Customer Reviews

Symphony 5 / Serenade for Strings

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is no doubt that the widely loved Symphony No. 5 is performed extremely well. With first rate musicians and conductor, the emotional work lives up to its masterpiece reputation. The Serenade for Strings is another brilliant piece, but the edition on this CD lacks the written-out repeat of the Allegro Moderato (roughly 120 measures). Similarly, in the Finale, there are 235 measures missing! These omissions would add a good ten minutes to the Serenade. Music buyers should purchase this CD for the Symphony No. 5 and look for a better edition of the Serenade for Strings.

But for me, the main event here is the Serenade for Strings. This piece of music may well have better interpretations elsewhere on disc, but lets be honest 99% of this piece is gushing romantic string tone. This orchestra, which was well known for high quality in this area fully lives up to its hype. This is music that should never be played by a small chamber orchestra, yet can get bogged down by a lesser full sized string section. Here, everything is done to its proper effect, with warm recorded sound. The 5th Symphony as noted clearly lives up to its "essential classics" label. It is essential, and is brought off in much the same way as the Serenade. Gushing and romantic to an extent that those snobs who dislike Tchaikovsky will hate it even more then normal. I love every minute of it!

When Eugene Ormandy was music director, the Philadelphia Orchestra always had a excellent string section. And this performance, which requires intense string power, is solid evidence. There is so much emotion and power in this symphony, and Ormandy gives it the performance that it deserves. And at under $10, this CD is a steal.

The manner in which ormandy conducts the orchestra can only be described as a magician waving his magic wand over the people.(musicians) He is in this symphony what Furtwangler was to beethoven's 9th. Give him a try and dont be surprised if you end up buying the 4th. and 6th. by him.

I have been a Eugene Ormandy fan for over 50 years (I'm 65.) The heart of my original record record collection was made up primarily of his recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra on Columbia. It is also gratifying to see that many of today's critics are giving him his due. It was a pleasure to see these recording re-released, in improved sound, on CD. It was also a keen disappointment to see that so many of them are now out of print. Ormandy conducted the "high romantics" like Tchaikovsky, like almost no one else. His interpretations reflected the romanticsm and passion with out being at all maudlin. The sound of his orchestra fit this music perfectly. I should also add that this not only my favorite Tchaikovsky symphony but my favorite work by that composer and one of my dozen favorite symphonies. Get it while you can!

if you get this CD for any reason, make it for his Serenade for Strings. that is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, and that is saying a lot coming from Tchaikovsky who has written some of the most beautiful pieces ever.

This is the usual Ormandy style - full, rich, emotional, and exceedingly pleasing. For Tchaikovsky's symphony 4, you most likely wouldn't want this approach, for that is an intense and dramatic piece of music, probably better suited to Szell. But Ormandy is perfect on the 5th, which is a drifting dreamy brooding symphony perfectly suited to Ormandy's methods. There's a bit of tape hiss, which is quickly forgotten as the beauty of the music and Ormandy's interpretation envelopes you.

As opposed to the passion and mastery within Tchaikovsky's 4th and 6th symphonies; the 5th can be seen as somewhat superficial rather than profound. Of all the Tchaikovsky symphonies, however, it IS the most melodic; every theme is catchy and heart-warming. Some of the themes were even used in the making of some popular American songs. The melody is indeeed never-ending.

The "Serenade for Strings" is also a wonderful piece of irresistable melody.

Conductor Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orch. are, of course, outstanding, as always, in making Tchaikovsky utterly sweeping and lush. I once read that Ormandy and the "Philadelphia Sound" turned "strings into silver" and "brass into gold". This suits Tchaikovsky perfectly.

Ormandy also made outstanding recordings of Tchaikovsky's Symphonies #4 & 6, The "Swan Lake" and "Sleeping Beauty" Suites; as well as the Violin Concerto (w/Isaac Stern). All are usually available at budget prices.

Comparison for Symphony #5: Karajan

Comparison for Serenade: Bernstein

Esta es sin lugar a dudas la mejor version que podran escuchar de la quinta sinfonia de Tchaikovsky, es grandiosa, es sublime, es sutil y es sencillamente espectacular.

Cada movimiento es una muestra de la genialidad creativa de Tchaikovsky y de la perfeccion de la Orquesta de Filadelfia, Ormandy se encarga en cada momento de demostrarnos porque sera por siempre uno de los mejores directores de orquesta de todos los tiempos.

La introduccion es maravillosa y nos sumerge en un mundo musical impresionante, el segundo movimiento es totalmente sutil, bello, le sigue un vals, es decir tempo de vals, genial. Finalizamos en una voragine luminosa y delicada, es un final que nos deja ufff mas que satisfechos, claro, pero todavia queda un poquito, mas de alguien aplaude antes de tiempo. Sencillamente genial.

Despues de esto el agregado y como pasa mucho seria lo de menos, pero no, sorpresa una version exquisita de la serenata para instrumentos de cuerda, Ormandy nos conduce por otro lado y nos sorprende, la Orquesta de Filadelfia posee la mejor seccion de cuerdas, y la mejor seccion de vientos y las mas espectacular percusion que pudiesemos escuchar, entonces que oimos la mejor serenata para instrumenstos de cuerda, una obra esplendida, con un toque folklorico y patriotico genial.

Es por tanto un CD incomparable, que no puede dejar de tener.

I have to quibble a little with David Hurwitz's review. Yes, this recording has plenty of Romantic juice, and the use of portamento is very tasteful, especially in the playing of the second subject in the first movement. I also find that Ormandy's pacing of the last movement is slower than most, but judicious, which is why I like it. He takes his time with the finale. He doesn't seem embarrassed by or impatient with it. But this performance falls short during the second movement. Tchaikovsky wrote a lot of detail into the orchestral parts here, but those lumbering, lethargic, elephantine Philadelphia strings really engulf those little details that are so important to the movement. It's a cliche to complain about that creamy Philadelphia string sound, but the complaint applies here. So I agree, it's overall a marvelous performance for Movements I, III, and IV, but Movement II--in some ways the highlight of the symphony--falls just a little bit short. The Ormandy/Philly CBS recording of Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony, on the other hand, ah, now there's a classic...