COMPOSERS: Tchaikovsky
LABELS: Carlton
WORKS: Symphony No. 4; Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique); Marche slave
PERFORMER: LSO/Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
CATALOGUE NO: 30368 01237
These performances belie the reputations of an idiosyncratic conductor and a first-class orchestra. Rozhdestvensky’s mastery is apparent in his assured choice of natural, breathing tempi for Tchaikovsky’s familiar inventions, but nowhere to be found in a conspicuous lack of finer nuances. As for the orchestral sound, you might identify the LSO from the ever-impressive brass, favoured by an over-bright recording, but not from the violins, which sound distinctly undernourished in the Pathétique’s string-dependent frenzies. Average, perhaps, but that isn’t good enough from such a team. David Nice
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4; Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique); Marche slave
These performances belie the reputations of an idiosyncratic conductor and a first-class orchestra. Rozhdestvensky’s mastery is apparent in his assured choice of natural, breathing tempi for Tchaikovsky’s familiar inventions, but nowhere to be found in a conspicuous lack of finer nuances. As for the orchestral sound, you might identify the LSO from the ever-impressive brass, favoured by an over-bright recording, but not from the violins, which sound distinctly undernourished in the Pathétique’s string-dependent frenzies. Average, perhaps, but that isn’t good enough from such a team. David Nice
Our rating
3
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:29 pm