Product Description
Amazon Review: Although Tchaikovsky had great confidence in this symphony immediately after writing it, the poor reception at the premiere left him completely dejected, and he lost so much confidence that he wrote in a letter that the piece had "something insincere about it." Of course, nowadays, no one who loves Tchaikovsky would doubt the brilliance of this "Fifth Symphony." If this piece ever sounds "insincere," it is probably due to an insincere performance. Ashkenazy, born in Gorky, Soviet Union, is a Russian musician who has worked on Tchaikovsky's works in a wide range of fields, including symphonies, orchestral works, piano concertos, and piano solos, for many years. Perhaps it is because of this accumulation of experience and love that Ashkenazy devotes himself to this masterpiece, the "Fifth Symphony," with an effortless, straightforward, and unpretentious performance that is truly sincere. The Philharmonia Orchestra's high-quality strings and solid sound are very pleasant. Above all, the timpani at key moments is exhilaratingly precise. The first and third movements are played at a slightly faster tempo, with a brisk pace. In the second movement, the opening horn melody is quite slow, but the tempo is not fluctuated too much overall, and the performance is straightforward. The greatest climax is in the fourth movement, where, after a solemn and grand introduction, the rapid main section begins, and the lustrous brass section plays a major role, making it a truly rewarding listen. The fantasy overture "Romeo and Juliet" is a masterpiece from Tchaikovsky's younger days, when he was deeply devoted to Shakespeare. Here too, Ashkenazy delivers a straightforward and unpretentious performance, directly drawing the listener into the world of this tragic love story. Recorded on November 25, 2002, at Suntory Hall. The recording quality is exceptionally good. Important sounds that you don't want to miss, such as the quiet harp sound in "Romeo and Juliet," are all captured clearly and vividly. It's more of a musical recording than an accurate one. (Naoki Hayashida)
