 | No other composer has put as powerful a spell on me, or as enduring a spell, as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovksy. Tchaikovsky is my favorite of all composers, and his 4th and 6th Symphonies, are my most beloved of all his compositions. In this CD set you will hear 3 of the greatest symphonies ever written, with Conductor Yevgeny Mravinsky and the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra capturing every last drop of their romantic fervor.
Deutsch Gramophone has masterfully recorded these 1960 performances, and the sound quality is outstanding even by modern standards. Of the numerous versions I have collected of these works, including the celebrated Karajan and Jansons interpretations, nothing has ever come close to these visceral and totally riveting performances. These recordings have stood the test of time, and remain unsurpassed.
Mravinsky delivers furious heart-pounding interpretations that fully capture the alternating fury, melancholy and joy of these symphonies. The most spectacular gem in this CD set is the 6th symphony, where the anguished pathos reaches depths that are unbearable. Performed and conducted in a style that today’s tepid conductors would be too frightened to attempt; this is Tchaikovsky as it should be, larger than life, and with a searing passion that reaches into your soul. |
