Search - Alban Berg, Maurice Ravel, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky :: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique"; Berg: Drei Orchesterstücke, Op. 6; Ravel: La Valse

This ought to be called "The Nihilism Record," as it contains three of the most bitter, despairing, and just plain hostile pieces of music ever written. There's a certain weird fascination in sorting out the difference between Russian, French, and German misery, and the performances are all very good. Michael Gielen, a contemporary music specialist, knows what he's doing, and as long as you don't feel suicidal, you can sample this recording with confidence if the couplings sound intriguing. --David Hurwitz