It's fashionable for critics reviewing the first three symphonies of Tchaikovsky to comment that he wasn't yet fully "mature" in his command of the symphonic form. Whether this is the case or not, there's much beautiful and thrilling music to be found in them and each would be probably be acclaimed as the masterpiece of a lesser composer. I especially enjoy the first("Winter Dreams")along with the second("Little Russian")and third("Polish").

All three are available in a 2-disc set featuring the classic performances led by Markevitch with the London Symphony. As an attractive bonus Tchaikovsky's symphonic poem Francesca da Rimini is also included. Here he puts to music the story from Dante's Inferno of Francesca and her adulterous affair which results in her husband killing them both and they(not the husband, of course)being condemned to the eternal fires and winds of the Second Circle of Hell. The music varies dramatically between portraying their romantic passions and suffering in the storms of Hell.

The set is available from about $10 from various Amazon sellers .


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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.