Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Albert Coates, London Symphony Orchestra :: Albert Coates Conducts Tchaikovsky

Thrilling

David Saemann | 01/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best Tchaikovsky discs in the catalog. If you're worried about the sound transfers from 78's, the first three recordings from 1932 are clear with excellent presence, while the 1928 Romeo and Juliet is a little more echoey but still very enjoyable. The transfers were made by Ward Marston, who is one of the miracle workers with 78's. Coates was Russian born and influenced by the conductors Arthur Nikisch and Vassily Safanov. There probably is no more authentic sounding Tchaikovsky than what we have here. In the Symphony No. 3, Coates makes a few cuts, but you still get over 32 minutes of the music and the continuity never is disturbed. This would have been common practice in 1932, and this symphony here was a recording debut anyway. No one in my experience has equalled Coates's rhythmic lift in this work, not Boult, Karajan, or Bernstein. The Scherzo from Manfred is jaunty and colorful, making you wish they had recorded the whole symphony. As for the two tone poems, Hamlet is appropriately dramatic with beautiful molding of the big tune, while Romeo and Juliet broods and has terrific authentic atmosphere. If you never have experienced the art of Albert Coates, you are in for a great treat."