BaL 30.06.12 - Tchaikovsky's 3rd Symphony in D "Polish"

[gurnemanz]

I am very happy to admit I like the "Polish" as well, may be the result that it was only the second Tchaikovsky symphony I ever heard (and made an off-air cassette tape of it).

As a result of BAL and reading the chat on here I have just played the Bernstein version from the massive 60 CD Symphony box which I acquired recently. (I jumped the gun a bit since I am working through in it alphabetical sequence and haven't got to T yet.) I do vaguely know the symphony (Litton set) but have not listened to it much over years and have never heard it live. I found Lennie's take on it very enjoyable indeed.

[jayne lee wilson]

I played the Karajan the other night in advance of this BaL, the first time I'd heard the work for many years.

I shan't be hurrying to play the piece again. Desperately dull stuff and if the name of Tchaikovsky wasn't on the score it would have sunk without trace long ago - and I speak as a great PT fan.

I've not heard Karajan but I imagine it wouldn't suit him; it needs a more local, suite-like approach to colour and phrase in the alla tedesca and scherzo than he could give in this repertoire, and a truly uninhibited delivery of the tragic melodies in the andante (one of PT's most haunting creations) or the all-out, brazen triumphal brilliance of the finale long-notes-against short climax. This is why you need a Russian orchestra to do it. The orchestral "palette" and the phrasing is right. But it's also why for me, Dorati gets very close - the 1962 LSO have a more open, edgy, brilliant sound than the oft-encountered german or austrian ensembles.

But the best 1990 Svetlanov is only available in the complete cycle issues, just out again on Exton at HMV Japan.

You could draw a parallel with Mahler 7, also structured like a suite, also hard for some conductors or listeners to make sense of or warm to, but now...
Get the Svetlanov, Dorati (or Markevitch) and keep at it. It may surprise you. Try playing the 3 middle movements on their own.

[Barbirollians]

I only listened with one ear to this - was the BBC Legends Silvestri mentioned ?

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I only listened with one ear to this - was the BBC Legends Silvestri mentioned ?

Indeed. It was Rob's mono recommendation.

[Barbirollians]

Cheers IGI.

[Acavus]

I have finally got my hands on the new Exton box of Svetlanov's 1990 cycle. It is difficult to tell exactly because the booklet is all in Japanese, but it appears as if they could be the old Pony Canyon masterings, although not HDCD. What is clear is that the sound is a significant improvement on the Warner Classics box. Definitely the one to go for if you do not already have the Pony Canyon discs.

[jayne lee wilson]

Glad it worked out Acavus - thanks for reporting back!