Symphonies Nos 1 - 3 [2 CD set]

"Valery Gergiev is regarded as one of the outstanding conductors of today. As Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, he oversees the Kirov Orchestra, Ballet and Opera, and this exciting set has him conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. He also launched the Mariinsky SACD label. He is known for his all-out, energetic and enthusiastic style, which seems to come to fore in some Tchaikovsky. He already got good marks for his traversal of the final three Tchaikovsky symphonies on the Mariinsky label, and here are the first three-much less well-known but filled with richly expressive melodies. They are more balletic and suite-like than the familiar later three symphonies, as the composer was sort of feeling his way toward a more perfected symphonic language.

The top-rated recordings of these three seem to be Bernstein, Karajan and Temirkanov. Nit-pickers will find things to carp about Gergiev's performances. For one, his usual enthusiasm seems dampened in some almost funereally-paced tempi. The First ("Winter Dreams") and Third ("Polish") are still superb in my estimation, with the Third sounding almost like a Tchaikovsky ballet score. It is the Second ("Little Russian") that, while refined and accurate, rather drags along with the usual Gergiev enthusiasm. Its several themes are adaptations of Ukrainian folksongs.

But it is the usual excellent LSO Live hi-res surround sonics on this pair of bargain-priced SACDS which for me makes them a winner on my system."
(Five Stars AudAud.com)

"Gergiev can transform works that often seem problematic into something compelling and totally coherent. In this set, he does exactly that with the Third...which he not only reveals as a totally convincing reworking of traditional symphonic form...but links it dramatically with Tchaikovsky's operas... both [the First & Second] are full of wonderful touches, of sharply etched detail, vivid colours and tremendous focused energy." The Guardian, 6th September 2012 *****

"what lovely and characteristic things are to be found in them, how full of Tchaikovskian panache, melodic richness and rhythmic vitality they are, and how brightly they shine in these vivid performances" Sunday Times, 16th September 2012

"This budget-price, immaculately recorded double album is a revelation; Valery Gergiev's pin-sharp attention to detail and rhythmic zest making each work seem much bigger and bolder than usual, far more than sequences of balletic interludes...Essential listening." The Arts Desk, 30th September 2012

"Gergiev's handling of dynamic is expert…the orchestra is at its best here" International Record Review, November 2012

"Gergiev's frequent use of striking contrasts of tempos between themes, or even dramatic pauses, as in the slow movement, often makes Tchaikovsky's First sound like a close relation to a Bruckner symphony. Yet, such is the affection with which Gergiev shapes this work that it never descends to bathos." BBC Music Magazine, January 2013 *****