Karajan Conducts Tchaikovsky (8 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Christian Ferras, Michel Schwalbe
Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
Composer: Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 8 CD box set
Format: APE (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 2.31 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Symphony No. 1 in G minor (“Winter Dreams”), Op. 13
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Eugene Onegin, opera, Op. 24 Unspecified excerpts
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Slavonic March, for orchestra, Op. 31
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Symphony No. 2 in C minor (“Little Russian”), Op. 17
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# 1812 — Festival Overture, for orchestra in E flat major, Op. 49
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Symphony No. 3 in D major (“Polish”), Op. 29
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Capriccio Italien, for orchestra (or piano, 4 hands), Op. 45
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Variations on a Rococo Theme, for cello & orchestra (or cello & piano) in A major, Op. 33
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Mstislav Rostropovich
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Serenade for strings (or piano, 4 hands) in C major, Op. 48
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Symphony No. 6 in B minor (“Pathétique”), Op.74
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Romeo and Juliet, fantasy-overture for orchestra in B minor (3 versions)
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# The Sleeping Beauty, suite for orchestra, Op. 66a
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Michel Schwalbe
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Vienna Symphony Orchestra
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

# Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
Composed by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Vienna Symphony Orchestra
with Christian Ferras
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan

Disc 1:
01. Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 “Winter Reveries” – 1. Dreams of a winter journey Allegro tranquillo
02. Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 “Winter Reveries” – 2. Land of desolation, land of mists- Andante cantabile ma non tanto
03. Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 “Winter Reveries” – 3. Scherzo (Allegro scherzando giocoso)
04. Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13 “Winter Reveries” – 4. Finale. Andante Lugubre – Allegro moderato – Allegro maestoso – Allegro vivo
05. Eugene Onegin, Op.24 – Polonaise
06. Eugene Onegin, Op.24 / Act 2 – Valse
07. Slavonic March, Op.31 – Moderato in modo di marcia funebre – Andante molto maestoso – Allegro risoluto

Disc 2:
01. Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.17 “Little Russian” – 1. Andante sostenuto – Allegro vivo
02. Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.17 “Little Russian” – 2. Andantino marziale, quasi moderato
03. Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.17 “Little Russian” – 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto vivace – Trio. L’istesso tempo
04. Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.17 “Little Russian” – 4. Finale. Moderato assai – Allegro vivo – Presto
05. Ouverture solennelle “1812,” Op.49 – Largo – Allegro giusto

Disc 3:
01. Symphony No.3 in D, Op.29 “Polish” – 1. Introduzione e Allegro. Moderato assai (Tempo di marcia funebre)
02. Symphony No.3 in D, Op.29 “Polish” – 2. Alla tedesca. Allegro moderato e semplice
03. Symphony No.3 in D, Op.29 “Polish” – 3. Andante elegiaco
04. Symphony No.3 in D, Op.29 “Polish” – 4. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
05. Symphony No.3 in D, Op.29 “Polish” – 5. Finale. Allegro con fuoco (Tempo di Polacca)
06. Capriccio italien, Op.45 – Andante un poco rubato

Disc 4:
01. Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36 – 1. Andante sostenuto – Moderato con anima – Moderato assai, quasi Andante – Allegro vivo
02. Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36 – 2. Andantino in modo di canzone
03. Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36 – 3. Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato – Allegro
04. Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36 – 4. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)
05. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Moderato assai quasi andante
06. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Tema: Moderato semplice
07. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione I: Tempo del Tema
08. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione II: Tempo del Tema
09. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione III: Andante sostenuto
10. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione IV: Andante grazioso
11. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione V: Allegro moderato
12. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione VI: Andante
13. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 – Variazione VII e Coda: Allegro vivo

Disc 5:
01. Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64 – 1. Andante – Allegro con anima
02. Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64 – 2. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza – Moderato con anima
03. Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64 – 3. Valse (Allegro moderato)
04. Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64 – 4. Finale (Andante maestoso – Allegro vivace)
05. Serenade for Strings in C, Op.48 – 1. Pezzo in forma di sonatina: Andante non troppo – Allegro moderato
06. Serenade for Strings in C, Op.48 – 2. Walzer: Moderato (Tempo di valse)
07. Serenade for Strings in C, Op.48 – 3. Elégie: Larghetto elegiaco
08. Serenade for Strings in C, Op.48 – 4. Finale (Tema russo): Andante – Allegro con spirito

