Tchaikovsky: Complete Symphonies (1-6) [4 disc set] [Import]

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (July 3, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Import
• Label: Dg Imports
• ASIN: B000001GCR
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,258 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Symphony No. 1 in G minor ('Winter Dreams'), Op. 13: 1. Träume einer Winterreise (Dreams of a winter journey). Allegro tranquillo

2. Symphony No. 1 in G minor ('Winter Dreams'), Op. 13: 2. Land der Öde, Land der Nebel (Land of desolation, land of mists). Andante can

3. Symphony No. 1 in G minor ('Winter Dreams'), Op. 13: 3. Scherzo. Allegro scherzando giocoso

4. Symphony No. 1 in G minor ('Winter Dreams'), Op. 13: 4. Finale. Andante lugubre - Allegro moderato - Allegro maestoso - Allegro vivo

5. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Little Russian'), Op. 17: 1. Andante sostentuo - Allegro vivo

See all 6 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Little Russian'), Op. 17: 3. Scherzo. Allegro molto vivace - Trio. L'istesso tempo

2. Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Little Russian'), Op. 17: 4. Moderato assai - Allegro vivo - Presto

3. Symphony No. 3 in D major ('Polish'), Op. 29: 1. Introduzione e Allegro. Moderato assai (Tempo di marcia funebre)

4. Symphony No. 3 in D major ('Polish'), Op. 29: 2. Alla tedesca. Allegro moderato e semplice

5. Symphony No. 3 in D major ('Polish'), Op. 29: 3. Andante elegiaco

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: 1. Andante sostenuto - Moderato con anima - Moderato assai, quasi Andante - Allegro vivo

2. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: 2. Andantino in modo di canzone

3. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: 3. Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato - Allegro

4. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: 4. Finale. Allegro con fuoco

5. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: 1. Andante - Allegro con anima

See all 6 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: 3. Valse. Allegro moderato

2. Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: 4. Finale. Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace - Molto vivace - Moderato assai e molto maestoso - Pr

3. Symphony No. 6 in B minor ('Pathétique'), Op. 74: 1. Adagio - Allegro non troppo - Andante - Moderato mosso - Andante - Moderato assa

4. Symphony No. 6 in B minor ('Pathétique'), Op. 74: 2. Allegro con grazia

5. Symphony No. 6 in B minor ('Pathétique'), Op. 74: 3. Allegro molto vivace

See all 6 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Tchaikovsky boxed set of the symphonies ever, July 24, 2005

By 

M. A. Scott "Rock and Classical music fan" (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Complete Symphonies (1-6) [4 disc set] (Audio CD)

I've heard many of the Tchaikovsky symphonies in the different stages of Karajan career, and you simply can't go wrong with this set that was recorded from the mid to late 70's. I think the 6th and 3rd symphonies, and probably the 5th, are just about the best that could ever be recorded. There might be a few that could come close to matching this set, but it's almost impossible to surpass these superb recordings. The 5th has very fine analog sound, and is very exciting indeed. The 6th is among the loveliest I've heard, and I've heard quite a few. The 4th movement of the 6th, is quite moving, and often has brought me to tears. The movement needs a desperate hysteria, unlike a lot of versions that I heard that are played very cool and detached. The 6th also has very good sound also. The 3rd is probably hands down the best ever recorded. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th are also among the best, but there a probably a few that are better. This is the first Tchaikovsky boxed set I ever purchased, and I would never think about letting go of this great one!!!

P.S. Mr.Majeska- Are you insane to say that this DG Tchaikovsky 6th is subpar in any way. I've heard tons and tons of Sixth's and this is the most incredible version I've ever heard, so I wonder very much about your taste in at least the last Tchaikovsky Symphony (The Pathetique). That finale movement is so amazing it's beyond words to be quite honest. Karajan's Polish Symphony also is above reproach also, so buy an ounce of taste. And Ozawa is a very poor choice for the 5th, also, I might add. Check out Gerard Schwartz for Tchaikovsky's 1st and 2nd Symphonies also because they blow away Tilson-Thomas. Good day!!!!

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Symphonies 1 and 2 are the best here, October 24, 2005

By 

Alan Majeska "Alan Majeska" (Bad Axe, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Complete Symphonies (1-6) [4 disc set] (Audio CD)

Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) recorded almost everything in the standard orchestral repertoire once, many works two or three times, between his 1950s recordings for EMI with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the early 1960s for Decca with the Vienna Philharmonic, and his 1960s - 1989 recordings, mostly with the Berlin Philharmonic, for Deutsche Grammophon. In this collection of Tchaikovsky's 6 Symphonies, Karajan's only recordings of Symphonies 1, 2 and 3 are represented, dating from 1979 at the end of the analog era of recording technology, just before digital recordings became the norm. Symphonies 4, 5, and 6 date from 1976, and are analog sound, and Karajan's 2nd recording of these famous, oft recorded works for DG; he recorded Symphonies 4,5,6 in the mid 1960s with the Berlin Philharmonic, and again in the late 1980s for DG (with the Vienna Philharmonic). Karajan also recorded Symphonies 5 and 6 in Berlin for EMI in the 1970s. Whew! It gets confusing keeping track of all these recordings!

Karajan does best here with Symphonies 1 and 2. Symphony 1, "Winter Dreams" has tempos slightly slower than some conductors take, but things never drag, and the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic is so beautiful and expressive. Symphony 2, "Little Russian" also has slightly slower than average tempos, but is very well paced, and sounds very beautiful under Karajan's direction. III and IV are very well played, with appropriate spirit and fire.

Symphony 3, nicknamed "Polish" by Tchaikovsky's publisher (not the composer!) is really strange, as Karajan conducts some fast sections at slower than usual tempos, and the slow movements at faster than usual tempos. It borders on the bizarre. Worst of all is V, the "Polacca" movement which drags mercilessly in the coda, towards the end. Every other recording I've heard really hauls this final section at a hell-for-leather pace, but Karajan goes very slowly until the final section of the coda. This is the most mannered recording I've heard of Karajan, and the poorest recording I've heard of this least recorded symphony by Tchaikovsky, which I dearly love.

Symphony 4 is very well played, but cold, and clinical in it's execution. Symphonies 5 and 6 are well played, too, but competition here with other recordings is fierce, and there are some pizzicato (plucked string) passages in Symphony 5: II which are not together, and really spoil the feeling of continuity in this movement. Also, Symphony 5 is generally played legato to the extreme, and very slowly in parts which should move at a faster pace. I can't say why I don't like Karajan's later Tchaikovsky symphonies, I just don't and prefer other recordings.

The recorded sound is quite good throughout, but I wouldn't recommend this, for the reasons mentioned above.

If I were building a "dream collection" of Tchaikovsky Symphonies, I would recommend:

Symphony 1 "Winter dreams" - Michael Tilson Thomas/Boston Symphony (DG)

Symphony 2 "Little Russian" - Igor Markevitch/London Symphony (Philips Duo, with Symphonies 1 and 3)

Symphony 3, "Polish" - Antoni Wit/Polish national Radio Orchestra (Naxos)

Symphony 4 - Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra (Sony Essential Classics)

Symphony 5 - Seiji Ozawa/Berlin Philharmonic (DG Eloquence series)

Symphony 6 - Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra (Sony Essential Classics)