Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2 & 5

Onyx / 2016

The eagerly awaited Tchaikovsky Symphony cycle from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko gets underway with Symphonies 1, 2 & 5. In 2015 The Tchaikovsky Album with Petrenko and the RLPO, released to coincide with the orchestra’s 175 anniversary, became one of the best-selling classical CDs in the UK and met with fulsome praise from reviewers. Volume I of the Symphonies looks set to replicate that success and indeed critical acclaim.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 ‘Winter Daydreams’
I. Dreams of a Winter Journey (Allegro tranquillo)
II. Land of Desolation, Land, of Mists (Adagio cantabile ma non tanto)
III. Scherzo (Allegro scherzando giocoso)
IV. Finale (Andante lugubre – Allegro moderato – Allegro maestoso – Allegro vivo)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 ‘Little Russian’
I. Andante sostenuto – Allegro vivo
II. Andantino marziale, quasi moderato
III. Scherzo: Allegro molto vivace & Trio
IV. Finale: Moderato assai – Allegro vivo – Presto

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
I. Andante – Allegro con anima
II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza – Moderato con anima
III. Valse (Allegro moderato)
IV. Finale (Andante Maestoso – Allegro vivace – Molto vivace)

“Alive and articulate, these three performances remind us that it’s just as possible to be stunned by an original interpretation of a familiar symphony (the Fifth) as it is to be refreshed by a bright-eyed approach to less familiar works (the First and Second).” – BBC Music Magazine *****

“It was worth the wait: this release of Symphonies Nos 1, 2 and 5 makes the best possible start to the projected cycle…If future releases match these impetuous, glorious performances, Petrenko’s should be a cycle to be reckoned with.” – Gramophone

“In some ways Petrenko’s approach is a straightforward one: just do what it says in the score! He takes such care to observe every accent and dynamic marking…The Liverpool strings are fantastic…maintaining clarity and precision even when presented with a seemingly endless flurry of quavers whizzing by at a hundred miles an hour. As well as technical proficiency, Petrenko and his orchestra bring tremendous amounts of character.” – Presto Music

“Petrenko’s Tchaikovsky is authentically Russian in its bright, sharp-edged colours and rhythms…these are splendidly vivid performances.” – The Sunday Times

“Petrenko’s approach has bite and urgency, and there’s plenty of both in the more typically Tchaikovskian and more heavily emotional Fifth Symphony, where the cut and thrust of the Liverpool orchestra’s playing is impressive, too.” – The Irish Times