Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

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

 

 

Anyone who follows Solti's recorded output knows that when it came to certain staple symphonic composers, he stopped being hard-driving and tamed his style down considerably. That mostly happens here -- don't expect fire-and-ice contrasts. The first two movements are outgoing, untroubled, and extremely well played. Solti doesn't set a Russian mood -- surprising from a Hungarian conductor -- and if you didn't know the subtitle "Pathetique," you'd be hard pressed to find the prevailing mood even melancholy.

The Scherzo gets Solti into trouble, not because he drives too hard but because it's emotionally neutral. As pure technique the build-up of the march could hardly be bettered, but who listens to Tchaikovsky for lessons in orchestral discipline? I began to wonder if Solti had any personal feelings about this music, yet the finale does touch tragedy, although there's no chance of full immersion. With so many great Tchaikovsky Sixths in the catalog, Solti's good one is worth hearing nonetheless, especially for fans of the powerhouse CSO at its zenith.

I'm a bit baffled why someone would find the 'Romeo and Juliet' performance a horse of a different color -- it has the same mild pluses and minuses as the main work. The lack of ardor is a serious drawback, though.

Solti's performance is so great that I made Solti & CSO to be my first choice about this symphony. Muravinsky's editoins are good, but Solti's it the best of my mind. Emotion and power are combined together!

Sigh. It pains me to have to do this, but this is not the definitive performance of Tchaikovsky's Sixth. Where the heck is my beloved Chicago brass! Solti and his Chicago players have had a rare off-day. Now the Romeo and Juliet recording is quite good, but I don't know if it's worth the price of the whole CD, although it could be if you've got money to burn (hard to pass up any good performance of the Chicago Symphony).

Good and warm no comments just breathtaking Perhaps the reviewer before me had a day-off?!