Title : Tschaikovsky: Ballet Suites / Rostropovich, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Author : Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich
Release Date : 19970311
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $11.98
Amazon.com Price : $9.94
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Editorial Reviews : Shortly after recording these three ballet suites in 1978, Mstislav Rostropovich likened conducting the Berlin Philharmonic to driving a locomotive. You get on, and you go where it takes you, he said--but in this case, the orchestra went where he wanted it to go. The playing is magnificent, but it is the characterization, the things Rostropovich gets the players to do that they wouldn't otherwise have done, that makes these accounts so memorable. As you listen, you are transported to a different world, for no conductor understands Tchaikovsky's soul better than Rostropovich. The delicacy is amazing, the power overwhelming; the analog recording captures it all in outstanding fashion.
Buyer Reviews : By 1978 Von Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic had become the musical equivalent of Volkswagen, solid, consistent and reliable, but not likely to set the world on fire. This recording (made strangely enough in the year VW launched the original Golf GTI, perhaps some one spiked the Reine water!) confounds the listener's expectations of that venerable old orchestra. The solid structure is still there, but the musicians seemed re-invigorated by the presence of the great cellist Rostropovich at the podium rather than as a soloist and they rise majestically to the occasion. In fact the only fault I can find with this set is that they recorded the suites and not the complete ballets. If this was a 5 or 6 disc set of the complete score's, it still wouldn't be too long. Sound wise this recording was one of DG's late analogue gems and a listen to its original LP issue will demonstrate why analogue will always be better than digital for many listeners. The CD issue preserves as much of the sonic greatness as it can, but I'd just LOVE an audiophile LP edition.