Disc 6:
01. Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 -“Pathétique” – 1. Adagio – Allegro non troppo
02. Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 -“Pathétique” – 2. Allegro con grazia
03. Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 -“Pathétique” – 3. Allegro molto vivace
04. Symphony No.6 in B minor, Op.74 -“Pathétique” – 4. Finale (Adagio lamentoso – Andante)
05. Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture

Disc 7:
01. The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a – Introduction – The Lilac Fairy
02. The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a – Pas d’action. Rose Adagio
03. The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a – Pas de caractère: Puss in Boots
04. The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a – Panorama (andantino)
05. The Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op.66a – Valse
06. Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite – 1. Scene – Swan Theme
07. Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite – 2. Valse in A
08. Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite – 3. Danse des petits cygnes
09. Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite – 4. Scene
10. Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite – 5. Danse Hongroise (Czardas)
11. Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite – 6. Scène finale.
12. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 1. Miniature Overture
13. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 2. Danses caractéristiques a. Marche (Tempo di marcia viva)
14. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 2b. Danse de la fée-Dragée (Andante non troppo)
15. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 2c. Danse russe Trépak (Tempo di Trépak, molto vivace)
16. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 2d. Danse arabe (Allegretto)
17. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 2e. Danse chinoise (Allegro moderato)
18. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 2f. Danse des mirlitons (Moderato assai)
19. Nutcracker Suite, Op.71a – 3. Valse des fleurs (Tempo di Valse)

Disc 8:
01. Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23 – 1. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito
02. Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23 – 2. Andantino semplice – Prestissimo – Tempo I
03. Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23 – 3. Allegro con fuoco
04. Violin Concerto in D, Op.35 – 1. Allegro moderato
05. Violin Concerto in D, Op.35 – 2. Canzonetta (Andante)
06. Violin Concerto in D, Op.35 – 3. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)

Excellent Tchaikovsky set – critically recommended and a great value (and with at least one surprise)

This is a very reasonably priced set of 8 CD’s. I purchased it initially after noticing that it had received strong reviews from Gramophone and Penguin, and I’ve come to decide that it is a solid choice, particularly for someone wanting to get a good collection of Tchaikovsky orchestral works, for a very reasonable price.

The 2011 edition of the Gramophone Classical Music Guide places this box set first under the Tchaikovsky symphony listings. It does note, as do other reviewers here, that some of the performances are not the best to be found. Overall, it gives it a very high recommendation and good value for the price. Penguin also gives it their top recommendation. I’ve relied upon Gramophone, as well as Penguin, a great deal, particularly early in my collecting days. These days and with the internet I have other sources for guidance, including Amazon’s contributor’s reviews. Taking these all into account, this collection is a good one.

All of the performances are with Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Soloists are: for the Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 it features Mstislav Rostropovich on cello; Sviatoslav Richter at piano for the Piano Concerto #1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 23; Christian Ferras on violin for the Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 35.

Some of the performances are superb. Penguin comments that the performances here are among Karajan’s best, preferable to his later recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic. If you are not familiar with the Serenade for Strings (disc 5) of Tchaikovsky, then the performance included with this set is superb. I have enjoyed it for a number of years as part of a separate CD combined with the Dvorak serenade. Very enjoyable.

There was also a surprise for me, when I found myself listening to the performance of Tchaikovsky’s well-known ‘1812 overture’ on disc 2 of this set – it began with a choir singing! After doing some research, I find the following information in the wikipedia article on Op. 49:

—

In a transcription by American conductor Igor Buketoff the following changes and additions were made:

– The opening segment, O Lord, Save Thy People is sung a cappella by a choir instead of being played by cellos and violas.
– A children’s or women’s choir is added to the flute and cor anglais duet rendition of At the Gate, at my Gate.
– The orchestra and chorus unite in the climax with a triumphant version of O Lord, Save Thy People and God Save the Tsar.

—

The performance included with this collection does include the introductory choir segment, but no choir after that. I find it to be a pleasant and unexpected bonus to be found here, particularly since I have plenty of other ‘traditional’ performances of the ‘1812’ overture in my collection. I don’t know how many recordings of the ‘1812’ exist with this choir variation, but I’m glad to have come across this one here and to have it in my collection.

As you build your collection then you will also want other performances of some of the compositions, but this is an excellent place to begin. And if you already have a number of Tchaikovsky CD’s (as I do), then this is still a worthwhile addition to your collection.