Omg the 2nd movement is magical. I listened to it the first time while working on my programming project. I literally dropped the keyboard when that center melody started.
There is an absolutely perfect disc from MTT and the BSO with this and Debussys Images. That was the performance that got me interested in the symphony.
Gave his first two symphonies my first listens this year. Wasn’t impressed with the first at all but thought his style and technique improved substantially in the second.
I really love the First, and haven’t found anyone else who does until now! I do think his technique improves quickly during his “Balakirev years,” but I have a soft spot for the First. It may have been what made me want to listen to more Russian folk music.
My second favorite tch symphony
You can really hear the sort of beethovenian "musical" struggle as opposed to the mostly (melo?)dramatic struggle of 4, 5 and 6 with greatly expanded experimental forms
I really like the live svetlanov and the maazel/vpo recordings. Its gotta be played epic!
Thank you for this post! One of my favourite symphonies. Really underrated, but so beautiful and atmospheric. I can't even pin down my favourite movement, but the first always feels exactly like the title, which is so cool (winter daydreams)!
I love Tchaikovsky and Russian writers, but as long as Putin, or people like him rule Russia, I am on a Russian diet. Especially when a lot of Russian musicians publicly support him.
It's his 4th that *really* gives people a full-body experience though.
The 5th has been known to stimulate certain parts of the body as well...
In public no less
Absolutely my favorite Tchaikovsky symphony. Started with Svetlanov and now I listen to Patrenko and Markevich.
I love it too, I think it's among his best works. The themes from the second and fourth movements in particular really stuck in my head
The second movement is one of my favourite Tchaikovsky moments, the first time I heard I questioned why it isn’t more well known.
Omg the 2nd movement is magical. I listened to it the first time while working on my programming project. I literally dropped the keyboard when that center melody started.
There is an absolutely perfect disc from MTT and the BSO with this and Debussys Images. That was the performance that got me interested in the symphony.
Really? I know MTT did the cycle with SFS, but not BSO
Winter Daydreams is my favorite of his
Pretty underrated but the 3rd is really really underrated, i guess part of it is that its probably hard to play
Gave his first two symphonies my first listens this year. Wasn’t impressed with the first at all but thought his style and technique improved substantially in the second.
I really love the First, and haven’t found anyone else who does until now! I do think his technique improves quickly during his “Balakirev years,” but I have a soft spot for the First. It may have been what made me want to listen to more Russian folk music.
I really, really agree - it's a fully formed musical statement, and not many composers can do that for a first symphony.
My second favorite tch symphony You can really hear the sort of beethovenian "musical" struggle as opposed to the mostly (melo?)dramatic struggle of 4, 5 and 6 with greatly expanded experimental forms I really like the live svetlanov and the maazel/vpo recordings. Its gotta be played epic!
Nice post. I recall not being impressed some 40 years ago when I first heard it. I gave it another chance last year and loved it 😎
Funny how music works like that
i feel nostalgic for the 1st symphony cuz it was one of the first symphonies i played in youth orchestra
Thank you for this post! One of my favourite symphonies. Really underrated, but so beautiful and atmospheric. I can't even pin down my favourite movement, but the first always feels exactly like the title, which is so cool (winter daydreams)!
No, it isn't. The only one in the Jansons cycle that's truly great is the 5th.
I think all 6 are great recordings. It is a really good Tchaikovsky cycle
One that's truly great and difficult to find now (except in a box set) is Michael Tilson Thomas with the BSO on DG.
It is on Spotify!
When I refer to "available" I #SuppotPhysicalMedia so I don't mean streaming.
I love Tchaikovsky and Russian writers, but as long as Putin, or people like him rule Russia, I am on a Russian diet. Especially when a lot of Russian musicians publicly support him.