Selection:
In Swan Lake Sawallisch, Previn, Gergiev and Ozawa were available.
Gergiev and Previn also provide a good recording, however Previn can in many places come to the fore and the brass-destructs as an epochal oeuvre.
Gergiev believes only in fast-looking titles, such as at the scene no. 1, it succeeds but in adagio stressed pieces not to produce a kind of elegant severity (eg the main theme.)
Ozawa has completely failed the admission in my opinion, he destroyed the work by means of mechanical play. He lacks sämtliches sense of Tchaikosvsky and especially the breathtaking main theme is heruntergehetzt. The recording of the Brandenburger I would like to call at this point but as a secret, something is missing to Sawallisch, but this recording is the level significantly above the current recordings.
Sawallisch's work:
Sawallisch and the Philharmonia Orchestra convince other hand completely. Already the introduction or its shallowness has enchanted me. Then he is able to create a positive, intoxicating mood in Scene 1. The same applies to the title "Danse des coupes". When Waltz in A flat major a fantastic performance, a put themselves in the concert hall is offered to the listener immediately succeeds.
When Danse des Cygnes V harp performance can only be described as brilliant.
The Mazurka, Spanish Dance and the finals are to be regarded as further highlights of the work.
The main theme, however, is not of this world, I like the whole work best anyway, but the way the orchestra lead by Sawallisch sets a new benchmark.
Criticism of other reviewers I can only describe as unfounded. Especially in the non-rigid adherence to the pace is the magic of the main theme. Certainly, it is unlike other recordings rather slow, but in my view it must be exactly at this rate are played, a tempo increase would destroy the spirit of the work, which Ozawa well demonstrated. Only Karajan's main theme I like a touch better of him, however, there's no complete recording.
Conclusion:
To me, that is the reference image in terms of perfect implementation of Tchaikovsky's presentation in conjunction with excellent sound and well-considered self-interpretations. The latter are also absolutely necessary for a demarcation from the crowd.
Especially newer interpretations fall into mechanical play manner and to rapidly chosen tempos.
Sawallisch succeeds, however, to capture the magic of the work exemplary.
The price is 12 euros for a complete recording in the acceptable range.
Therefore strong buy recommendation
