Search - Tchaikovsky, Monteux, Boston Symphony Orchestra :: Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6 Pathetique (Volume 14) [MONTEUX EDITION]

Tanner k.

Tanner J. Knight | greenbelt, md United States | 01/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i recently found this set at a used cd store in manhattan (academy records...check it out if you are around 18th and 6th ave). this set typifies monteux's lyricism, elegance, and power at the helm of his beloved boston symphony orchestra. monteux's take on tchaikovsky is different from what you are perhaps used to from masters such as karajan or solti. monteux's tchaikovsky dispenses with the over indulgences of conductors such as bernstein or abbado, and cuts straight to the core, leaving the listener involuntarily saying "wow" after every single movement. the first of the three masterpieces to be recorded by the venerable pair of monteux and the boston orchestra was the 6th in 1955, followed by the 5th in 1958, and finally the 4th in 1959. the recording quality is surprisingly brilliant and live for being captured in the early days of stereophonic sound recording, but credit must be given to the fine remastering team at rca for cleaning up the originals.

this set is well worth sitting in your collection next to that of mravinsky with the lenningrad philharmonic, or the karajan/berlin set. however, the difference between this set and those of the later era are that monteux and tchaikovsky were alive at the same time in the late 19th century. monteux represents one of the greatest modern links to russian and french music from the generations before that of the recording innovations of the 20th century. debussy, ravel, stravinsky, and many other prominent composers hand picked monteux to conduct their orchestral works. this reading of tchaikovsky displays this fact greater than even his authoritative recordings of the rite of spring and petroushka, both of which he gave the world premieres for diagalev's ballet russe. if you have a chance to find this set on cd, i would advise buying it, no matter the price tag."

Sublime reading of the Sixth!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 06/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First at all I never have been a fan of Pierre Moneux. I respect him as a honest and convincing director but with some diferences.

That's why I have to make a double acknowledgement in what it concerns to the final result of this Sixth Symphony performance.

There have been many succesful recordings in the past: the most remarkable to my mind, have been: Furtwangler Berlin, Toscanini NBC, Van Kempen Concertgebouw, Cantelli NBC, Giulini Philharmonia and recently discovered tresured from the nineties of a Japanese conductor who sadly is not with us: Asajina with the Osaka Philharmonic.

But this version shines with major intensity respect to the previously named performances. Monteux caught the tragic spirit with such passionate intensity and febril desperation as any other conductor. Go for the Second movement and listen carefully a theme sung in Waltz form in the middle of the movement. And then go to the final movement: you will discover the same theme but expressed in tragical mood.

This Symphony and Manfred anticipated as any other previous works the Mahlerian mood. Besides it revealed the final dissolution, and the cosmic farewell of his author in a very similar approach that Mahler employed with the Ninth 's final.

Go for this treasured album and discover the best approach of the Sixth never released before.



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