This "Russian Greatest Hits" journey couples Tchaikovsky'sSymphony No. 6("Pathétique"), ... more
and the lovely ballets from his greatest opera,Eugene Onegin, with the majestic architecture and overwhelming vistas of the composer's native Russia. The whirlwind ...
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Written just before his death in 1893, Tchaikovsky's Pathétique symphony is in many ... more
respects the first twentieth-century symphony. Listening to the emotional catharsis of the first movement, or the manic energy unleashed in the "Scherzo", it's not difficult to hear the (second world) wartime symphonies of Shostakovich and Prokofiev waiting in the wings. It's also a masterpiece in its own right, and Mikhail Pletnev's 1991 recording gives it a fresh leash of life. The highlight is an astonishingly rapid account of the "Scherzo", superbly played by the orchestra Pletnev himself founded. There's no lack of feeling elsewhere, though don't expect heart-on-sleeve emotion of the kind Tchaikovsky has suffered from so much. In its new coupling, you get a selection of Tchaikovsky's piano music: the Op. 21 pieces are probably more interesting to play than hear, but The Seasons is delightfully intimate music, while Pletnev is as imaginative an arranger as he is an insightful pianist in The Sleeping Beauty transcriptions. A successful compilation, well worth acquiring. --Richard Whitehouse
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Advantages: Great passion, beautiful melodies, unrestrained romanticism Disadvantages: The finale doesn't quite convince in it's purpose
and distinctly external force that crushes our hope with brute force. In the Fifth, Fatum is not quite so overstated, but is perhaps even more terrifying. Here Fatum appears in the form of an idée fixe, a term coined by Berlioz in his Symphonie fantastique for a fixed idea that stubbornly reappears in every movement (a kind of precursor of Wagner's leitmotif). Rather than being a forceful entity appearing amid dreams of happiness, Fatum in the Fifth is more all-enveloping, intruding more subtlely into every germ of our mind. This makes the Fifth perhaps a more refined and less destructive work than the Fourth for casual listeners, but is no less powerful.
MINOR CRITICISMS
Tchaikovsky set to work on the symphony in May 1888, finishing the score in August of the same year. The work was premiered in St.Petersburg on November 17, 1888 under ...
Advantages: Very exciting and powerful piece of emotional hysteria Disadvantages: If you're obsessed with classical form and beauty, then this might just be too much
, the music returns to its original demenour. Originally Tchaikovsky was not very sure about how fast to play the movement. His initial instructions told the pizzicato was to be played as fast as possible, but he gave up the idea and assigned a more standard direction of Allegro. Tchaikovsky was very proud of his novel orchestration, but later on felt more annoyed as the "cute" scherzo made a bigger impression than the rest of the symphony.
IV. Allegro con fuoco
"If you can't find joy within yourself, then look around, go to the people. See how they can give themselves up to pleasure! A peasant festival is depicted. But no sooner do you forget yourself in others' joy than the unrelenting Fate again reminds its presence. Again the heavy theme from the first movement appears. But the others don't care. They are not looking at you at all, they ...
Advantages: Witty, Flowing Prose Disadvantages: May Be Better in the Russian Language
master the beat and intonation, yet once the tambourine kicks in, EugeneOnegin you'll find hard to resist.
The story tells of 'the emotions and destiny of three men... and the fates and affections of three women...' (J.Falen) and, although concentrating, naturally, on Onegin, the protagonist, introduces the characters in a clear and attractive way:
"As all applaud, Onegin enters-
And treads on toes to reach his seat;
His double glass he calmly centres
On ladies he has yet to meet.
He takes a single glance to measure
These clothes and faces with displeasure;
Then trading bows on every side
With men he knew or friends he spied,
He turned at last and vaguely fluttered
His eyes toward the stage and play-
Then yawned and turned his head away:
It's time for something new, he muttered,
I've suffered ballets long enough,
But now ...
This unique video series recognizes the impact of setting and natural beauty on the creative mind, and pays tribute to that by combining gorgeous classical music with a visual tour of the surroundings which inspired its creation. This release focuses on the incomparable music of Tchaikovsky and the unsurpassed drama of the Russian landscape. Combining two beautiful compositions -- the ballet music from his opera EUGENE ONEGIN and his renowned Pathetique Symphony -- with the exotic backdrops of Red Square, the Kremlin, the Black Sea, the Odessa Steps, and many other infamous locations, this is one breathtaking video indeed.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
NAXOS; SELECT MUSIC & VIDEO DISTRIBUTION
Release date
04/02/2002
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
DVDI 1010
Barcode
0647715101020
Composer
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Languages
Main Language
English
DVD Description
This unique video series recognizes the impact of setting and natural beauty on the creative mind, and pays tribute to that by combining gorgeous classical music with a visual tour of the surroundings which inspired its creation. This release focuses on the incomparable music of Tchaikovsky and the unsurpassed drama of the Russian landscape. Combining two beautiful compositions -- the ballet music from his opera EUGENE ONEGIN and his renowned Pathetique Symphony -- with the exotic backdrops of Red Square, the Kremlin, the Black Sea, the Odessa Steps, and many other infamous locations, this is one breathtaking video indeed.
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