetique with the Vienna Philharmonic, also a fine CD. They are clearly different (most notably with the inclusion here of the excerpt from "Romeo and Juliet"), and there are certainly reasons for preferring one over the other. Sifting through the variances has built considerably on my (admittedly meager and highly Osettian flavored) classical education.

The tones are much warmer on this recording of the maestro's own band--The Mariinsky--(Gergiev, ever the salesman, struck early on the idea of keeping the Soviet label "Kirov" for Western audiences; there are Russian fans who have never heard that name)and for good reason. These are musicians he hand picked even at that stage in the former USSR, and forged into the force they became. The tempi are slower than with the Vienna, in many ways bringing out the pathos of the first and last movement in a more heartbreaking way. This recording is more intimate, and to me seems more a reflection of Tchaikovsky's certain anguish as he grappled with the themes of life and death in this symphony (and otherwise, as he died three weeks after it was written, perhaps by his own hand). On the other hand, it seems less "crisp" and defined in places.

And then there's that picture. Yesssss indeedy. And the sound effects (I like to play this in my Discman and pretend Valery Abisalovitch is breathing in my ear....)

In just one word: Astounding!.......2006-02-28

This must be one of my favorite recordings of any symphony ever. I bought it once just because I wanted to acquaint myself more intimately with this magnificent work and because I did not already own any recording of Tchaikovsky's (to me) most beautiful symphony on CD. Also, the fact that I thought (and of course still think) highly of Valery Gergiev as a person and as an artist, made me buy this recording. It is one of my treasured recordings now, as I value this recording even higher than the famous Jansons/Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra recording.
The playing of the Kirov Orchestra under this conductor is (to my quite amateur ears) so intense and so virtuosic - just that bitter-sweet, soft clarinet in the Adagio, litteraly rising from the depths of nothingness! - as to defy belief sometimes, Valery Gergiev really pushing the orchestra to the edge of their capacities (and thereby the music to the extremes of its emotional depths)! There is a kind of what I could only describe as 'tension' and 'astutely intelligent attention' in the playing of this particular orchestra here that - to my ears - really lifts the music to a higher plain of excellence. Maybe what I love the most, is that there is no added 'gloss' or 'shine' to this performance, no 'polishing' the orchestral sound to try to make it extra 'beautiful' (to gloss over the raw emotions), as it were, laying bare all of the raw nerves (could this be called typically 'Russian' or 'Slavic'?).
Anyhow, Valery Gergiev's muse must indeed have been one of fire, lifting him and the artists under his guidance to the highest heaven of invention and art! The same goes for the astounding 'Romeo and Juliet', whose tragically doomed love is as bitter-sweetly and as intensely evoked as can be ...
As of course with all great art, one simply has to hear and feel - to fully experience - for oneself, to be able to believe, but here we can experience true genius ...

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No1, Op23; Symphony No6, Op74

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Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No1, Op23; Symphony No6, Op74

Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Romeo And Juliet: Fantasy-Ov After Shakespeare - New Philharmonia Orch London/Lawrence Siegel
Con No. 1 In b flat Op. 23: Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso/Allegro Con Brio - Slovac Nat Phil Orch/Bystrik Rezucha
Nutcracker Ste Op. 20A: Flower Waltz - London Festival Orch/Alberto Lizzio
Song Without Words: Op. 2 No. 3 - Michael Ponti
Ser In C Op. 48: Waltz: Moderato - Cham Orch Conrad Con Der Goltz/Condrad Von Der Goltz
Sym No. 6 In b Op. 74 'Pathetique': Finale: Adagio Lamentoso - Slovak Phil Orch/Bystrik Rezucha

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Piano Concerto No1, Op23

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Piano Concerto No1, Op23

Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Romeo And Juliet: Fant - Ov - The New Philharmonia Orch London/Lawrence Siegel
Nutcracker Ste Op.71A: Ov Miniature
Nutcracker Ste Op.71A: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
Nutcracker Ste Op.71A: Russian Dance
Nutcracker Ste Op.71A: Flower Waltz
Pno Con No.1 in b flat Op23: Allegro Con Fuoco - Peter Toperezer
Sym No6 in b Op.74 'Pathetique': Adagio - Allegro Non Troppo - RSO Ljubljana/Marko Munih
Swanlake, Ballet Ste Op.20A: Intro
Swanlake, Ballet Ste Op.20A: Dance Of The Swan
Swanlake, Ballet Ste Op.20A: Spanish Dance

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

Manufacturer: Arkadia: the 78's
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008EOXY
Release Date: 1995-03-06

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

Manufacturer: Royal Philharmonic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003VP2
Release Date: 1993-10-19

Average customer rating:

Robust and vibrant
magnificent performences of two masterpieces

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Symphony 4 / Francesca

ASIN: B00000E4MZ
Release Date: 1992-05-12

Tracks:

Sym No. 6 'Pathetique': I. Adagio-Allegro non troppo
Sym No. 6 'Pathetique': II. Allegro con grazia
Sym No. 6 'Pathetique': III. Allegro molto vivace
Sym No. 6 'Pathetique': IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso
Romeo And Juliet

Customer Reviews:

Robust and vibrant.......2007-04-17

I sent away for Bernstein's DG version of Tchaik's #6 because I wanted something sad and soulful. By mistake, I was sent Dutiot's version (a conductor to which I am not familiar. To my surprise, it is quite good: very robust and vibrant; with a lot of contrasts of mood; taking the sad Russian anguish from fits of torment to quiet despair.

Comparison: Ormandy/Philadelphia Orch. (older recording)

magnificent performences of two masterpieces.......2005-07-09

this is one of the best pathetiqes on disc its one of the most underrated and romeo and juliet is very well played also the tragity the pathos all conveyed very well.

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No6, Op74; Romeo & Juliet in Bm

Manufacturer: RPO
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000024JUQ

Track Listings: