Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Carlo Maria Giulini, Felix Slatkin :: Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture Op. 49; Slavonic March Op. 31

Generally good but you can find better

Alan Majeska | 08/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I own numerous versions of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture and I have to say that this version (conducted by Felix Slatkin) is not one of the best. I was disappointed that, instead of using real cannon effects during the climax, the orchestra used drums instead to similate the cannon fire. That's unforgivable! This CD is redeemed by Carlo Maria Guilini's exciting re-endition of Francesca da Rimini and by Markevitch's conducting of Romeo and Juliet. Marche Slav was also good, but not spectacular. If you're willing to pay more, there is an excellent CD of all of these same pieces with Sian Edwards conducting the Royal Philharmonic orchestra ("Classics for Pleasure" label). Another excellent inexpensive verson of the 1812 is with Adrian Leaper conducting the Royal Philharmonic ("Tchaikovsky Festival" and "The Best of Tchaikovsky" NAXOS). I would highly recommend those versions instead of this one. There are so many great versions of the 1812 Overture to choose from, why choose a fair version instead of a great one?"

A bargain recording: buy this for Giulini's FRANCESCA

Alan Majeska | Bad Axe, MI, USA | 12/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carlo Maria Giulini (1914-2005) recorded Tchaikovsky's FRANCESCA DA RIMINI with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the 1960s, and it is still considered a benchmark recording for this work to which many others are compared. Giulini starts out in a rather tame manner, but really whips up excitement in the dramatic pages, representing the forbidden love of Paolo and Francesca, and the torments of eternity in hell. If this 25 minute piece were the only work on this disc, it would be worth the very modest asking price.



FELIX Slatkin (father of conductor Leonard Slatkin) recorded 1812 with the Hollywood Bowl orchestra in the early days of stereo, and turns in a fine, if not stellar recording of the piece. The closing pages don't have the intensity of some of the finest recordings: Haintink/Concertgebouw (Philips), Dorati/Detroit (Decca), Ormandy/Philadelphia (Sony), but overall this is a fine recording of Tchaikovsky's warhorse.



Steinberg's MARCHE SLAVE is OK if you like it fast, but I prefer this work to have a little more gravitas. The Pittsburgh Symphony plays very well, as in all their EMI recordings.



So, you get some of EMI's back catalog for a pittance, and one of the best FRANCESCAs ever recorded. Recommended."

Tchaikovsky: piezas musicales de excepcion

felipe | Chile | 12/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tchaikovsky nos sorprende con grandes obras sinfonicas que se alejan de lo que uno mas conoce de este autor, cascanueces o el increible Lago de los Cisnes, conocemos por cierto a la 1812, pero estas maravillosas Francesca da Rimini o la hermosa Romeo y Julieta son de antologia.

La obertura 1812 escuchadas por todos alguna ves es estruendosa pero esa lucha franco-rusa, la fuerza y la libertad son admirables, la version de Slatkin es muy buena, pero Ormandy y Jarvi lo hacen mucho mejor.

Igor Markevitch es un director de rigor ruso y aqui lo demuestra esta es una de mis versiones favoritas aunque Ormandy lo hace muy bien tambien.

Francesca da Rimini es una pieza maravillosa, diferente y basada en algo extraño como es el amor y la muerte, y el camino al purgatorio, es delicada y sublime, profunda, genial; Giulini es un gran director y lo hace muy bien, version alternativa, Masur o Markevitch.

Finalizamos con el fervor patriotico de una marcha excepcional, la marcha eslava es energizante, vigorosa y delicadamente popular, Steinberg hace su mejor esfuerzo y nos muestra una version estilizada, escuchen a Ormandy o Karajan en grabaciones sin igual."