I agree with Clark. Ben, your situation is simply that you have imprinted on Koussevitzky's T5. That's very understandable. I have done the same with a large number of recordings. Koussevitzky's way with Tchaikovsky, other Russians and the French composers was definitely special, and, of course, he had that magnificent orchestra to do his bidding. It's true that the recordings are not the most modern, but I'd much rather hear an older recording that has personality than a brand-new recording with gorgeous sound that performs the music like a bunch of mummies.
The only other conductor whose Tchaikovsky thrills me as much is Mravinsky. He too had a magnificent orchestra that he had built personally, and, though his interpretation is quite different, it deserves to be heard. Mravinsky did two recordings for DG, one in mono in 1956, and the other in stereo in 1961. Some prefer the earlier, some the latter. Either way, they are both great. Have you had the chance to hear them? If not, I'm your neighbor (Lake Worth) and can make that possible.
-Larry
On Monday, June 6, 2016 2:26 PM, Clark Johnsen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Not silly. Not silly at all!
His T4 is equally epic.
As to getting an orchestra, any orchestra, to play as from a recording
would require the enthusiastic cooperation of a conductor. Here in Boston
you might, just might, get Andriss Nelsons to go along with the idea. But
the Boston Symphony today, every orchestra, is a different beast, not so
used to unanimous rubato, portamento etc. But surely worth a try.
On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 2:12 PM, James Roth <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hello everybody.
>
> The first time I ever heard the 5th of Tchaikovsky was on a recording of
> Koussevitzky and the BSO - a 45 RPM box set.
> That rendition has stuck with me (it's my favorite) and I've yet to hear
> anyone - even Bernstein - conduct with S.K.'s rubatos, creshendo's, etc.
> I wish there were. While S.K.'s rendition is my favorite by far, it's
> lacking in the clarity of later technology.
> The live ones are a little clearer than the 1946 studio recordings, but
> still...................
>
> If I had the funds, I'd hire the BSO to study his recording and then play
> it back exactly that way.
> Is that silly?
>
> Ben Roth
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