The Snow Maiden Op 12

"Tchaikovsky wrote his incidental music for Ostrovsky's Snow Maiden in 1873, and though he accepted it was not his best, he retained an affection for it and was upset when Rimsky- Korsakov came along with his full-length opera on the subject. The tale of love frustrated had its appeal for Tchaikovsky, even though he was not to make as much as Rimsky did of the failed marriage between Man and Nature. But though he did not normally interest himself much in descriptions of the natural world, there are charming pieces that any lover of Tchaikovsky's music will surely be delighted to encounter. A strong sense of a Russian folk celebration, and of the interaction of the natural and supernatural worlds, also comes through, especially in the earlier part of the work. There's a delightful dance and chorus for the birds, and a powerful monologue for Winter; Vladimir Grishko, placed further back, sounds magical.
Natalia Erassova (for Chistiakov's recording on CdM) gets round the rapid enunciation of Lel's second song without much difficulty, but doesn't quite bring the character to life; Mishura-Lekhtman has a brighter sparkle.
Chistiakov's Shrove Tuesday procession goes at a much steadier pace than Järvi's, and is thus the more celebratory and ritual where the other is a straightforward piece of merriment. Both performances have much to recommend them, and it isn't by a great deal that Järvi's is preferable. Chandos provides transliteration and an English translation." [The Gromophone Classical Music Guide]