Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 Valery Gergiev & Wiener Philharmoniker

• 11. Adagio - Allegro non troppo - Andante - Moderato mosso - Andante - Moderato assai - Allegro vivo - Andante come prima - Andante mosso18:19
• 22. Allegro con grazia06:59
• 33. Allegro molto vivace08:13
• 44. Finale: Adagio lamentoso - Andante10:28
• Total Runtime43:59

Info for Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6

After a stunning Tchaikovsky Sixth from Gergiev and his Kirov forces, recently shown on TV, I had very high hopes for this issue. When I saw 'Live Recording' emblazoned on the box I was somewhat concerned that we might get a repeat of the crazy, intrusive 'Bravo' that for me completely ruined Gergiev’s Vienna recording of the Fifth a couple of years ago. Live recordings can have their attractions, which is fine, unless some idiot, completely convinced that he has to be the first to start applauding, ruins the moment. Here, I am happy to say that the offender was either silenced, or more likely, rehearsal ‘takes’ were substituted to bring this performance to a close.

The performance is superb. The playing of the Vienna Philharmonic is wonderful, with well blended brass and woodwind, and those glorious strings; just the sort of playing that suits Tchaikovsky down to the ground. Also Gergiev’s long experience in the theatre shows up in this most balletic of the symphonies. The performance shows all of the ebb and flow which is generated not just by the emotional content of the work, but also by the fact that we are dealing with a man of the theatre, responsible for the three greatest ballet scores ever.

Some commentators have commented upon the fact that the Gergiev performances don’t have the stature of those put down by Mravinsky, and that if they had been done by the Kirov Orchestra they would have been more excitingly played. This may be true, but personally, I found the performance here to be as satisfying as I have ever come across.

The recording quality cannot be faulted, with the engineers capturing the aristocratic playing of this great orchestra caught on the wing under a conductor who increasingly seems incapable of doing anything wrong. The acoustic of the Musikverein is excellently captured. Listeners who have surround sound will be transported there, the orchestra sounding vivid and lifelike.

How lucky we are to have such performances captured on the wing and released in such a handy format, although in this case value for money is poor. (John Phillips, www.musicweb-international.com)

'. . . the Gergiev charisma and atmosphere at their spellbinding best.' (David Nice, BBC Music Magazine)

Wiener Philharmoniker
Valery Gergiev, conductor

Recorded Live, Grosser Saal Musikverein, Vienna, 17–21 October 2002.

Digitally remastered.

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