Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture; Romeo and Juliet; Marche slave; The Tempest

Everything Great but the 1812

04/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Tempest alone is enough to justify buying this disc, it's rarely recorded, and this version is I think better than Abbado's with the CSO, there is a lot more tension. The Marche Slave is excellent, a very powerful ending. Romeo and Juliet is equally well done, very tense and emotional. The 1812 is the only let down for me, it is a good recording, but not outstanding, the balance on the recording is off, the drums they use for cannon at the end are too closely miked, and I think Abbado takes the ending a little too fast. Barenboim's new CSO version of the 1812 coupled with Tchaik's 5th symphony is probably a safer bet if the 1812 Overture is what you're after. If not, then I'd highly recommend this disc, the Tempest recording is surely the best ever recorded. The Marche Slave, and Romeo and Juliet are hard to beat to."