Hey Everybody!

Im mainly a Tchaikovsky-fan, so I was wondering...What is your favorite Tchaikovsky piece of all time? You could just state a general piece..or we could get into details with subdivisions(piano works,chamber,orchestral, etc.) . I look forward to your responses!

4/4playerB)

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" 'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Yes!'
'Nooooooooooo!' [Dragged down into Hell]
- Act two: Finale of Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

Symphony no. 1 'Winter daydreams', certainly not his best work, but still my favorite.

Symphony No. 6 'Pathetique' (Romantically-charged raw anger and despair. I could do without the third movement, though... a quasi-march doesn't do honor as a prelude to the breathtaking Finale)

Thank you Saturnus,Hexameron, and Topaz for your responses!=)

Hexameron,
I haven't listen to his S 6 "Pathetique" yet(Shame on me!)....though I have to make sure I buy a CD of that piece when I go last-minute Christmas shopping today! You have any recomendations for decent recordings for an affordable price?
Thanks!
4/4player

__________________
" 'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Penitence!'
'No!'
'Yes!'
'Nooooooooooo!' [Dragged down into Hell]
- Act two: Finale of Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

the main part of the S6 I like is the third movement .. oh well.

I like his piano con no 1 but prefer his ballet music .. the Waltz of the Flowers from Nutcracker Suite is probably my favourite.

I agree, Andante... the String Quartet No. 1 is excellent and quite neglected.

My favourite works: In rough order, best first, are:

1. Serenade in C for Strings, Op. 48
2. Symphony No 6, Op. 74
3. Swan Lake, Op. 20 (Waltz, Act 1)
4. Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (Adagio Pas d’action)
5. Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Dance of the Flowers)
6. Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture
7. Violin Concerto, Op. 35
8. Piano Trio in A Min, Op. 50
9. String Quartet No 3 in E Flat Min, Op. 30
10. Piano Concerto in B Flat Min, Op. 23
11. Marche Slave, Op. 31
12. Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op 33
13. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
14. 1812 Overture, Op. 49
15. Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32

Topaz

The Tchaikovsky piece I keep going back to is the Symphony No5, but I do not really know why. Apparently it was not one that Tchaikovsky rated very highly himself, although it was an immediate hit with the public.

I will flip around Topaz's top 2 and list my 3 favourites as:

1. Symphony no. 6
2. Serenade for strings
3. Violin concerto

About the 3rd mvmt of the 6th Symphony
Purely as music, it is drivel. It is also creates concert disasters when played for "amateur" audiences, as there is almost always clapping at the end of it. But when one understands its programmatic significance, then one begins to appreciate its incredible genius.

In the first movement, Tchaikovsky exposes his soul, the soul of the artist. Much darkness and turmoil but also a great depth of feeling, humanity and beauty.

In the second movment, we find that artist in society. The well-to-do in Russia mixed and mingled at military balls. Tchaikovsky, being a little light on his toes, never felt quite at home amongst high society, but tried to fit in nonetheless and danced waltzes with the daughters of officers and noblemen... Hence the "crooked" waltz in 5/4 time.

And then the 3rd movement. You must understand, Tchaikovsky never came to terms with his homosexuality, he despised it and referred to it as a disease. He wanted to be rid of it, he above all else wanted to fit in. The 3rd movement is Tchaikovsky imagining himself fitting in with society, being able to loose himself in cheerful abandon, cast his problems aside and be truly happy...

... and if the audience would be so kind as not to applaud at the end of the 3rd movement ...

... the opening bars of the 4th mvmt should be performed attaca, immediately following the closing "victorious" chords of the 3rd mvmt.

This then signifies the dreadful coming-down-after-the-high, the hitting of rock-bottom. Tchaikovsky sees that in his momentary vision of joyful abandonment, he has lost sight of truth, lost sight of himself. The rediscovery of that truth can only mean one thing: Death.

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As a footnote: I have only performed this piece once, in the Municipal Hall in Prague 3 years ago with the Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc (www.mfo.cz) The concert was tremendous... but the rehearsal process was brutal. The piece is so incredibly depressing for everybody, and difficult at that. We lived with it for 3 days plus the performance day, and where all ready to jump off of a bridge by the end of it. But the incredible sense of (surprisingly) joy and relief that came with the final applause was one that I will never forget. I don't plan to do the piece again anytime soon, but when I do I will definately speak to the audience from the podium and explain to them what the seemingly happy 3rd mvmt really means... Hopefully then, no one will clap.

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Symphony 5 and 6, Hamlet and Romeo-Julet overtures. Of course you can always smile when the nutcracker popes up. Then Capricco Italien and Swan Lake are pices thad is must litsen. I know the ice skaters have got bored of the Swan Lake.

It's not been long since I discovered Tchaikovsky, so I haven't heard much of him. But I must say his Symphonies nos.4 & 6 and the Piano Concerto are really beautiful.

One I listened to last night, was the Manfred Symphony, Oslo P.O. Mariss Jansons, it is a very dramatic piece, with some beautiful melodies.
This was recorded in 1988, but was given a rosette award by Penguin Guide
Does this rate highly with any of you ??

I'm not that keen on Manfred Symphony. It seems rather lack-lustre to me. Unlike many of Tchaikovsky's works, which I generally like, this piece is rather lacking in good melody. Not sure why. I must admit I haven't tried very hard. I wasn't very keen on a first listen. It improved on a second and third, but I haven't bothered with it much beyond that. Maybe I'll give it another go.