Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: Andante - Allegro con anima
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: Valse, Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: Finale, Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace
Serenade for strings (or piano, 4 hands) in C major, Op. 48: Pezzo i forma di sonatina, Andante non troppo - Allegro moderato
Serenade for strings (or piano, 4 hands) in C major, Op. 48: Valse, Moderato - Tempo di Valse
Serenade for strings (or piano, 4 hands) in C major, Op. 48: Elegia, Larghetto elegiaco
Serenade for strings (or piano, 4 hands) in C major, Op. 48: Finale (Tema russo), Andante
Eugene Ormandy's Fifth is the earliest of his stereo Tchaikovsky symphony recordings for Sony, and it's one of the best. Not only do you get a typically lush, opulent performance, the strings still play with a healthy do... more »se of "portamento" (which means sliding from one note to another). It's a delightfully sentimental style that has vanished completely--now it's considered bad taste. Tacky, maybe, but a great performance nevertheless. You'll just love it. --David Hurwitz« less
Eugene Ormandy's Fifth is the earliest of his stereo Tchaikovsky symphony recordings for Sony, and it's one of the best. Not only do you get a typically lush, opulent performance, the strings still play with a healthy dose of "portamento" (which means sliding from one note to another). It's a delightfully sentimental style that has vanished completely--now it's considered bad taste. Tacky, maybe, but a great performance nevertheless. You'll just love it. --David Hurwitz
"But for me, the main event here is the Serenade for Strings. This piece of music may well have better interpretations elsewhere on disc, but lets be honest 99% of this piece is gushing romantic string tone. This orchestra, which was well known for high quality in this area fully lives up to its hype. This is music that should never be played by a small chamber orchestra, yet can get bogged down by a lesser full sized string section. Here, everything is done to its proper effect, with warm recorded sound. The 5th Symphony as noted clearly lives up to its "essential classics" label. It is essential, and is brought off in much the same way as the Serenade. Gushing and romantic to an extent that those snobs who dislike Tchaikovsky will hate it even more then normal. I love every minute of it!"
Good except for omitted measures
Daniel Thompson | Laguna Niguel, CA | 08/12/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There is no doubt that the widely loved Symphony No. 5 is performed extremely well. With first rate musicians and conductor, the emotional work lives up to its masterpiece reputation. The Serenade for Strings is another brilliant piece, but the edition on this CD lacks the written-out repeat of the Allegro Moderato (roughly 120 measures). Similarly, in the Finale, there are 235 measures missing! These omissions would add a good ten minutes to the Serenade. Music buyers should purchase this CD for the Symphony No. 5 and look for a better edition of the Serenade for Strings."
The best performance of Tchaikovsky's Fifth I've heard yet!
Jason Quintana | 06/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When Eugene Ormandy was music director, the Philadelphia Orchestra always had a excellent string section. And this performance, which requires intense string power, is solid evidence. There is so much emotion and power in this symphony, and Ormandy gives it the performance that it deserves. And at under $10, this CD is a steal."
La mejor 5a de Tchaikovsky...
felipe | Chile | 01/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Esta es sin lugar a dudas la mejor version que podran escuchar de la quinta sinfonia de Tchaikovsky, es grandiosa, es sublime, es sutil y es sencillamente espectacular.
Cada movimiento es una muestra de la genialidad creativa de Tchaikovsky y de la perfeccion de la Orquesta de Filadelfia, Ormandy se encarga en cada momento de demostrarnos porque sera por siempre uno de los mejores directores de orquesta de todos los tiempos.
La introduccion es maravillosa y nos sumerge en un mundo musical impresionante, el segundo movimiento es totalmente sutil, bello, le sigue un vals, es decir tempo de vals, genial. Finalizamos en una voragine luminosa y delicada, es un final que nos deja ufff mas que satisfechos, claro, pero todavia queda un poquito, mas de alguien aplaude antes de tiempo. Sencillamente genial.
Despues de esto el agregado y como pasa mucho seria lo de menos, pero no, sorpresa una version exquisita de la serenata para instrumentos de cuerda, Ormandy nos conduce por otro lado y nos sorprende, la Orquesta de Filadelfia posee la mejor seccion de cuerdas, y la mejor seccion de vientos y las mas espectacular percusion que pudiesemos escuchar, entonces que oimos la mejor serenata para instrumenstos de cuerda, una obra esplendida, con un toque folklorico y patriotico genial.
Es por tanto un CD incomparable, que no puede dejar de tener."
The most gracefull of them all.
yazdanbuksh | Pune Maha. India | 05/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The manner in which ormandy conducts the orchestra can only be described as a magician waving his magic wand over the people.(musicians) He is in this symphony what Furtwangler was to beethoven's 9th. Give him a try and dont be surprised if you end up buying the 4th. and 6th. by him."