Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Orchestra :: Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony

The best Manfred in years

Martin B. Haub | Gilbert, AZ, USA | 08/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This new, live, recording is sensational. The sound packs a wallop, the playing is nearly faultless, the conducting strong. Best of all, there's no hanky-panky with the score: no cuts, and no orchestration changes like so many conductors do. Of the Manfred's that have come our way recently, this one is the best as far as I'm concerned. The most amazing thing is that this orchestra can play this fiendishly difficult score so well in a live performance. Ok, so the playing time is short, for a Manfred of this power I'll overlook that."

A beautiful piece impressively performed.

A. F. S. Mui | HK | 05/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recently, the LPO performed inter alia Tchaikovsky in my city, and this disc was sold on the spot of the performance, but I missed it. After that performance, I regretted so much not to have bought the CD.

The Manfred Symphony is more a symphonic poem with a set plot to it based on the poem of the same name by Lord Byron.

The movements contain some of the most dark and emotionally haunting melodies, and the LPO under Vladimir Jurowski really hits the nail right on the head with regard to the aspects of interpretation.

I cannot understand why some classical fans dislike this work. It is a piece that you will get more and more emotionally involved with upon repeated listenings. May be they got other versions without the same depth of interpretation as you'd get in this recording.

Comparing to the live performance that I attended on Tchaikovsky's Sixth with the same team and combination, I am quite confident that we will be able to hear more and more of top-rate Tchaikovsky stuff from them.

You can take my word for it.

"

Outstanding

The book wizard | Boca Raton, FL United States | 05/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With all the classic symphonic, melodic, and ballet elements of a Tchaikovsky composition, this Manfred is haunting, brilliant and seamless, as good a Tchaikovsky symphonic performance as you could want, and the most enjoyable I have yet heard. You don't have to work at this performance . . . the musical poem just rolls along."