John Roos’ Blog

There are many great recordings of the last three Tchaikovsky symphonies. It seems foolish and silly to try to suggest that just one could be the “best.” But I must confess that I do have a favorite. The recordings Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic made for Deutsche Grammophon in the mid-1960s.

I have a longstanding love for these recordings. What makes them so special? What sets them apart? I’ve always sensed a special abandonment. A wild and complete absorption in the music. A willingness to take chances. To go the extra mile. Karajan seems to coax his musicians to put aside reservations and give themselves totally to this music.

The recorded sound is not spectacular, and there are patches where the playing is a little rough. But even these moments seem to enhance the moment. They make me want to abandon myself to this music. With Karajan, I get caught up in this music more than any other recording.

How does one even begin to put this recording in context, to compare it with the seemingly countless other recordings? Karajan himself recorded these symphonies many times. Of these, candidly I only am familiar with these DG recordings.

Of the countless competitors, I could point to Bernstein’s DG recordings, which are charcterized by his idiosyncratic flare and heightened drama. Some find Bernstein too extreme, but his approach strikes me as compelling, and very recommendable.

Mariss Janson’s extraordinary recordings with the Oslo Philharmonic essentially put him, and the orchestra, on the map. They have stood the test of time.

I have a real love of the recordings Daniel Barenboim made with the Chicago Symphony.

Ormandy’s recording of the 4th with his Philadelphia was one of the first classical music LPs I bought. Ormany, too, recorded this music many times, but I still love that 4th (now available on Sony).

I could sing the praises of many other recordings (and criticize a few others). Yet I’d rather focus on these Karajan recordings for DG. Something special happens when I listen to them. Even today. These three recording recently were issued as a 2-disk package. Even for those owning one or many other recordings of these symphonies, I highly recommend this package, and these recordings.