Bernstein Royal Edition: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4/ Francesca da Rimini

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Bernstein directs exciting performances of both the symphony and the tone poem, even if he does add a few extra cymbal crashes to the finale of the former (they actually make a lot sense). The problem, if there is one, is the recorded sound in the symphony, which is very dry and unpleasant, even though it's more recent than the other performances in this Tchaikovsky cycle. Given the large number of fine performances of this symphony by other conductors (Markevitch, Mravinsky, and Jansons, for example), this factor may well disqualify the recording from consideration. --David Hurwitz

Bernstein Royal Edition: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4/ Francesca da Rimini,Tchaikovsky,Bernstein,Nyp,Sony,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music

Average customer rating: Lenny Never Deserves Two-Stars Bernstein kind of sleep-walks through this one

Bernstein Royal Edition: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4/ Francesca da Rimini Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Brahms: Symphony No. 4; Academic Festival Overture; Tragic Overture (Bernstein: The Royal Edition) Beethoven: Symphonies 4 & 5; Egmont Overture - Bernstein Royal Edition Danzon Cuban / El Salon Mexico Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 The Royal Edition, No. 51 Of 100: Gustav Mahler ASIN: B0000027O1 Release Date: 1993-11-02

Tracks:

1. Sym No. 4 in f, Op. 36: I. Adante Sostenuto-Moderato Con Anima-Moderato Assai, Quasi Andante...
2. Sym No. 4 in f, Op. 36: II. Andantino In Modo Di Canzona
3. Sym No. 4 in f, Op. 36: III. Scherzo. Pizzicato Ostinato. Allegro
4. Sym No. 4 in f, Op. 36: IV. Allegro Con Fuoco
5. Francesca Da Rimini, Op. 32: Symphonic Fant After Dante

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Bernstein directs exciting performances of both the symphony and the tone poem, even if he does add a few extra cymbal crashes to the finale of the former (they actually make a lot sense). The problem, if there is one, is the recorded sound in the symphony, which is very dry and unpleasant, even though it's more recent than the other performances in this Tchaikovsky cycle. Given the large number of fine performances of this symphony by other conductors (Markevitch, Mravinsky, and Jansons, for example), this factor may well disqualify the recording from consideration. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Lenny Never Deserves Two-Stars.......2004-02-07

Leonard Bernstein performances never warrant a mere two-star review. Save the deuce-eggs for Britney Spears, big-hair heavy metal glam-rockers and live classical historic recordings made on your grandfather's old mic-in-hand tape recorders. I will agree with the previous reviewer that this 1975 account of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony does not stand up to his earlier 1958 account (currently available in the "Bernstein Century" series). But I found it more audacious that CBS/Sony originally included the '75 recording in its "Great Performances" series than in the "Royal Edition" series, which made no claims towards greatness and made possible the release of other obscure pieces from the Bernstein catalog. Actually, the most offensive thing of all (though I guess I should expect it by now), is that I worked like a dog tracking down Bernstein's Tchaikovsky Cycle, via the "Royal Edition" titles, only to have it recently reissued in the French "Columbia Legends" line at half the price. Now that is a subject on which I'd like to give Sony my "two-stars" worth.

Bernstein kind of sleep-walks through this one.......1999-03-07

"Lenny" recorded this work three times. His radical rethink on DG done in the 1980's is an exercise in the most bizarre musicmaking. In THAT rendering of the score, he stretches phrasing beyond the breaking point and the interpretation is full of the most unusual idiosyncracies. This 1975 recording is a straightforward account and is not a "bad" recording, merely an uninspired one. Every musician does his job, but that's ALL one can say about their playing...It's like reading yesterday's newspapers...okay, but nothing new here. It's a shame that Sony did not release Bernstein's first (1958) recording of the Fourth. He had just taken over the reins of the Philharmonic and this was one of the first recordings of the stereo era. Lenny had his troupe playing like 105 Satans on hallucinogens and it was a visceral and very heady experience. THAT recording is probably the all-time best Tchaikovsky Fourth. As a second choice, Abbado and the Vienna is a stellar choice.

Track Listings:

1. Boccherini: String Quartets, Op. 58, Nos. 1-6
2. Brahms/Hans Gal: Clarinet Sonatas
3. Bridge and Britten
4. Complete Piano Works 4
5. Delius: Brigg Fair; Song of Summer; In a Summer Garden; Eventyr
6. Delius Orchestral Works
7. Dimiter Christoff: The Piano Music, Vol. 1 - Chaconne (1984); Sonata No. 1 (1962); Sonata No. 2 (1974); Sonata No. 3 (1974); Sonata No. 4 (1974); Sonata No. 5 (1992)
8. Dvorak: Legends - Nos. 1 - 10 (Op. 59), Romance - Nocturne (Op. 40)
9. Early One Morning: Folksongs Arranged By Britten
10. Elgar: "Enigma Variations"/Introduction & Allegro fro Strings

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Afterglow [Import]

Dvorak: Symphony No. 2 / Overture: My Home

Blues Twinpack [Import]

Tough Assignment: Tribute To Dave Tough

Down Below [Import]

Funky Breaks & Sampled Soul [Import]

Cars Trucks & Trains

Four Seasons: Symphonies for Strings

Evidence

Do You Hear What I Hear

Concertina [CD-single] [Live]

Del Corazon Pa' Dentro [Import]

DJ Set V.1 [Import]

Giuseppe Becce: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Music for the Silent Movie)

Famous Blue Raincoat