Repertoire: The Best and Worst Tchaikovsky Fifth Symphonies

Always a popular favorite, Tchaikovsky's Fifth has received too many recordings to count, although like so much of his music it's gotten less attention on disc as of late. Here's a survey of fifteen or so of the best recordings, and a few of the weirdest and worst for good measure. Have fun and keep on listening!

[jacklong]

I am so pleased you posted this much needed evaluation of the Tchaikovsky 5th best recordings and am glad to already own four of these recordings. I first became acquainted with the 5th by listening to Klemperer’s on vinyl packaged with numbers 4 & 6. I will shortly revisit these performances as a few days ago I ordered this set on CD. It has been almost fifty years since I have heard this performance and it will be like meeting an old friend. I am delighted you have included it!

[leestamm]

A really great selection. I'm especially happy with the nods to Silvestri and Matačić, two great conductors who have faded from communal awareness these days. Thanks for putting this together in your usual entertaining and informative way.

[MisterPathetique]

Yes, Finally! I must say, I've been one of those people demanding a Tchaik 5 talk. But it's easily one of my favorite symphonies. I can't explain why, it just makes me feel totally at home. Everytime I hear the opening clarinets, it's like I'm being wrapped in a comfy musical blanket. And those tunes are just irresistible.

I already know most of the discography but I never heard of that Matacic recording. I'm gonna give it a listen immediately, thanks Dave!

And about Karajan, my favorite one is probably the 1971 one on EMI. The sound is a bit rough, but gee, Karajan milks it in this performance. The second statement of the second theme from the second movement (lots of seconds, right?) is just glorious. The way the violins project that amazing melody, it glows, it soars, it sweats, in short it's absolutely orgasmic.

So thank you again for this great talk. Now I'm waiting for the Francesca da Rimini extravaganza!

[dvorakslavenskiples]

Hi Dave, i´m very happy that you do this video and I am especially glad that you mentioned the recording of the 5th symphony with Lovro von Matačić, who is one of my favorite conductors. I sometimes wondered why you didn't mention him at all in your repertoire videos, because he left behind quite excellent interpretations (Bruckner 7 with Czech Phil., Scheherezade with Philharmonia Orch. for exemple). Unfortunately, he was not a big fan of studio recordings and did not leave many of them behind.

By the way, this was one of Matačić's favorite works and there are at least 2 live recordings (with Staatskapelle Berlin and NHK Symphony Orchestra) and one studio production with Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra (originally released on Yugoton). The recording with Czech Phil. is the best of all.

[Evangelion]

Dave's videos are an inspiration for me, even more so this year, when steep depression is striking me more than ever before.

Maybe one day, when life will smile a bit more at me, I will open a channel in which I will share my love for and knowledge of classical music in my own mother tongue.

Thank you for helping out in reconsidering older and new recordings, making me discover unexpected gems and contributing in helping me develop a better critical understanding of music itself.

[davidmayhew]

The lone "bravo!!!" in the WRONG place! Lol! Just love it! We really need a compilation recording of you singing Dave! It would be hilarious!

[jgesselberty]

Lovro von Matacic was my very first Tchaikovsky 5th. I bought it as a teen in, of all places, a supermarket. I still have the original vinyl. And, still one of the best.

[Delius]

Thank you, Dave! As always: entertaining and eyes… EARS opening! However, my favorite recording comes from Gatti and the RPO. Glorious playing and sound. Take care, Harry

[f.e.urquhart]

thank you very much for putting this together Dave. I have my own personal favourites but I’m grateful you have opened my eyes to the portamenti in the Ormandy recording. Gosh it made the hairs on my back stand like never before! Interesting to contrast it with Markevitch’s too because both recordings are on opposite ends of the tempi spectrum but one is no less expressive than the other somehow. cheers from singapore, dave.

[RModillo]

Monteux/BSO did some lovely Tchaik. Joseph Silverstein once asked then concertmaster Richard Burgin how it was that the Boston Symphony played such tight, no-BS Tchaikovsky symphonies. They'd just recorded them under Monteux and Burgin replied, "Well, you must understand. For Pierre, this IS contemporary music."

[GG-cupg]

This was wonderful, Dave, thank you!
A suggestion for future series: "10 works you have to hear
With many famous composers, it's easy to think of 10 works everyone knows. But with composers that are less known and who are prolific, it's hard to know where to start. What are 10 or even 5 must-hear works if you don't know Martinu or Milhaud or Mompou or Medtner? Ok, I'll stop. I'm enjoying the alliteration. Another example is Liszt. Most would know some tone poems, the b min sonata, a hungarian rhapsody or 3, and the piano concertos but where to from there? He was so prolific. Which transcriptions are outstanding?
With prolific composers, it's easy to try listening to lesser works at random and give up because it doesn't grab you. In the streaming age it's even harder, especially with a short attention span.
Well, I'm sure you get the idea. Thanks for considering!

[dmntuba]

The Ashkenazi/Philharmonia Tchaikovsky 5 was the cassette that stayed in my car all the time.
It was the soundtrack to my long drives between South Carolina & Miami.
A great companion 👍

[millercgr]

I have the Muti, Haitink and Mravinsky but when looking for a single performance after doing a lot of comparative listening I went for the Previn and Royal Phil on Telarc. It's a beautiful performance. Previn believes in this music and the sound is glorious. It's a fine and powerful performance, clear and sweet when it has to be and dramatic when it has to be.

[fredrickroll]

Thnk you for lauding Manfred Honeck and Lovro von Matecic! I met Tchaikovsky's ""Hamlet" and, above all, "The Storm" (op. 76, compossed in 1864, when Tchaikovsky was still studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory) ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE COMPOSITIONS!

[chrismoule]

3:20 Donald Tovey - while loving it as music, as I do - was as a musicologist quite realistic about that finale: "I have already expressed my doubts as to whether Tchaikovsky intends his finale to give an impression of struggling vainly to achieve flight, but perhaps the listener will enjoy it best if he assumes that to be the composer's intention". But, as you say, it works.

[mr-wxlv]

You didn't mention celibidache and the MPO as one of the sucky ones. I believe he took 61 minutes to get through it. But it seems like we're spoilt for choice for this work. Great video. Thanks David..

[johnmarchington]

I bought the Antal Dorati mono box recently and was surprised at how good his performance of the symphony is in that box. I really enjoyed it and the sound is remarkably good too.

[danielramirez]

Finally I’ve been waiting for this video. Love Haitink and Markevitch recordings of this work.

[bobflagg]

The Ormandy Columbia & RCA performances are very good but I think he outdid those for his last recording of the piece for Delos, very well recorded and a magnificent performance.

[wilsonfirth]

I remember that you previously recommended Yuri Temirkanov and the RPO. Having listened to it as a result, it seems to me that he really gets inside the music. It's a fantastic performance!