Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Orchestra: Minneapolis Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Antal Dorati
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Mercury
Size: 1.75 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Disc: 1
01. Symphony No. 1 in G minor (‘Winter Dreams’), Op. 13: I. Allegro tranquillo
02. Symphony No. 1 in G minor (‘Winter Dreams’), Op. 13: II. Adagio cantabile ma non tanto
03. Symphony No. 1 in G minor (‘Winter Dreams’), Op. 13: III. Scherzo. Allegro scherzando giocoso
04. Symphony No. 1 in G minor (‘Winter Dreams’), Op. 13: IV. Finale. Andante lugubre – Allegro maestoso
05. Symphony No. 2 in C minor (‘Little Russian’), Op. 17: I. Andante sostenuto – Allegro vivo
06. Symphony No. 2 in C minor (‘Little Russian’), Op. 17: II. Andantino marziale, quasi moderato
07. Symphony No. 2 in C minor (‘Little Russian’), Op. 17: III. Scherzo. Allegro molto vivace
08. Symphony No. 2 in C minor (‘Little Russian’), Op. 17: IV. Finale. Moderato assai
Disc: 2
01. Symphony No. 3 in D major (‘Polish’), Op. 29: I. Introduzione e Allegro
02. Symphony No. 3 in D major (‘Polish’), Op. 29: II. Alla tedesca. Allegro moderato e semplice
03. Symphony No. 3 in D major (‘Polish’), Op. 29: III. Andante elegiaco
04. Symphony No. 3 in D major (‘Polish’), Op. 29: IV. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
05. Symphony No. 3 in D major (‘Polish’), Op. 29: V. Finale. Allegro con fuoco
06. Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky for string orchestra, Op. 35a
Disc: 3
01. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: I. Andante sostenuto – Moderato con anima
02. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: II. Andantino in modo di canzona
03. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: III. Scherzo: Pizzicato stinato. Allegro
04. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco
05. Francesca da Rimini, symphonic fantasy for orchestra in E minor, Op. 32
06. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov): Overture
Disc: 4
01. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: I. Andante – Allegro con anima
02. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: II. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza – Moderato con anima
03. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: III. Valse. Allegro moderato
04. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: IV. Finale. Andante maestoso – Allegro vivace
05. Slavonic March, for orchestra, Op. 31
06. Eugene Onegin, opera, Op. 24: Waltz
07. Eugene Onegin, opera, Op. 24: Polonaise
Disc: 5
01. Romeo and Juliet, fantasy-overture for orchestra in B minor (3 versions)
EXCITING PERFORMANCES VINTAGE STEREO SOUND BUT NOT SACD
Despite whar Mr Richman says in his review below this five disc box set does NOT consist of hybrid SACD discs. They are all CDs – generously filled but still basic 16 bit discs. It may be that Mercury’s parent company plans to release these discs singly as three channel SACDs but here you get the two channel mixes that originally appeared on LP and on the 1990s CD releases. It would have been great to hear them in three channel – Dorati’s “Firebird” sounds magnificent on SACD – but this box is still a bargain. There’s some low level hiss and the occasional tape clunk but these are small blemishes on some exciting late 50s and early 60s recordings that make most of today’s offerings sound sterile and cautious. Dorati’s Tchaikovsky is never winsome or self-pitying. As a masterly ballet conductor Dorati never ignores the lilt and sway of the composer’s waltz-inspired lighter moments – but he and the orchestra (London Symphony and Minneapolis) really let rip for the exciting brass perorations. Try the finale of the “Little Russian” symphony, or “Francesca di Rimini”, for some real sock-blowing sound! Even if you own other recordings of these popular works try to find a space on your shelf for Dorati and the inimitable Mercury sound.
Dorati’s MLP Tchaikovsky Gems Are Back!
Those familiar with my reviews on Amazon know my great love for the Mercury Living Presence series. Equally great is my disgust that so many of these brilliant recordings have been deleted in the last few years! Thankfully, some of these legendary performances are resurfacing as SACD hybrids. Unfortunately, they are now being sold at full-price, despite a competing hybrid series on RCA/BMG being available at midline. In spite of the added expense, I hope this MLP reissue trend will continue, and maybe we’ll even see a few items getting their CD debut.
This Tchaikovsky Symphony Cycle by the great Antal Dorati has always been one of my favorite MLP offerings. While a two-disc set of Symphonies 1-3 and a single title of the 4th continue to be available in their original CD incarnations, the CDs of Symphonies 5 & 6 have gone out-of-print recently. However, with this box set they are now deservedly restored to the catalog. Even better is the fact that the four 5CD box sets being reissued have been so reasonably priced. This Tchaikovsky set, and the ones of Dorati conducting Bartok, Paray conducting French music, and Hanson conducting a variety of American music, including his own compositions, have a total cost cheaper than the original single issue CDs! Once again, Mercury Living Presence lives!