Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Philippe Entremont (Conductor), Wiener Kammerorchester (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Wiener Kammerorchester
• Conductor: Philippe Entremont
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (June 30, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000013QT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,701 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the best Serenades available, February 16, 2001

By 

"kv581" (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer talked about Souvenir de Florence on the CD, which is indeed very good. However, I am less familiar with Souvenir than the Serenade, so I'll comment on that instead. At the risk of sounding trite, the performance here is among the best available. Vienna Chamber Orchestra does a wonderful job trying to maintain the clarity of the work, allowing the listener to hear the individual parts of the work. For example, I've never really noticed some of the beautiful countermelodies in the Waltz until I listened to this recording. The interpretation is also first-rate. Entremont brings out the warmth of the music well, plus the tempo never drags. The result is a finely performed work that will captures the listener's attention throughout the piece. Oh, did I mention that the recorded sound is VERY good?

At this price, this is a deal not to miss. If you are looking for one recording of the Serenade, this is it. Even if you already own the Serenade, chances are that you don't yet have a recording of the rarely recorded Souvenir. Definitely give this CD a try.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb performance of the Souvenir de Florence, April 15, 1999

By 

Mr. DAVID Geer "Korngold Fan" (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (Audio CD)

Performances of the orchestral arrangement of Souvenir de Florence are rare, as it seems are recordings. The work however is quite lovely and evocative and suits a string orchestra capable of playing as both an entity and a collection of fine soloists. Look no further therefore than this recording for an excellent interpretation.

The more familiar serenade is also a fine example of the work of one of Europe's leading Chamber Orchestras.

I play this disc frequently, most especially the Souvenir and have only a minor quibble and that is with a rather fast take up of the opening of the work. Otherwise this has to be one of the best quality recordings I have heard from Naxos but then they used an interesting recording venue, Casino Baumgartner in Vienna, and presumeably Austrian engineers.

Take it to your desert island!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply put, an excellent bargain!, July 15, 2006

By 

Shota Hanai (Torrance, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (Audio CD)

Philippe Entremont may be better known as a world-class pianist than a conductor. As a pianist, he collaborated with prominent figures including Leonard Bernstein and Eugene Ormandy, but he himself turns out to be a very good conductor.

This album, with Maestro Entremont leading the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, features Tchaikovsky's two best-known and most beautiful chamber works: Serenade for Strings and Souvenir de Florence. Although not as painstakingly emotional as Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, nor as sensual and passionate as Ormandy as his "Philadelphia Sound", Entremont and his ensemble offers an highly respectable performance, with great control without any flamboyance, and above all the lush, moving strings comprised of members representing the music capital of the world.

Naxos is known for offering recordings done by less-than-prolific artists at a budget price, but this is an absolute winner. A stunning performance with only little money out of one's wallet. Simply put, an excellent bargain!