Search - Tchaikovsky, Christoph Eschenbach, Philadelphia Orchestra :: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4; The Seasons ("July"-"December") [SACD ]

The famously rich Philadelphia strings continue to sound terrific in Tchaikovsky, while the expert winds and brass shine on this disc. The opening fanfare, in which Eschenbach takes a more leisurely and less doom-laden approach than we hear from most Russian conductors, tells us his interpretation will emphasize structural balance over shorter-term thrills. Not that excitement is lacking, but this is a cooler, less overtly emotional approach that some may find a good complement to more-emotional versions in the catalogue. Eschenbach?s reading also displays more-relaxed tempos than are usually heard, while bringing out myriad welcome details that might otherwise be lost. Still, despite comparable timings, Bernstein?s New York Philharmonic performance has more rhythmic snap and excitement, while Mravinsky?s classic Leningrad version remains in a class by itself. Eschenbach is at the piano for the final six months of The Seasons, reminding us that he was a world-class pianist before he turned to conducting. He displays keyboard command of Tchaikovsky?s charming vignettes of the months, much as he did in his traversal of the first six of the set when coupled with his recording of the Tchaikovsky Fifth. --Dan Davis