Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Valery Gergiev, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

Stay with this one

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 03/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Valeri Gergiev is probably the most hyped conductor of the early century. His spate of recordings have given him exposure equal to living long-timers like Abbado and Haitink. He is regularly on European concert stages and made an American tour earlier this year. For these reasons he is overhyped, overpackaged and oversold. His recordings of Shostakovich Symphony 7, Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Berlioz Fantastic Symphony and other staples of the orchestral repertory are generally well-liked by critics who temper their reviews to protect themselves against overindulgence of the Gergiev hype machine. No hype is necessary to sell this magnificent reading of Tchaikovsky's greatest symphony, the Symphony No. 5. Using rubato and tempo variance that would bring a smile to Stokowski and Mengelberg, Gergiev starts this journey with drama and a mercurial burst in the main allegro con anima. His Russian upbringing shows through the music's first half, with particular loveliness in the andante cantabile. Gergiev's international reputation is upheld in the second half waltz and particularly in the finale, where -- after an ominous andante maestoso -- he engages the vienna Philharmonic timpani to drive home the beat and fate message of the hyperRomantic finale. Yuri Termirkanov tried this in his second recording of this music but overdid it. Gergiev, with an assist from the engineers, incorporated timpani into the sound structure in a way Stokowski did not on his famous 1966 Stuttgart rendition on London Phase 4. The result is an audience that went crazy with applause and outbursts of "bravo". I lived 30 years with the Stokowski until I acquired this CD. I'm sure I'll go another 30 with this one until something better comes along. Tchaikovksy is rarely done this well."

Spectacular!

Geoffrey S. Hamlyn | El Paso, Texas United States | 08/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The VPO really outdid themselves this time. Gergiev commands the orchestra with remarkable agility and poise. For a live performance, this is unbeatable! The first and second movements are flawless. I am blown away whenever I hear Gergiev's second movement, which is so immensly passionate and romantic. The difficult third and forth movements are almost flawless. My only compaints in the entire symphony come in the fourth movement. Unfortunately, the size of the orchestra gives the fourth movement a sometimes clumsy and chaotic feeling that takes away from the complex rhythms and dynamics written in the score. The VPO also seems to loose a bit of control towards the end of the symphony, an occurance which takes place in almost every reocrding of the symphony. However, this loss of control is compounded in part due to the fact that this is a live recording and all musicians cannot retain the same energy and technical agility throughout an entire symphony. Overall this is one of the best recordings to date and is a definate best buy!"

Magnificent

John R Newton | New Jersey | 01/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This may become the definitive recording of the Fifth. The final movement is practically perfect. Electrifying !"