Karajan conducts Tchaikovsky

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Karajan was unquestionably a great Tchaikovsky conductor. Yet although he recorded the last three symphonies many times, he did not turn to the first three until the end of the 1970s, and then... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 16th Oct 2000
Catalogue No: 4637742
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Series: Collectors Edition
Length: 8 hours 47 minutes

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 'Winter Daydreams'

Work length44:16

$4.40

$6.00

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1977-12-09
Recording Venue: Philharmonie, Berlin

1. Dreams Of A Winter Journey (Allegro tranquillo)

Track length11:37

$1.10

$1.50

2. Land Of Desolation, Land Of Mists (Andante cantabile ma non tanto)

Track length12:04

$1.10

$1.50

3. Scherzo (Allegro scherzando giocoso)

Track length7:55

$1.10

$1.50

4. Finale (Andante Lugubre - Allegro moderato - Allegro maestoso - Allegro vivo)

Track length12:40

$1.10

$1.50

Excerpt, Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin

Work length5:00

$1.10

$1.50

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1970-12-29
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Polonaise

Track length5:00

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin, Op.24, TH.5 / Act 2

Work length6:30

$1.10

$1.50

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1970-12-29
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Valse

Track length6:30

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Marche slave, Op. 31

Work length9:31

$1.10

$1.50

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1966-10-12
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Moderato in modo di marcia funebre - Andante molto maestoso - Allegro risoluto

Track length9:31

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 'Little Russian'

Work length34:20

$4.40

$6.00

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1979-01-25
Recording Venue: Philharmonie, Berlin

1. Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo

Track length10:48

$1.10

$1.50

2. Andantino marziale, quasi moderato

Track length7:59

$1.10

$1.50

3. Scherzo (Allegro molto vivace - Trio. L'istesso tempo)

Track length5:39

$1.10

$1.50

4. Finale (Moderato assai - Allegro vivo - Presto)

Track length9:54

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49

Work length15:21

$1.10

$1.50

Serge Jaroff (chorus master)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Don Kosaken Chor
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1966-12-29
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Largo - Allegro giusto

Track length15:21

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29 'Polish'

Work length46:00

$5.50

$7.50

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1979-01-29
Recording Venue: Philharmonie, Berlin

1. Introduzione e Allegro. Moderato assai (Tempo di marcia funebre)

Track length14:24

$1.10

$1.50

2. Alla tedesca. Allegro moderato e semplice

Track length8:08

$1.10

$1.50

3. Andante elegiaco

Track length8:07

$1.10

$1.50

4. Scherzo. Allegro vivo

Track length5:54

$1.10

$1.50

5. Finale. Allegro con fuoco (Tempo di Polacca)

Track length9:27

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Capriccio italien, Op. 45

Work length16:47

$1.10

$1.50

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1966-10-13
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Andante un poco rubato

Track length16:47

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

Work length41:35

$3.40

$4.60

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1966-10-07
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

1. Andante sostenuto - Moderato con anima - Moderato assai, quasi Andante - Allegro vivo

Track length17:42

$0.85

$1.15

2. Andantino in modo di canzone

Track length10:00

$0.85

$1.15

3. Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato - Allegro

Track length5:47

$0.85

$1.15

4. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)

Track length8:06

$0.85

$1.15

Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Work length18:50

$9.90

$13.50

Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1968-09-21
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Moderato assai quasi andante

Track length0:54

$1.10

$1.50

Tema: Moderato semplice

Track length1:42

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione I: Tempo del Tema

Track length0:52

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione II: Tempo del Tema

Track length1:13

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione III: Andante sostenuto

Track length3:58

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione IV: Andante grazioso

Track length1:53

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione V: Allegro moderato

Track length3:27

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione VI: Andante

Track length2:52

$1.10

$1.50

Variazione VII e Coda: Allegro vivo

Track length1:59

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

Work length48:29

$3.40

$4.60

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1965-09-22
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

