Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.3, Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello & Orchestra [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Perhaps his Happiest Symphony, Tchaikovksy's Third is Here Coupled with the Sublime Rococo Variations plus the Pezzo Capriccioso, Both Those Works Scored for Cello and Orchestra.

Tracks:

Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 'Winter Dreams': Dreams Of A Winter Journey
Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 'Winter Dreams': Land Of Desolation, Land Of Mists
Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 'Winter Dreams': Scherzo, Allegro scherzando giocoso
Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 'Winter Dreams': Finale. Andante lugubre - Allegro moderato - Allegro maestoso
Eugene Onegin: Polonaise
Eugene Onegin: Waltz
Slavic March, Op.31: Moderato in modo di marcia funebre

Tracks:

Symphony No.2 In C Minor, Op.17 'Little Russian': Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
Symphony No.2 In C Minor, Op.17 'Little Russian': Andantino marziale, quasi moderato
Symphony No.2 In C Minor, Op.17 'Little Russian': Scherzo, Allegro molto vivace - Trio. L'istesso tempo
Symphony No.2 In C Minor, Op.17 'Little Russian': Moderato assai - Allegro vivo - Presto
Ouverture solennelle '1812', Op.49: Largo - Andante - Allegro giusto - Largo - Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No.3 in D major, Op.29 'Polish': Introduzione e Allegro. Moderato assai (Tempo di marcia funebre)
Symphony No.3 in D major, Op.29 'Polish': Alla tadesca. Allegro moderato e semplice
Symphony No.3 in D major, Op.29 'Polish': Andante elegiaco
Symphony No.3 in D major, Op.29 'Polish': Scherzo. Allegro vivo
Symphony No.3 in D major, Op.29 'Polish': Finale. Allegro con fuoco (Tempo di Polacca)
Capriccio italien, Op.45: Andante un poco rubato - Allegro moderato - Andante - Allegro moderato - Presto - Piu presto - Prestissimo

Tracks:

Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36: Andante sostenuto - Moderato con anima - Moderato assai, quasi Andante - Allegro vivo
Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36: Andantino in modo di canzone
Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36: Scherzo. Pizzacato ostinato - Allegro
Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36: Finale. Allegro con fuoco
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Moderato quasi Andante - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Tema. Moderato semplice - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione I. Tempo del Tema - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione II. Tempo del Tema - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione III. Andante sostenuto - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione IV. Andante grazioso - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione V. Allegro moderato - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione VI. Andante - Mstislav Rostropovich
Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello And Orchestra, Op.33: Variazione VII. Allegro vivo - Mstislav Rostropovich

Tracks:

Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64: Andante - Allegro con anima
Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64: Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza - Moderato con anima - Andante mosso - Allegro non troppo - Tempo I
Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64: Valse. Allegro moderato
Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64: Finale. Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace - Molto vivace - Moderato assai e molto maestoso - Presto
Serenade for String Orchestra in C major, Op.48: Pezzo in forma di sonatina
Serenade for String Orchestra in C major, Op.48: Valse. Moderato. Tempo di Valse
Serenade for String Orchestra in C major, Op.48: Elegia. Larghetto elegiaco
Serenade for String Orchestra in C major, Op.48: Finale. Tema russo. Andante - Allegro con spirito

Tracks:

Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 'Pathetique': Adagio - Allegro non troppo - Andante - Moderato mosso - Andante - Moderato assai - Allegro vivo - Andante come prima - Andante mosso
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
Romeo And Juliet: Andante non tanto quasi Moderato - Allegro - Molto meno mosso - Allegro giusto - Moderato assai

Tracks:

The Sleeping Beauty, Op.66a (Suite): 1. Introduction. La Fee des lilas. Allegro vivo - Andantino - Andante sostenuto
The Sleeping Beauty, Op.66a (Suite): 2. Adagio. Pas d'action. Andante - Adagio maestoso - Tempo I - Molto sostenuto, quasi piu Andante - Tempo I
The Sleeping Beauty, Op.66a (Suite): 3. Pas de caractere. Le Chat botte et la Chatte blanche. Allegro moderatoK
The Sleeping Beauty, Op.66a (Suite): 4. Panorama. Andantino
The Sleeping Beauty, Op.66a (Suite): 5. Valse Allegro (Tempo di Valse)
Swan Lake (Suite): 1. Scene. Moderato - Michel Schwalbe
Swan Lake (Suite): 2. Valse. Tempo di Valse - Michel Schwalbe
Swan Lake (Suite): 3. Danse des cygnes. Allegro moderato - Michel Schwalbe
Swan Lake (Suite): 4. Scene. Andante - Andante non troppo - Tempo I - Michel Schwalbe
Swan Lake (Suite): 5. Danse hongroise (Czardas). Moderato assai - Allegro moderato - Vivace - Michel Schwalbe
Swan Lake (Suite): 6. Scene finale. Allegro agitato - Alla breve. Moderato e maestoso - Michel Schwalbe
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 1. Ouverture miniature. Allegro giusto
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 2a. Danses caracteristiques: Marche. Temppo di marcia viva
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 2b. Danses caracteristiques: Danse de la Fee Dragee. Andante non troppo
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 2c. Danses caracteristiques: Danse russe Trepak. Tempo di Trepak, molto vivace
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 2d. Danses caracteristiques: Danse arabe. Allegretto
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 2e. Danses caracteristiques: Danse chinoise. Allegro moderato
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 2f. Danses caracteristiques: Danse des mirlitons. Moderato assai
The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Suite): 3. Valse des fleurs. Tempo di Valse

