Syms 4/5/6 Pathetique

 

 

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Herbert von Karajan made fabulous recordings of the last 3 Tchaikovsky symphonies during every decade of his recording career. I believe (but I may be mistaken) there was a recording of the 6th in the series of post-war recordings made by EMI in Vienna. There were some made with the Philharmonia in the fifties also, sadly unavailable. Then, he made the first of 3 sets of all 3 symphonies for DG in the 1960s. He recording the same symphonies for DG in the late 1970s, which are the recordings reviewed here. Then, he recorded them in the 1980s with digital technology.
There was another cycle for EMI sprinkled somewhere in between the 3 DG cycles, but those have always seemed tremendously inferior to the 3 DG cycles, and I will not review them here.
Interpretively, the set reviewed here is certainly superior, as are all 3 DG cycles. The 4th and 6th have little variation in interpretation, dynamics, or tempi. The 5th is a different story all together. The 1960s 5th is more humane, less obtuse, more deeply felt, whereas the recording of the 5th in this set from the late 1970s seems more distant, almost cold-hearted in comparison. The digital recording lies somewhere in between the other two.
The biggest difference between the three sets, though, lies in the sound. And it is with the sound quality that a clear choice exists among the three sets. I rule out the digital set. Im not even sure it is available any longer. The digital set was marred by terrible digital graininess, scratchiness, and what I term "digital twang", which occurs especially with brass, ever so important a section for Tchaikovsky's symphonies.
So, the choice comes down to the set reviewed here and the recently reissued 1960s set (Amazon asin # B000001GCR). And I firmly tip my hat toward the 1960s set. The set being reviewed here comes from the late 1970s, when DG had a habit of using as many microphones as humanly possible. I sometimes wonder if they placed a seperate microphone in front of every instrument in the orchestra. It certainly sounds that way sometimes, with very close highlighting of individual instruments or sections. Listen to the 1960s set, though, and you'll hear a difference in the sound that will bring the music to life. I'm reminded of tourists visting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, only to find it shrouded in fog. It still looks magnificent to them, but because of their short visit, they never get to see it without the fog. Some, however, get to go back when the fog has lifted, and then they are truly in awe of the structure. An appropriate analogy I think, given that Karajan is always described as a great architect in his intertretations. And when you listen to the 1960s recordings after hearing the 1970s recordings, the shroud is truly lifted, and only then can you fully realize that you are in the presence of true greatness.
So, go get the 1960s set if you want to hear Karajan work his magic in these works. And the digital remastering of the 1960s set is superior to any of the others too. Cleaned of all eveidnce of tape hiss, restored to perfection. An excellent example of current digital restoration techniques.

Those 1960s recordings are also available in a Collector's Series box of 8 disks (Amazon asin # B00004SA8B) that also has some other Karajan Tchaikovsky gems, like the Rococo variations with Rostropovich, a decent Serenade for Strings, the Piano concerto with S. Richter, a very good Romeo and Juliet, the ballet suites, and more.

I admit that despite the precariousness of the conditions - the coughing, talking, moving around, distractions, uneven playing - I prefer a live performance. There is something absolutely electric about hearing one of the grand Romantic Symphonies in person. Alas, a CD may be the next best thing.

One usually associates Karajan with German composers - Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann, Strauss - but his innate musicality allowed him to excel in almost any category. While the Brahms is titanic and the Strauss is so very personal this is music for the ages - the apotheosis of Tchaikovsky's artistry. Both the composer and the conductor were great fans of that most outstanding of Romantic features - the singable melody. Despite the notorious onslaught of modernism, post-modernism, primitivism and other such "movements", Karajan remained wedded to the idea that music should make a statement without the need for explanation of what the composer "is trying to do."

There is certainly no question in this case - he was pouring his heart out into lush, quirky, grand works that have since become immortal to people both familiar and unfamiliar with classical music. THe Fourth is great, the fifth is larger than life, the sixth is incredible. Great CD at a Great Price.

Admittedly, this set is beautifully played, and the digital remastering has mitigated the shrillness of the recorded sound DGG usually gave Karajan during this period. That said, the electricity in these performances goes on and off. The performances are cosmetically beautiful, but the passion is there only intermittently--neatness counts, but it is not enough in itself--at least, not in Tchaikovsky. Also, I miss the sort of impetus-giving rubato and the illusion of hysteria just barely under control so wonderfully supplied by Pierre Monteux who understood that "the letter kills, while the spirit giveth life."

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5.0 out of 5 stars Tchaikovsky!
Fantastic recording! The 6. Symphony is done in an amazing way! The only recording I like more than this one is of Mravinsky with St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Philharmonic.

Published on Mar 23 2004 by John Goodmann

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking!
Being a big Tchaikovsky fan, I'm picky when it comes to recordings of his works. This CD is, by far, one of my favorites out of my entire collection. Read more

Published on Oct 6 2003 by Jude Gore

5.0 out of 5 stars This concerns the admirable Sixth Symphony
In this sixth symphony, Tchaikovski expresses the turmoil that is boiling in his own mind when he is looking at the world. Read more

Published on July 31 2003 by Jacques COULARDEAU

5.0 out of 5 stars This concerns the admirable Sixth Symphony
In this sixth symphony, Tchaikovski expresses the turmoil that is boiling in his own mind when he is looking at the world. Read more

Published on July 31 2003 by Jacques COULARDEAU

3.0 out of 5 stars Technically excellent, but where's the soulfulness ?
There's something about Karajan's approach here that just isn't satisfying enough for me. The music is well played and,at times, certainly dramatic (as well as loud), but what... Read more

Published on Sep 9 2002 by Jeffrey Lee

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprise! Karajan's great feat
I myself have never been a huge fan of Karajan (I prefer recordings by Toscanini, Walter, Haitink, Szell, Reiner, and others like them) but these recordings of Tchaikovsky's... Read more

Published on Jan 24 2002 by Hermes Camacho

4.0 out of 5 stars Karajan's digital 1980's versions are just as good as this
These 1970's versions have been made available recently, since Karajan's later digital recordings of the same works, also on the DG yellow record label, have been deleted from the... Read more

Published on Oct 8 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Inexpensive and indispensable.
Some budget two disc sets are good on the wallet but bad on the ears. This was the case on DG's set of Karajan's 1978 Brahms cycle. Read more

Published on Jun 7 2001 by FoFW

5.0 out of 5 stars you can't find a better combination
For the price of one CD, you get over 2 hours of music on two CD's which happen to feature von Karajan's best performances of these great symphonies. Read more

Published on Nov 7 2000 by M. H. Bayliss

5.0 out of 5 stars excelentes versiones en especial la 6ta
Sin duda alguna una de las mejores versiones de la 6ta de Tchaikovsky, gran fuerza y energia en la impecable interpretacion de la filarmonica de Berlin, notese por ejemplo la... Read more

Published on Sep 26 2000 by jose manuel jimenez

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