Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites [Blu-ray Audio]

This is likely Karajan's best recording of the Tchaikovsky ballet suites, which he recorded earlier with the Philharmonia (EMI); and later with the Berlin Philharmonic (1966; 1971) for DG. There was also a 1983 recording of "Nutcracker" suite for DG (DDD), coupled with "Romeo and Juliet".The Vienna Philharmonic sounds beautiful, and Karajan's tempos flow and seem more natural than in his later recordings.Anyone wanting the basic suites from Tchaikovksy's three great ballets will not be disappointed.

All three suites were recorded twice by Karajan between 1961 and 1971. These Decca recordings with the Vienna Phil. came first and are in detailed, warm sound of high quality. After them came the DG set with the Berlin Phil. in more distant sound with wide stereo separation. The two versions are equally virtuosic, though the Vienna playing is softer, more lush while the Berlin is more pointed.As to interpretation, Karajan is definitely symphonic in both versions. He doesn't aim for recreating the feeling of ballet in the theater, and for some listeners his concdert hall manner may be too grand. But if you like this approach, it's hard to imagine any better interpretations--Karajan was a devoted and very fine Tchaikovsky conductor, surpassed only by the great Russian Evgeny Mravinsky and perhaps, on occasion, some of his countrymen. But no Russian conductor to my mind has come close to these readings for refinement and orchestral virtuosity.

good

The playing and performance are simply sublime. This is a recording to be treasured.

A real classic.

Well, at least these suites are on blu ray audio now. The sound is good. Arrangement ok. Performance is good, but a bit harsh. I like it. But if I had to do over again, I would not buy it. I will keep it though.

Verified Purchase in the UKThese recordings, which some collectors would class as reference material, are too well-known for further comment (for new collectors the 2013 review of the remastered 24bit Legends issue is repeated below) so the main interest for those will be whether the new BD version of the same remastered issue is really worth upgrading to.In this case, it has been possible to compare this new Blu-ray with the remastered 24bit Legends issue in considerable detail. At all points the BD delivers an improved aural experience. This is clearly apparent in an overall increased sensation of immediacy or ‘presence’ coupled with a palpable increase of clarity throughout the orchestra from top to bottom. All of these features combine to create a significantly more involving musical experience.No attempt has been made to depart from the original stereo audio signal and that is a great advantage as the listener is thus able to experience the sound as conceived by the very experienced and able sound engineers of the original recording.In conclusion this disc is worthy of serious upgrading consideration for collectors. Much will depend on the quality of the replay equipment as to how much of an improvement will be experienced by purchasers and that will be an individual matter for consideration. Bearing that in mind, this disc has clear potential for an enhanced experience.………………………………………..Original 2013 review of the remastered 24bit Legends issueThese recordings, from 1961 and 1965, have always been considered as rather special even when set against the later BPO versions. It is often forgotten that at the time of Karajan's earliest days, the music of Tchaikovsky was often dismissed as sugary and insubstantial. Karajan, in his concert performances of the ballet music and in his performances of the last three symphonies in particular, had a major hand in transforming the status of Tchaikovsky's music to the level at which he is placed today. This recording is a good example of that process in action.There are two ways of playing this ballet music in concert. One way is to play at as if it could be danced to and stage conductors such as Monteux conducted the concert suites in that way. Karajan took another view and conducted the music as concert music which was separated from the dancing experience. Many of these tempi are simply unworkable as dance music. However, they certainly work on every other level.In these recordings we benefit from Karajan's ability to see a whole structure with an accumulating dramatic force. Within this he brings out a myriad of orchestral details that in many other performances simply do not figure or go for nothing. In these recordings these details are not merely audible but also clearly have a musical purpose. it is Karajan's skill or awareness that enables us to appreciate these features and then to miss them in lesser alternative versions.Much depends on having an orchestra as responsive as the VPO with the individual and corporate skills to deliver for Karajan. Additionally, the recordings must also deliver to the same level and without any suggestion of artificial balancing. This Decca did superbly on this set.The remastering has been a noticeable success with greatly increased 'presence' and depth of audio sound-stage. Instrumental textures are clearer and this is a final result which fully justifies its legendary status.I would suggest that potential purchasers ignore the early recording dates of this disc and consider this as a truly legendary disc well worth considering regardless of other considerations. This is not the only fine disc of this much recorded repertoire but it is certainly a fine record of a significant conductor at the top of his game with a matching orchestra and recording.