Tracks:

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito - Sviatoslav Richter
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23: Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I - Sviatoslav Richter
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23: Allegro con fuoco - Sviatoslav Richter
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op.35: Allegro moderato - Christian Ferras
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op.35: Canzonetta. Andante - attacca: - Christian Ferras
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op.35: Finale. Allegro vivacissimo - Christian Ferras

Customer Reviews:

Karajan is below par, with a few exceptions.......2007-05-12

It's a mystery why Karajan, a masterful conductor in so many areas, should miss the mark with an easy composer like Tchaikovsky. Mr. Leach spots the weakest recordings, such as Ferra' Violin Concerto, which is in overlit, thin sound to boot. Richter and Rostropovich give great performances, and the last three symphonies are certainly good by any standard, although the 60s analog sound definitely shows its age. Almost the only thing I would call outstanding are the ballet suites, at which Karajan was superb in both his DG and EMI sets.

Where I part with Mr. Leach is in praising the Romeo and Juliet, a mushy reading that brings out Karajan's worst tendency--he polishes every phrase to a fault and drains the work of all passion and drama. The first three symphonies are quite dull and unconvincing, but I am not so sure that the EMI cycle is any better, and it, too, suffers form problematic sound. Like Mr. Leach, I like the Fifth Sym. best form that set. So all in all, I have done little more than agree with someone else's review, but perhaps seconding the motion will be of help to some readers.

Karajan (not) at his finest.......2004-04-22

One of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, Karajan's recordings are some of the best pieces in the entire Deutsche Grammophon repertoire. This collection of Karajan Conducts Tchaikovsky is an excellent bargain - eight CDs for approximately $60 - and serves as an excellent sampling of Karajan's interpretation of Tchaikovsky's work. Unfortunately, this collection does not necessarily show Karajan at his finest.

While much of the collection is top-notch, some of the symphonies are a tad lack-luster in their execution. Indeed for Karajan fans, there are other recordings of Karajan conducting these symphonies, such as recordings of the 2nd and 5th, that you may want to try instead of the ones included in this set.

On the other hand, the ballet suites are well done, Rostropovich is excellent in the Cello Variations, and Ferras offers an interesting interpretation of the Violin Concerto. As a whole, this is a fairly solid collection that is certainly recommended for anyone whose collections have deficiencies in either Tchaikovsky or Karajan. If, however, you do already have some recordings of Karajan conducting Tchaikovsky, I would recommend skipping this set and buying individual albums where Karajan displays more of his trademark excellence.

My greatest criticism for this collection concerns its packaging. Though listed as a collectors edition, this box set is simply presented as a collection of eight discs in paper sleeves and a set of liner notes in English, German, and French inside a cardboard box.

Fair value, but Karajan can be heard better elsewhere.......2003-08-24

This is not a bad package for the price, but buyers should be aware that Karajan did some of these works better at other times. We can safely dispense with Karajan's last slackly-played VPO set, of course.

For example note that these are the 1960s recordings of the last three symphonies (unlike the DG Double set which are the 1970s recordings). For the Pathetique this means you get by common consent the best of Karajan's many recordings of this works - fine playing, with spontaneity and freshness and excellent recording for 1964.

However in the case of the Fifth, the later BPO DG recording, or even better the wonderfully spontaneous 1971 EMI Berlin recording are preferable (the latter quite superb in phenomenal sound, rivalling George Szell's 1959 version in sweep and power). This 1960s Fifth does sound rather studied in comparison.

Other caveats should include a warning about the rather brightly lit CD of the three ballet suites, and Christian Ferras' terribly schmaltzy account of the violin concerto.

