Description

Let me start by saying that this compilation is almost identical to the compilation on the Decca label named 'Essential Tchaikovsky'(blue swan on cover). The only differences are as follows- 1. The tracks are in a different order. 2. This compilation has an excerpt from the Eugene Onegin 'Letter Scene' whereas 'Essential Tchaikovsky' does not, but 'Essential Tchaikovsky' has 'Elegie for Strings' whereas this compilation does not. The third and final difference is that the version of 'None but The Lonely Heart' on this compilation is a 2003 recording sung in english by Bryn Terfel but the samemore… piece on 'Essential Tchaikovsky' is a 1991 recording sung in russian by Dimitri Hvorostovsky. The two compilations are the same in every other respect, same recordings from the same orchestras/conductors and the same excerpts.

The track listing on this site is slightly misleading (or at least it is at the time of my writing this review. I don't know if they'll alter it in the future) It DOES say that the Romeo and Juliet is only the 'Love Theme' and also that the '1812 Overture' is only the conclusion but it DOESN'T tell of all the other excerpts. 'Allegro non troppo..' from 'Piano Concerto No.1', 'Adagio-Allegro non troppo' from 'Symphony no.6', 'Allegro moderato' from 'Violin Concerto in D major', 'Letter scene' from 'Eugene onegin' and 'Capricco Italien' are all excerpts!. To be fair they are quite sizeable excerpts (9.04, 5.01, 7.37, 4.07 and 5.24) and in my opinion they are the best sections of each piece. Many of the complete movements/pieces that these excerpts are taken from are around 15 to 20 minutes long. Of course there is no way they would all fit within the two and a half hours of this compilation if they were present in full but I do wonder whether it would've been better to have complete pieces and fewer tracks. Probably not if you are a newcomer to classical music. Long time lovers of these pieces may consider the cuts to be sacrilege though. One thing that I don't think can be argued against is that the two discs amount to around two and a half hours of quality music which deserves to be in anyones music collection.

On the whole the choice of pieces is very pleasing (and so too the quality of the recordings). I particularly like the fact that the waltzes are well represented here because I adore Tchaikovsky's waltzes. Another pleasing aspect is that all pieces are performed by renouned and well respected conductors and orchestras. The names are mouth watering. Lorin Maazel, Herbert von Karajan, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Charles Dutoit, Igor Markevitch, I could go on. Anna Netrebko's voice in the excerpt of the Eugene Onegin letter scene is gorgeous and for me this is what gives this product a minute edge over 'Essential Tchaikovsky'.

It's a slight shame that the sleeve notes are so paltry. All you get is the track listing and nothing else. There's no text about the composers life or his work. This is only a minor gripe however.

Overall I consider this release to be a very good cross section of Tchaikovsky's work, especially for the newcomer. People just need to be careful not to purchase this if they already have the almost identical 'Essential Tchaikovsky'.

Tracks

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Info:

Category:

Music > Collections

Case Type:

CD

Release Type:

Retail

Comments:

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Cover Info:

Title:

No 1 Tchaikovsky Album (2007) Retail CD

Part:

Front

Dimensions:

800 x 800 px

Size:

180 KB

Downloads:

41 (0 today)

Uploaded:

Report a Problem Wrong Cover Duplicate Image Bad Quality Wrong Info

22/04/08 by misty01

Quality Rating:

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Rated 5 of 5 (1 votes). Click CDs to vote!

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