Search - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Andre Vandernoot, Jean Martinon :: Tchaikovsky: Les Concertos

Terrific Tchaikovsky

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 01/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2CD set from EMI France collects some classic performances of the various Tchaikovsky Concertos. The best known recordings here are the 1958 account of Piano Concerto No. 1 by Andre Vandernoot and the Philharmonia Orchestra with soloist Georges Cziffra, and the 1959 Violin Concerto with the great Leonid Kogan and Constantin Silvestri leading the Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire. Both have to be considered among the best performances ever recorded, particularly Kogan's -- it's a toss up between this and the Ferras/Silvestri on Testament (see my review) as my personal favorite. Of course, this very same PC/VC combination is also available at budget line on an EMI Encore title. So if you are going to pay extra for this import set, what are you getting that's so special? (By the way, this set is currently available for only $10 at Berkshire Record Outlet.)



Well for me that was easy -- the Rococo Variations. For years this 1956 stereo performance by cellist Pierre Fournier, with Sir Malcolm Sargent conducting the Philharmonia, has been the standard bearer, yet it has turned up on surprisingly few CD collections. In fact, when EMI recently issued the four-disc set "Les Introuvables de Pierre Fournier" (see my review), they selected his mono account of the Variations from 1941 with Bigot/Lamoureux instead, and you got me as to why! But as good as the Rococo is, thankfully there is even more great music here. The 1972 recording of the 2nd Piano Concerto, with soloist Sylvia Kersenbaum and conductor Jean Martinon leading the Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F., is one of the best versions I've heard. The remaining work here is the Allegro from the unfinished Piano Concerto No. 3. Pianist Peter Donohue, with Rudolf Barshai and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, put in a fine performance (digitial stereo from 1987) but in my opinion this work's inclusion is simply for completists. Overall, this is a terrific Tchaikovsky set, and though an import, it is priced to compete with the domestic titles on Decca and Philips, yet in my opinion offers better performances."