All that said, this set does include Richter's aristocratic First Concerto with the Vienna SO, although why DG chose to include it rather than Lazar Berman's version is a mystery, as the latter is with the BPO to match the rest of the set and doesn't seem to be otherwise unavailable. It's also a finer account to many ears.

Other worthwhile inclusions are Karajan's Winter Daydreams symphony (No 1), although enthusiasts for this work should also sample Michael Tilson Thomas' CD with the Boston SO, also on DG. Similarly Rostropovich's account of the Rococo Variations is a classic, and the Romeo and Juliet included here (never before on CD as far as I can tell) is very fine, with many imaginative touches. This Marche Slave is also one of the finest ever, full of power and brooding intensity.

All in all a decent box, but true Karafans may need to pick up other CDs to complete the full Tchaikovskian picture.

Fantastic!.......2001-10-18

Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic!
BUY IT NOW!

von karajan truly conducts the master.......2001-08-04

I'd been a fan of "the maestro's" style of conducting the B.P.O. since high school when I stumbled upon Time/Life's Beethoven Bi-centennial collection. The power & majesty brought to Beethoven's complete works were unforgetable. When I happened upon a collection of Tchaikovsky symphonies,concertos,&suites I was compelled to take the plunge. It may be pricey to some who may already have some of these in one version or another. But it truly couldn't be a more complete collection of melody,romance,grace,&total understanding of Tchaikovsky's work. I can't call this eight disc collection any thing if not priceless. A must for anyone who understands the sensual pleasure derived from properly executed classical orchestration.

Average customer rating:

That sad and naturally expressive quality...

Great Works for Cello and Orchestra

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Rostropovich, Master Cellist
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No1, Op107; Violin Concerto No1 (revised), Op99
Schubert, Debussy / Rostropovich, Britten
Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos 1-3, Concert Fantasy, Op. 56

ASIN: B000001GJK
Release Date: 1994-12-06

Tracks:

Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre a cordes et basse continue en ut M., RV398: 1. Allegro
Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre a cordes et basse continue en ut M., RV398: 2. Largo
Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre a cordes et basse continue en ut M., RV398: 3. Allegro
Concerto pour violoncello, orchestre a cordes et basse continue en sol M., RV 413: 1. Allegro
Concerto pour violoncello, orchestre a cordes et basse continue en sol M., RV413: 2. Largo
Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre a cordes et basse continue en sol M., RV413: 3. Allegro
Concerto pour violonvelle et orchestre a cordes en la M.: 1. Allegro
Concerto pour violonvelle et orchestre a cordes en la M.: 2. Larghetto
Concerto pour violonvelle et orchestre a cordes en la M.: 3. Allegro assai
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre a cordes no 2 en re M: 1. Allegro
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre a cordes no 2 en re M: 2. Adagio
Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre a cordes no 2 en re M: 3. Allegro
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: 1. Moderato quasi Andante
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: 2. Tema. Moderato semplice
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione I. Tempo del tema
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione II. Tempo del tema
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione III. Tempo sostenuto
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione IV. Adante gazioso
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione V. Allegro moderato
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione VI. Andante
Variations sur un theme rococo pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 33: Variazione VII. Allegro vivo

Tracks:

Andante cantabile, pour violoncelle et orchestra: Andante cantabile, pour violoncelle et orchestra, op. Posth.
Chant du Menestrel pour violoncelle et orchestre, op.71: Chant du Menestrel pour violoncello et orchestre, op. 71
Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre no 2 op. 126: 1. Largo
Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre no 2 op. 126: 2. Allegretto - Attaca
Concerto pour violoncelle, orchestre no 2 op. 126: 3. Allegretto
Trois meditations pour violoncelle et orchestre (extraites de 'Mass'): I. Lento assai, molto sostenuto
Trois meditations pour violoncelle et orchestre (extraites de 'Mass'): II. Andante sostenuto - Variations I a IV- Coda
Trois meditations pour violoncelle et orchestre (extraites de 'Mass'): 3. Presto - Fast And Primitive - Molto adagio

Customer Reviews:

That sad and naturally expressive quality... .......2007-04-21

With the possible exeption of Yo-Yo Ma, the great Mstislav Rostropovich is about the greatest cellist of our time. He plays in the great and sad Russian tradition; very soulful and expressive.

The pieces on these CDs also feature such outstanding collaborating conductors as Karajan, Ozawa and Bernstein. There are several Baroque pieces which are done very nicely with adequate "verve". Of course the Russian pieces by Tchaikovsky, Glazounov and Shostakovich are outstanding in that Rostropovich has innate insight into the suffering Russian soul.

This was my first hearing of the Cello Concerto #2 by Shostakovich (I am well familiar with CC#1). It is quite interesting and ultra-modern and it creates a very intersting mood of beauty and anguish. I am surprised to not see more recordings of it.

