SA-CD.net - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5, Pique Dame Overture

7 of 11 recommend this SA-CD
Would you recommend it?

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Post by tream August 7, 2012 (1 of 2)

I just re-read Jerry Dubins' rave review of this release in Fanfare, and I was curious to see how it was received here - from the site reviewers we have one strong endorsement and one negative review, and just 5/8 have recommend this....one wonders if readings with strong personalities, something I discerned in Kitajenko's Manfred, cause more polarized reactions, yet have higher potential returns. For years I have felt that Mravinsky's reading of this work was all I ever needed.....although i can imagine a negative reaction to it - it is a driven, intense reading. I once owned the Szell, which many like and I acquired the Gatti SACD, but on the occasions when I wanted to hear this work, I chose the Mravinksy.

I've been waiting for the release of the early symphonies to continue buying the Kitajenko's, but now I am tempted.

Interested to hear other reactions.

Post by wehecht August 8, 2012 (2 of 2)

Tom,

I'm one of the five. I also "recommended" the 6th and Manfred. These are certainly individual readings, no consensus interpretations from Kitajenko. Yes, tempos tend to be slow, but the longer line is not lost, or maybe better said the pulse is consistently clear, unlike similarly slow readings by Eschenbach/Philadelphia Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5, The Seasons - Eschenbach, where tempos are all over the place with the result that the piece seems particularly episodic. I also think the sound in this series is really good, with a powerful bass foundation that makes for a very "Russian" sound.

Bill