1. Andante - Allegro con anima

Track length14:50

$0.85

$1.15

2. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza - Moderato con anima

Track length15:04

$0.85

$1.15

3. Valse (Allegro moderato)

Track length6:03

$0.85

$1.15

4. Finale (Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace)

Track length12:32

$0.85

$1.15

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for strings in C major, Op. 48

Work length29:31

$4.40

$6.00

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1980-09-21
Recording Venue: Philharmonie, Berlin

1. Pezzo in forma di sonatina: Andante non troppo - Allegro moderato

Track length9:37

$1.10

$1.50

2. Walzer: Moderato (Tempo di valse)

Track length4:11

$1.10

$1.50

3. Elégie: Larghetto elegiaco

Track length8:12

$1.10

$1.50

4. Finale (Tema russo): Andante - Allegro con spirito

Track length7:31

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 'Pathétique'

Work length44:45

$3.40

$4.60

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1964-02-11
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

1. Adagio - Allegro non troppo

Track length18:48

$0.85

$1.15

2. Allegro con grazia

Track length7:58

$0.85

$1.15

3. Allegro molto vivace

Track length8:41

$0.85

$1.15

4. Finale (Adagio lamentoso - Andante)

Track length9:18

$0.85

$1.15

Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture

Work length21:26

$0.85

$1.15

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1966-10-12
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op. 66a

Work length21:55

$5.50

$7.50

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1971-01-04
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Introduction - The Lilac Fairy

Track length5:39

$1.10

$1.50

Pas d'action. Rose Adagio

Track length6:56

$1.10

$1.50

Pas de caractère: Puss In Boots

Track length1:54

$1.10

$1.50

Panorama (andantino)

Track length3:18

$1.10

$1.50

Valse

Track length4:08

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 Suite

Work length26:46

$6.60

$9.00

Michel Schwalbé (violin)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1971-01-04
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

1. Scene - Swan Theme

Track length2:43

$1.10

$1.50

2. Valse In A

Track length6:58

$1.10

$1.50

3. Danse des petits cygnes

Track length1:42

$1.10

$1.50

4. Scene

Track length6:45

$1.10

$1.50

5. Danse Hongroise (Czardas)

Track length3:47

$1.10

$1.50

6. Scène finale.

Track length4:51

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

Work length22:43

$8.80

$12.00

Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1966-10-13
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

1. Miniature Overture

Track length3:19

$1.10

$1.50

2. Danses caractéristiques a. Marche (Tempo di marcia viva)

Track length2:17

$1.10

$1.50

2b. Danse de la fée-Dragée (Andante non troppo)

Track length1:53

$1.10

$1.50

2c. Danse russe Trépak (Tempo di Trépak, molto vivace)

Track length1:04

$1.10

$1.50

2d. Danse arabe (Allegretto)

Track length3:22

$1.10

$1.50

2e. Danse chinoise (Allegro moderato)

Track length1:16

$1.10

$1.50

2f. Danse des mirlitons (Moderato assai)

Track length2:30

$1.10

$1.50

3. Valse des fleurs (Tempo di Valse)

Track length7:02

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

Work length35:56

$3.30

$4.50

Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
Wiener Symphoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1962-09-24
Recording Venue: Musikvereinssaal, Vienna

1. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito

Track length21:57

$1.10

$1.50

2. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I

Track length6:54

$1.10

$1.50

3. Allegro con fuoco

Track length7:05

$1.10

$1.50

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

Work length35:39

$3.30

$4.50

Christian Ferras (violin)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan
Recorded: 1965-11-06
Recording Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

1. Allegro moderato

Track length19:13

$1.10

$1.50

2. Canzonetta (Andante)

Track length7:16

$1.10

$1.50

3. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)