The Bernstein piece, "Three Meditations from Mass", is also very interesting in that it too is quite "modern" but also soulful as a transcription from excerpts of a Catholic Mass written by a Jewish-American composer, conducting the Israel Phil. Orch.-it just goes to show the ecumenical spirit of music. Also, the similarity in the Jewish and Russian essence of suffering.

It is that sad and naturally expressive quality that makes Rostropovich so great.

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Classic Performances

Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000085RTK
Release Date: 2003-01-14

Average customer rating:

Excellent Value

Tchaikovsky: Complete Concertos

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Customer Reviews:

Excellent Value.......2005-11-23

All of the Tchaikovsky concertos and works for Cello and Orchestra is really good value, especially so as all performences are really excellent. As with Phillips Trio series, this is well worth evey cent. True they are 60's performances but the recordings have all been dressed up in a brand new condition.
Really Good.

Ofra Harnoy Collection, Volume 3: Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky & Camille Saint-Saëns

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Ofra Harnoy Collection, Volume 3: Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky & Camille Saint-Saëns

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ASIN: B000003G09
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Tracks:

Variations On A Rococo Theme, Op.33
Con No.1 in A Minor, Op.33
Valse Sentimentale, Op.51, No.10
Nocturne, Op.19, No.4
Autumn Song, Op.37, No.10
The Swan

Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme; Symphony No3, Op29

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Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme; Symphony No3, Op29

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Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Sym No.3 in D Op.29: Moderato Assai
Sym No.3 in D Op.29: Allegro Moderato E Semplice
Sym No.3 in D Op.29: Andante
Sym No.3 in D Op.29: Scherzo
Sym No.3 in D Op.29: Finale
Vars Sur Un Theme Rococo Op.33: 'Rococo Variations'

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Terrific Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky: Les Concertos

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000024E0A
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Tracks:

I. Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso - Georges Cziffra
II. Andante Semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo Primo - Georges Cziffra
III. Allegro Con Fuoco - Georges Cziffra
I. Allegro Brillante - Henri Bronschwak
II. Andante Ma Non Troppo - Henri Bronschwak

Tracks:

III. Allegro Con Fuoco - Henri Bronschwak
Allegro Brillante - Cadenza - Tempo Primo - Vivacissimo - Peter Donohoe
I. Allegro Moderato - Leonide Kogan
II. Canzonetta (Andante) - Leonide Kogan
III. Finale (Allegro Vivacissimo) - Leonide Kogan
Intro, Theme Et Variation I - Pierre Fournier
Variation II - Pierre Fournier
Variation III - Pierre Fournier
Variation IV - Pierre Fournier
Variation V - Pierre Fournier
Variation VI - Pierre Fournier
Variation VII - Pierre Fournier

Customer Reviews:

Terrific Tchaikovsky.......2006-01-21

This 2CD set from EMI France collects some classic performances of the various Tchaikovsky Concertos. The best known recordings here are the 1958 account of Piano Concerto No. 1 by Andre Vandernoot and the Philharmonia Orchestra with soloist Georges Cziffra, and the 1959 Violin Concerto with the great Leonid Kogan and Constantin Silvestri leading the Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire. Both have to be considered among the best performances ever recorded, particularly Kogan's -- it's a toss up between this and the Ferras/Silvestri on Testament (see my review) as my personal favorite. Of course, this very same PC/VC combination is also available at budget line on an EMI Encore title. So if you are going to pay extra for this import set, what are you getting that's so special? (By the way, this set is currently available for only $10 at Berkshire Record Outlet.)

Well for me that was easy -- the Rococo Variations. For years this 1956 stereo performance by cellist Pierre Fournier, with Sir Malcolm Sargent conducting the Philharmonia, has been the standard bearer, yet it has turned up on surprisingly few CD collections. In fact, when EMI recently issued the four-disc set "Les Introuvables de Pierre Fournier" (see my review), they selected his mono account of the Variations from 1941 with Bigot/Lamoureux instead, and you got me as to why! But as good as the Rococo is, thankfully there is even more great music here. The 1972 recording of the 2nd Piano Concerto, with soloist Sylvia Kersenbaum and conductor Jean Martinon leading the Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F., is one of the best versions I've heard. The remaining work here is the Allegro from the unfinished Piano Concerto No. 3. Pianist Peter Donohue, with Rudolf Barshai and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, put in a fine performance (digitial stereo from 1987) but in my opinion this work's inclusion is simply for completists. Overall, this is a terrific Tchaikovsky set, and though an import, it is priced to compete with the domestic titles on Decca and Philips, yet in my opinion offers better performances.