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Cover: Peter Tchaikovsky · Victor Ewald – Romeo and Juliet · String Serenade · Francesca da Rimini · Brass Quintets Nos. 1 & 3

Peter Tchaikovsky · Victor Ewald

Romeo and Juliet

String Serenade · Francesca da Rimini · Brass Quintets Nos. 1 & 3

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Members of The Philadelphia Orchestra

ODE 1150-2D · CD · April 2010

Buy / listen

A double love affair... Romeo & Juliet meet The Philadelphia Orchestra

Track listing

13 tracks · 113:13

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

CD 1

Peter Tchaikovsky

  1. 1 Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture (1869, rev. 1880) 22:21
  2. Serenade in C major for String Orchestra, Op. 48 34:25
  3. 2 I. Pezzo in forma di sonatina: Andante non troppo - Allegro moderato 10:46
  4. 3 II. Valse: Moderato. Tempo di valse 4:03
  5. 4 III. Elegia: Larghetto elegiaco 11:17
  6. 5 IV. Finale (Tema russo): Andante - Allegro con spirito 8:16

CD 2

Peter Tchaikovsky

  1. 1 Francesca da Rimini, Symphonic Fantasy, Op. 32 26:24

Victor Ewald

  1. Brass Quintet No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 5 12:19
  2. 2 I. Moderato 4:47
  3. 3 II. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio 3:47
  4. 4 III. Allegro moderato 3:45
  5. Brass Quintet No. 3 in D flat major, Op. 7 17:47
  6. 5 I. Allegro moderato 5:31
  7. 6 II. Intermezzo 4:36
  8. 7 III. Andante 3:52
  9. 8 IV. Vivo 3:48

About this recording

A double love affair... Romeo & Juliet meet The Philadelphia Orchestra - The Philadelphia Orchestra's performances of Tchaikovsky are legendary. This release, under Christoph Eschenbach, features works where The Philadelphia Orchestra is definitive in its interpretation and sound: Romeo and Juliet, String Serenade, and Francesca da Rimini. Am added bonus will be, for many, the discovery of two brass quintets by Victor Ewald, a Tchaikovsky contemporary, which here highlights the world-renowned brass members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Enthusiastic press and success followed on the release of the three final Tchaikovsky Symphonies, Nos. 4-6. Romeo and Juliet is Tchaikovsky's first acknowledged masterpiece and today one of the most popular orchestral compositions ever written. The swirling orchestral mastery of Francesca da Rimini makes this a true showpiece for the Orchestra with its legendary "Philadelphia Sound". The Mozart-like String Serenade remains one of the most beloved of all works for string orchestra. Both Tchaikovsky and Ewald were active composers in St. Petersburg's musical life during the same time and familiar with each other's work. Esteemed by all lovers of brass music, Ewald's Quintets are imbued with romantic Russian national feeling.

This is the ninth CD under the "formidable Ondine-Eschenbach-Philadelphia partnership" (Gramophone), which since 2005 has produced discs that have been honored with accolades including BBC Music Magazine's Disc of the Month, Gramophone's "Editor's Choice," The New York Times' "Top Ten Recordings of the Year," and the German Record Critics' Award, among others.

Features

2 CDs; booklet with liner notes in English, French and German and the sung texts in the original German and in English; luxurious slipcase

Press

The brass divertimentos provide light relief after the most serious-minded Francesca I've ever heard, spaciously avoiding whirlwind overkill and dynamically alert in a studied byt affecting remembrance of happier times. (In Romeo and Juliet, Christoph Eschenbach) does hit the heights of the love theme with aristocratic aplomb and he always reminds you what a fabulously organised symphonic movement this is.
David Nice, BBC Music Magazine, October 2010

The two Victor Ewald quintets, delectably tuneful and idiomatically crafted morsels, (are) delivered with wonderful poise and very real affection by the Philadelphia's top-flight section principals.
Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone, September 2010

Dass das traditionsreiche Orchester von Philadelphia auch heute noch zu den weltbesten zählt, belegt diese Doppel-CD mit einem Programm, das wie geschaffen ist, die Qualitäten des Klangkörpers und seiner Gruppen ins rechte Licht zu setzen.
Peter T. Köster, Fono Forum, August 2010

The Francesa da Rimini is wonderful, as Christoph Eschenbach - and the Philadelphia strings - really wring out the work's drama and emotion, especially in the central section's love music. (...) The Philadelphia Orchestra Brass Quintet provides impressive beauty of tone and superlative musicianship. Ondine's sound is excellent.
Victor Carr Jr., ClassicsToday.com, July 2010

Spannungsvoll und hoch energetisch (...). Besonderes Interesse widmet das Ohr (...) dem detailreich sorgfältigen und immer musikalisch empfundenen Spiel des Philadelphia Orchestra, das von den Tontechnikern wunderbar plastisch eingefangen wurde. Zwei Bläserquintette des (...) Victor Ewald, prachtvoll gespielt von Solisten des Philadelphia Orchestra, runden das Programm ab.
Rémy Franck, Pizzicato, Juni 2010

Zupackend, präzise und einfach mitreissend wird hier musiziert.
Christoph Werkhausen, hr2-kultur, Der CD-Tipp, 1. Juni 2010

Une logique de la forme et une clarté narrative étonnantes, que Christoph Eschenbach s'approprie en unifiant les contrastes au fil d'un discours ample (...) avec un Orchestre de Philadelphie véritablement somptueux.
Patrick Szersnovicz, Diapason, juin 2010

Christoph Eschenbach ist ganz offensichtlich ein Freund schöner Stellen, großer Melodien und überwältigender dramatischer Gesten (...) weshalb denn auch das Philadelphia Orchestra unter seiner Leitung überall dort, wo's schwelgt oder kracht, aufblüht oder überkocht, seine weltbekannte Topform ins beste Licht rücken darf.
Rasmus van Rijn, Klassik-Heute.com, 30. März, 2010

The Tchaikovsky performances are typical of Eschenbach at his best - emotionally intense and harmonically vibrant.
David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 21, 2010

The artists

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra has distinguished itself as one of the leading orchestras in the world through a century of acclaimed performances, historic international tours, and best-selling recordings. Six music directors have piloted the Orchestra through its first century, giving the ensemble an unparalleled cohesiveness and unity in artistic leadership. Fritz Scheel and Carl Pohlig served as its first music directors. In 1912 Leopold Stokowski was appointed conductor. Leading a series of major world and U.S. premieres and making widely acclaimed recordings, Stokowski firmly established Philadelphia's prominence in American classical music.

Full biography

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