TCHAIKOVSKY

Symphonies 1-3

London Symphony Orchestra / Valery Gergiev

Tchaikovsky’s early trio of symphonies have long lived in the shadow of the three that followed. Following his acclaimed Mariinsky DVD of the final three symphonies, which received Choc de l’annee in France, Valery Gergiev conducts outstanding performances of the earlier works with the LSO.

Tchaikovsky’s early symphonies are full of the rich expressive melodies, for which he had a natural talent, with influences of Russian nationalism and folk tunes, particularly in the ‘Little Russian’, No. 2. The choreographer George Balanchine exploited the dance-like nature of the Third Symphony by using it as the basis for the final part of his ballet masterpiece, 'Jewels'.

Throughout the Autumn Valery Gergiev will conduct the complete Brahms and Szymanowski cycles with the LSO in London, Edinburgh, Paris and Luxembourg. They also tour to the USA and Germany. Gergiev’s recent recordings on LSO Live include an acclaimed recording of Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances and Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements. His award-winning Mahler cycle will be released as a 10-SACD box set in October.

"a wonderfully accomplished account of Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Symphony. The intricate classicism of this piece, its deftness and sleight of hand, make it extraordinarily difficult to pull off - but Gergiev instinctively knows how this music breathes...to take the sound away and achieve that airiness and balletic poise that can be so elusive" The Independent

"the vigour of Gergiev’s interpretation, all darting flashes of colour and contrast, was immensely appealing, and the finesse and panache of the playing were second to none. Very fine" The Guardian

"Gergiev’s inspired handling did raise the question of why programme planners do not more frequently offer this charming piece in preference to yet another Pathétique. What astonishes most about Gergiev’s conducting is that the results are as precise as they are" Evening Standard

"a beguiling performance of Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony … the scintillating Scherzo was irresistible. This is clearly a cycle not to be missed" The Guardian

LSO Live LSO0710