TCHAIKOVSKY

Complete Symphonies

Vladimir Fedoseyev, Yuri Simonov, Gennady Rozhdestvensky

CD1

Symphony No.1 in G minor Op.13 ‘Winter Dreams’

1 I. Daydreams of a winter journey: Allegro tranquillo 13’00

2 II. Land of gloom, land of mist: Adagio cantabile, ma non tanto 11’07

3 III. Scherzo: Allegro scherzando giocoso 7’52

4 IV. Finale: Andante lugubre – Allegro moderato 11’33

5 1812 Overture 14’56

Festival Overture in E flat Op.49

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio / Vladimir Fedoseyev (1–4)

London Philharmonic Orchestra / Alexander Gibson (5)

Total time: 58’36

Recording: 1998 (1–4); 1989 (5)

CD2

Symphony No.2 in C minor Op.17 ‘Little Russian’

1 I. Andante sostenuto – Allegro vivo 12’27

2 II. Andantino marziale – quasi moderato 7’53

3 III. Scherzo: Allegro molto vivace 5’53

4 IV. Finale: Moderato assai 11’18

5 Francesca da Rimini 26’16

Symphonic Fantasia in E minor after Dante

Philharmonia Orchestra / Yuri Simonov

Total time: 64’16

Recording: September 1989, St. Peter’s, Morden, London

CD3

Symphony No.3 in D Op.29 ‘Polish’

1 I. Introduzione e allegro – Moderato assai (Tempo di marcia 13’31 funebre) – Allegro brillante

2 II. Alla tedesca – Allegro moderato e semplice 6’47

3 III. Andante elegiaco 9’47

4 IV. Scherzo: Allegro vivo 6’24

5 V. Finale: Allegro con fuoco (Tempo di pollaca) 10’41

6 Hamlet 19’02

Fantasy Overture for orchestra in F minor Op.67a

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio / Vladimir Fedoseyev

Total time: 66’45

Recording: 1998

CD4

Symphony No.4 in F minor Op.36

1 I. Andante sostenuto – Moderato con anima 19’07

2 II. Andantino in modo di canzona 9’42

3 III. Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato 5’32

4 IV. Finale: Allegro con fuoco 9’06

5 Marche Slave Op.31 9’42

London Symphony Orchestra / Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Total time: 53’19

Recording: February 1987, All Saints, Tooting, London

CD5

Symphony No.5 in E minor Op.64

1 I. Allegro – Allegro con anima 15’23

2 II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza – 13’24

Moderato con anima

3 III. Valse: Allegro moderato 5’50

4 IV. Finale: Andante maestoso – Allegro vivace 12’14

5 Capriccio italien Op.45 16’40

London Symphony Orchestra / Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Total time: 63’42

Recording: February 1987, All Saints, Tooting, London

CD6

Symphony No.6 in B minor Op.74 ‘Pathétique’

1 I. Adagio – Allegro non troppo 18’22

2 II. Allegro con grazia 7’24

3 III. Allegro molto vivace 9’23

4 IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso – Andante 10’20

5 Overture – The Storm 14’16

Overture after Ostrovsky

London Symphony Orchestra / Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Total time: 59’58

Recording: February 1987, All Saints, Tooting, London

CD7

Manfred Symphony in B minor Op.58

1 I. Lento lugubre 18’31

2 II. Vivace con spirito 9’56

3 III. Andante con moto 11’51

4 IV. Allegro con fuoco 19’20

5 Romeo and Juliet

Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare 20’28

Rod Elms organ (1–4)

London Symphony Orchestra

Yuri Simonov (1–4)

Kirov Theatre Orchestra / Yuri Temirkanov (5)

Total time 80’20

Recording: June 4, 1983

Brilliant Classics is proud to present these essential masterworks in a new 7-CD set featuring conductors Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Vladimir Fedoseyev and Yuri Simonov, Russians who speak Tchaikovsky in their own language, who feel the burning passion beneath the sophisticated surface. Includes the 6 symphonies and the Manfred Symphony. Digital recordings.

A superb value set featuring Rozhdestvensky conducting Symphonies Nos. 4–6, Simonov conducting Symphony No.2, and Fedoseyev conducting Nos.1 & 3. Gibson conducts the famous 1812 Overture, and

Temirkanov delivers a passionate Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 1–6 and ‘Manfred’ Symphony (after Byron) encapsulate the composer’s struggle with his own creative genius.

Both No.1 and No.2 were revised following their initial performances, due to the composer’s dissatisfaction with their original states. Despite this, the Symphony No.1 (‘Winter Daydreams’) is a delightful work, the most optimistic of the six, while the Symphony No.2 (‘Little Russian’) is unique for its nationalistic edge, although it relies upon Ukrainian folk tunes, not Russian. The composer was, however, satisfied with the two symphonies that followed, although the Symphony No.3 ‘Polish’ remains the least well known of the cycle, displaying his indebtedness to Western European models, notably Schumann whose Symphony No.3 was also in five movements. Symphony No.4 is generally recognised as Tchaikovsky’s first symphonic masterpiece. Written during a time of great stress, its composition offered him an escape from his near breakdown, and he considered it one of his best creations. Tchaikovsky was less pleased with the outcome of his 5th Symphony. He wrote ‘I have written myself out… no ideas, no inclination… That symphony is repellent… it will never please the public’.

Despite this, it is the most performed of his symphonies and widely considered to be one of the greatest symphonies of all time. He commenced his Symphony No.6, which was to be his final composition, in 1893; it is a sombre work, of which he wrote ‘Without exaggeration, I have put my whole soul into this work’. Within 9 days he was dead – officially from cholera (an unlikely cause of death in the middle and upper classes), which caused rumour to spread that he had, in fact, taken his own life. The 6th subsequently gained the title ‘Pathétique’. This comprehensive set contains performances by some of the great Tchaikovsky interpreters and, in addition to the symphonies, contains the overtures, Capriccio italien and the enduringly popular Marche slave.

Brilliant Classics 7cds 94307