Track length9:10

$1.10

$1.50

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

Karajan was unquestionably a great Tchaikovsky conductor. Yet although he recorded the last three symphonies many times, he did not turn to the first three until the end of the 1970s, and then proved an outstanding advocate. In the Mendelssohnian opening movement of the First, the tempo may be brisk, but the music's full charm is displayed and the melancholy of the Andante is touchingly caught. Again at the opening of the Little Russian (No 2), horn and bassoon capture that special Russian colouring, as they do in the engaging Andantino marziale, and the crisp articulation in the first movement allegro is bracing.
The sheer refinement of the orchestral playing in the scherzos of all three symphonies is a delight, and finales have great zest with splendid bite and precision in the fugato passages and a convincing closing peroration.
The so-called Polish Symphony (No 3) is the least tractable of the canon, but again Karajan's apt tempos and the precision of ensemble makes the first movement a resounding success. The Alla tedesca brings a hint of Brahms, but the Slavic dolour of the Andante elegiaco is unmistakeable and its climax blooms rapturously. No doubt the reason these early symphonies sound so fresh is because the Berlin orchestra was not over-familiar with them, and clearly enjoyed playing them. The sound throughout is excellent.
It gets noticeably fiercer in the Fourth Symphony, recorded a decade earlier, but is still well balanced. The first movement has a compulsive forward thrust, and the breakneck finale is viscerally thrilling. The slow movement is beautifully played but just a trifle bland. Overall, though, this is impressive and satisfying, especially the riveting close.
DG has chosen the 1965 recording of the Fifth, rather than the mid-'70s version, and they were right to do so. It's marvellously recorded (in the Jesus-Christus Kirche): the sound has all the richness and depth one could ask and the performance too is one of Karajan's very finest. There's some indulgence of the second-subject string melody of the first movement. But the slow movement is gloriously played from the horn solo onwards, and the second re-entry of the Fate theme is so dramatic that it almost makes one jump. The delightful Waltz brings the kind of elegant warmth and detail from the violins that's a BPO speciality, and the finale, while not rushed Mravinsky fashion, still carries all before it and has power and dignity at the close.
The Pathétique was a very special work for Karajan (as it was for the Berlin Philharmonic) and his 1964 performance is one of his greatest recordings. The reading as a whole avoids hysteria, yet the resolution of the passionate climax of the first movement sends shivers down the spine, while the finale has a comparable eloquence, and the March/Scherzo, with ensemble wonderfully crisp and biting, brings an almost demonic power to the coda. Again the sound is excellent, full-bodied in the strings and with plenty of sonority for the trombones.
The String Serenade is digital, brightly recorded in the Philharmonie in 1980, but naturally balanced.
Marvellous playing. The Waltz, with a most felicitous control of rubato, is the highlight, and the Elégie is certainly ardent; and if the first movement could have been more neatly articulated, the finale has tremendous bustle and energy. As for the concertante works, the account of the glorious Rococo Variations with Rostropovich is another classic of the gramophone, even though it uses the truncated score. The First Piano Concerto is a disappointment, with Richter and Karajan failing to strike sparks as a part- nership. In spite of brilliant solo playing, the first movement lacks supporting tension in the orchestra, and in the finale you can sense Richter wanting to press forward, while Karajan seems to hold back: the coda itself hangs fire in the orchestra. Similarly Ferras was not an ideal choice for the Violin Concerto. Not all will take to his somewhat febrile timbre, with its touches of near-schmaltz. But the performance as a whole works better than the Piano Concerto.
Romeo and Juliet is finely done, passionate and dramatic, if not quite so spontaneously inspired as Karajan's early VPO version for Decca, especially at the opening. But Marche slave, ideally paced, is very successful, sombre and exciting by turns. Capriccio italien and 1812 are both brilliantly played, and the triptych of ballet suites can be recommended almost without reservation, with the Sleeping Beauty suite memorable for some very exciting climaxes.
Even with the reservations about the two concertos, this bargain box is a fine investment, and certainly value for money. The documentation is excellent.

Karajan conducts Tchaikovsky

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