Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those Tchaikovsky's fan, this is the CD you shouldn't missed.

Ormandy ingeniously build up the bold majestic sound of Philadelphia like a rolling snow ball, pumping the triumph music towards the end. Personally I could never suppress my feeling of esthetic by the emotional of Tchaikovsky rendered magnificently.

The 1812 Overture has been transcribed with Church Chorus Singing "God Save Our Czar", back up by additional brass section. Especially the Sound of French horn could never bolder or richer; The sparkling note played by the Trumpets and Trombones pushing the sound of glory projecting an triumph mood of victorious with cannon blasting the unique Philadelphia Sound sky high. At the end, you'll agreed, it is 1812 all over your living room.

The Capriccio Italien is equally spicy and joyful. It began with a bold sound of Cornet played in a steady tempo, followed by mid sound of Strings projecting an memory of civilization. Woodwind could never be sweeter and harmonized. When the music turned into vivacious dancing melody. I couldn't have myself on the chair, start swing with the music to the end. One of the Best version I've ever heard.

The Slavonic March also adapted the same style from 1812 and Capriccio Italien. Here, you'll hear the perfect balanced Sound of Philadelphia Orchestra, building up the climax of this showpiece, crash of gong and high pitch Trumpets lead the music to an glorious ending.

This is the best Francesca da Rimini that I've heard, bold, exciting and full of emotion.

This CD will be perfected if its includes "Romeo and Juliet". Still it deserve 5 stars from me.

Eugene Ormandy is undisputable "the best Tchaikovsky" specialist. unfortunately, he has been always under-rated.

This CD of Tchaikovsky has got an excellent quality of sound, and this is very important.Really the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ormandy have done a fantastic work in this album and it shows all the strength of all the pieces and it show also, the tenderness of some parts. In fact, is a great CD for enjoy the real Tchaikovsky.

Buy this cd for the 1812. The contribution of the Morman Tabernacle Choir and the classic, battleship-sounding cannonfire mark this as a great showpiece. Purists may squawk, but this particular interpretation helped launch the 1812 into the hearts and minds of Americans over the past 30 years.

And, even though the transfer from tape to cd brought with it a fair degree of hiss/noise, this Ormandy version remains the GOLD STANDARD by which all other 1812 Overture renditions must compare. Most other renditions come up far short on the vitality and depth that Mr. Ormandy communicates to us on this recording.

Fireworks that resonate on the soul. Not bad for under 7 bucks.

This 1812 was originally a part of an RCA Three L-P Set called
Eugene Ormandy And The Philadelphia Orchestra Sonic Spectaculars. One of the other L.P's had Beethoven's Wellington's Victory.
The gimmick of the set was it featured electronic cannons, which were at the time of 1970's Dynaflex record the best way to "record cannons". And In it's day was indeed the best, but on CD I believe the Cannons to be fairly tame, yet, as a performance I truly enjoy this more than any one including the excellent stereo recording by Eric Kunzel, and the Cincinatti Orchestra

There is a good breadth of Tchaikovsky on this disc, but it seems to focus on the 1812 overture. The choral opening has always sounded fake to me. There are way too many 1812 overtures out there to choose from and to say that one is definitive in a market saturated with canon fire, is a mistake. There are many good versions and many would consider this one of them. Frankly, I am sick of the music. March Slave here is good, but I prefer Reiner-CSO. You could easily spend your money wisely somewhere else, but you are likely to not be frankly disappointed here.

Tchaikovsky's passion comes through loud & clear in this classic & colorful recording; did I say romantic?

This CD is a good deal by its nice price and a historical character. But the sound quality is far behind the artistic level. For exemple, there's no compare with two other reference recordings of "1812 Overture Solonelle", made +/- 10 years before this one! - Antal Dorati's (Mercury Living Presence) and Alexander Gibson's (Chesky Records). That's the perfect sound for a classical recordings, not this made by RCA ... sad but true.
Buy this CD for a great Ormandy & PO, for Tchaikovsky's immortal works, but don't expected a hi-fi sound (not even a very good sound). My stereo components - CREEK EVO CD player & AMP, HGP Dona Loudspeakers, In-Akustik Black&White reference cables.

From the swelling grace of the opening hymn by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, to the blood-pounding Howitzers and reverberating Russian cathedral bells of the finale, this version of the marvelous 1812 Overture spoiled me for all others way back in college when I first heard it on LP. My copy was protected as well as I could manage, but simply wore out from replaying, so I was thrilled to find it finally on CD. Whether you heard it way back then and miss it, or never heard it done perfectly, this is not to be missed!

The other cuts on the CD are all worth hearing, don't get me wrong, but buy it for the 1812 Overture as it was meant to be!

I agree fully with the three reviews above. To me this is the only 1812. All others are lacking... Pity about the 'fair degree of hiss'. I also have the CBS LP but my CD is a Sony. Unfortunately the sustained note of the last bell has been attenuated by some careless 're-mastering'. Wonder if this RCA CD is the same? Now if only that glitch and the tape hiss could disappear...