Search - Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bernd Glemser :: Tchaikovsky: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

An Honor to be First To Review this Amazing Bargain!

Buckingham Schwartz | 05/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, I'm JUST NOW hearing the final movement of the 6th Symphony, having heard Symphonies 1-5, the first 3 movements of the 6th and all the Piano Concertos & Overtures from this magnificent box set. The playing throughout this set is simply beautiful. If I were writing this ONLY to tell you that this is a STEAL of a DEAL, because of the bargain price, that would be ONE thing. Rather, I am stunned to say that I find this set perhaps preferable to all others I have heard -- ... I have purchased about all of the sets available and this set is FAR AND AWAY my preference over the highly-rated (and why?), .... Antoni Wit hits every Tchaikovskian nuance with exactly what it requires, as masterfully as any conductor ever has. Having compared lessor-known orchestras with the Vienna Philharmonic (etc.) before, I was not expecting the glorious sound that comes from the Polish National Radio Symphony. This playing is as good as it gets -- nothing compromised here. Incidentally, the last movement to the 6th Symphony just ended and -- dispite having heard this work TOO MANY TIMES -- Antoni Wit has given me a thrill up the spine that I have not gotten from this ghostly finale from any recording in memory. Even if you, like I, "already have the best recording" of this music -- I recommend you buy this. You won't be disappointed. His tempi are right on (never "too fast" here for effect, or "milk this" there for a bit of romantic indulgence), but he makes them absolutely work. The Overtures are, in some cases, the best on CD (and I do believe I have heard most of the other recordings). The pianist, Bernd Glemser made me smile several times at the skill and musicality he brought to the 2nd Piano Concerto, and his performances of Nos. 1 & 3 -- if not the best ever recorded -- are certainly without fault. I have actually heard the Concert Fantasy, a rare work for piano & orchestra, many, many times, and I don't think I would be far from correct to recommend this as the best version on CD as well. There is not a thing in this set that doesn't work, gloriously. Francesca da Rimini is thrilling and superbly well executed. It is difficult to find a comparable recording, despite the competition there also. In short (too late), this box is too good to be true, and belongs in every collection of classical music. Unbelievable!"