These recordings, from 1961 and 1965, have always been considered as rather special even when set against the later BPO versions. It is often forgotten that at the time of Karajan's earliest days, the music of Tchaikovsky was often dismissed as sugary and insubstantial. Karajan, in his concert performances of the ballet music and in his performances of the last three symphonies in particular, had a major hand in transforming the status of Tchaikovsky's music to the level at which he is placed today. This recording is a good example of that process in action.There are two ways of playing this ballet music in concert. One way is to play at as if it could be danced to and stage conductors such as Monteux conducted the concert suites in that way. Karajan took another view and conducted the music as concert music which was separated from the dancing experience. Many of these tempi are simply unworkable as dance music. However, they certainly work on every other level.In these recordings we benefit from Karajan's ability to see a whole structure with an accumulating dramatic force. Within this he brings out a myriad of orchestral details that in many other performances simply do not figure or go for nothing. In these recordings these details are not merely audible but also clearly have a musical purpose. it is Karajan's skill or awareness that enables us to appreciate these features and then to miss them in lesser alternative versions.Much depends on having an orchestra as responsive as the VPO with the individual and corporate skills to deliver for Karajan. Additionally, the recordings must also deliver to the same level and without any suggestion of artificial balancing. This Decca did superbly on this set.The remastering has been a noticeable success with greatly increased 'presence' and depth of audio sound-stage. Instrumental textures are clearer and this is a final result which fully justifies its legendary status.I would suggest that potential purchasers ignore the early recording dates of this disc and consider this as a truly legendary disc well worth considering regardless of other considerations. This is not the only fine disc of this much recorded repertoire but it is certainly a fine record of a significant conductor at the top of his game with a matching orchestra and recording............................................Postscript: Decca has now issued an audio only BD of this disc - expensive but even better!

A lovely recording of exerts from some famous works and amazing value at under £8 from amazon with very good sound in stereo only on this pure audio Blu-ray disc but at the price still very good value and a showcase for older recordings in true 24BIT Audio

Thanks a lot great disc

Herbert von Karajan - che ci ha lasciato delle bellisime esecuzioni delle sinfonie di Tchaikovsky - non disdegnava di dirigere anche le suites dei tre più noti balletti del compositore russo, vale a dire lo Schiaccianoci, il Lago dei cigni e la Bella Addormentata (come pure altra musica da balletto, tra cui una splendida selezione di Giselle).Anzi, a riprova dell'interesse e dell'amore per questa musica, il direttore salisburghese registrò per ben tre volte le suites dei balletti tchaikovskiani, dapprima per la EMI, poi per la Decca, infine per la Deutsche Grammophon: quella qui recensita è l'edizione intermedia, che comprende le registrazioni del 1961 (per quanto riguarda lo Schiaccianoci) e del marzo 1965 (per gli altri due balletti), che a mio parere risulta la più bella fra le tre.Innanzitutto Karajan guida, in questo caso, i Wiener Philarmoniker - con cui il direttore aveva grande familiarità sin dall'esordio negli anni '30 fino al suo ultimo concerto nel 1989 - orchestra che, grazie ad un suono più pastoso e alla vasta gamma dei colori orchestrali espressi, riesce a cogliere appieno i toni fiabeschi connaturati ai tre racconti, meglio di quanto sapranno fare i teutonici Berliner.Passando all'interpretazione, è abbastanza evidente che Karajan - a differenza di altri esecutori specializzati nelle composizioni ballettistiche e registrando in studio, senza dover quindi assecondare le esigenze dei ballerini a teatro - tratta questi brani in un'ottica concertistica, staccando tempi più decisi ed evidenziando le sonorità e le sfumature insite nella partitura, così da rendere più brillanti ed esuberanti (soprattutto nello Schiaccianoci), ovvero decisamente drammatici ed appassionati brani che tradizionalmente vengono riprodotti automaticamente e possono risultare alla lunga piuttosto monotoni.Dunque, un caro grazie a Karajan, capace di valorizzare queste opere fuori dalla solita routine!

Avrò acquistato una decina di bluray audio e indipendentemente dal genere musicale (che può piacere o meno) la cosa che continua a sorprendermi è la qualità audio. E' un passo veramente avanti rispetto al CD. Questo in particolare è uno dei miei bluray audio preferiti: Karajan è superlativo in quest'opera. Sono tranquillo nel consigliare a tutti gli appassionati di musica classica l'acquisto di questo supporto. Naturalmente per godere di tutta la qualità audio consiglio (vivamente) di ascoltare il bluray audio in un impianto di medio/alto livello oppure con cuffie di buona qualità.