COMPOSERS: Tchaikovsky
LABELS: Melodiya/BMG
WORKS: Orchestral Suite No. 1; Orchestral Suite No. 2; Orchestral Suite No. 3; Orchestral Suite No. 4 (Mozartiana)
PERFORMER: USSR SO/Evgeny Svetlanov
CATALOGUE NO: 74321 17099/17100 2 DDD (1985)
Mature cameos brilliantly orchestrated, bridging ballet and symphony and recollecting Schumannesque piano miniatures, Tchaikovsky’s four suites for orchestra (1878-87) are very much a product of their time and place. Without displacing fond memories of Dorati, Svetlanov tackles them with affection and panache. He’s rewardingly sensitive, too, to their moments of darker gravitas. And his USSR SO, among the most superbly disciplined bands of the old Soviet system, responds with wonderfully natural inflexion and much individual solo distinction. (Pity, though, you can’t hear the ad lib accordion in the Second.) Ates Orga
Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Suite No. 1; Orchestral Suite No. 2; Orchestral Suite No. 3; Orchestral Suite No. 4 (Mozartiana)
Mature cameos brilliantly orchestrated, bridging ballet and symphony and recollecting Schumannesque piano miniatures, Tchaikovsky’s four suites for orchestra (1878-87) are very much a product of their time and place. Without displacing fond memories of Dorati, Svetlanov tackles them with affection and panache. He’s rewardingly sensitive, too, to their moments of darker gravitas. And his USSR SO, among the most superbly disciplined bands of the old Soviet system, responds with wonderfully natural inflexion and much individual solo distinction.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:31 pm