Since 2010, Dmitri Kitayenko and the Gürzenich Orchestra of Cologne have been releasing hybrid SACDs of the symphonies of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky on Oehms Classics, and they've shown a natural sympathy for the music, though there's little new to discover in these performances. Treating the symphonies as the epitome of late Romantic music, Kitayenko uses a fair amount of rubato to heighten the drama, and the orchestra plays with big emotions and ample excitement, despite the fact that these are among the most familiar and ...
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Since 2010, Dmitri Kitayenko and the Gürzenich Orchestra of Cologne have been releasing hybrid SACDs of the symphonies of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky on Oehms Classics, and they've shown a natural sympathy for the music, though there's little new to discover in these performances. Treating the symphonies as the epitome of late Romantic music, Kitayenko uses a fair amount of rubato to heighten the drama, and the orchestra plays with big emotions and ample excitement, despite the fact that these are among the most familiar and over-played pieces in the repertoire. Anyone looking for a solid set of the complete symphonies will find these performances quite acceptable, and Oehms' reputation for state-of-the-art reproduction makes this set highly desirable. It includes the six numbered symphonies, the somewhat overlooked "Manfred" Symphony in B minor, the reconstructed Symphony No. 7 in E flat major, and the unfinished Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, along with a handful of orchestral favorites provided...
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