Box sets of
Tchaikovsky's symphonies -- in particular the final three symphonies -- abound. So much so that it's easy to get lost in a sea of choices trying to weigh which recording is the best performance for the money.
Tchaikovsky's late symphonies have a lot of performance considerations that must be taken into account. They require a string section that is never too bright and is capable of producing dark, ominously rich textures. A powerful, piercing brass section is a must if the fatality of the Fourth Symphony is to deliver the necessary intensity to listeners. Warm, well-balanced wind sections round out the list, with an intense first bassoon and melancholy first clarinet among the distinguishing characteristics. This EMI set recorded by the
Philadelphia Orchestra under
Riccardo Muti between 1988 and 1991 possesses all of these necessary attributes in abundance.
Muti gives each of these final three symphonies its own life and personality, deftly balancing sentiments ranging from rage to elegance to resignation. The set also includes three of
Tchaikovsky's most famous overtures, which are played with passion and integrity, leaving out the all-too-frequent overindulgence often heard with his popular works. Whether as an addition to an existing
Tchaikovsky anthology or as a first introduction to these cornerstones of the symphonic repertoire, this set is sure to satisfy.