Pyotr Il'yich
TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5 in E minor
Fantasy Overture 'Romeo and
Juliet'
Orquesta Sinfonica de
Mineria
Conducted by Herrera de la
Fuente
GUILD GMCD 7205
[67.31]
Guild
I first heard of the expression 'A Curate's Egg' when reading a review from
a (very early) issue of the 'Penguin Guide to Bargain Records'. I have always
felt that it neatly sums up many classical recordings and it particularly
applies to this CD of Tchaikovsky which is certainly 'Good in Parts'
Guild do not state in their booklet whether these performances have been
released before - I had not come across them - even though the recording
date is given as 1987. The orchestra was brought together annually in Mexico
City by Herrera de la Fuente from 'distinguished musicians from all over
the world'. From the rather old fashioned timbre of many of the instruments
it is likely that South American musicians were in the preponderance, such
as the French Horn soloist, Guelfo Nalli from the Teatro Colon in Buenos
Aires, who plays most musically in the Symphony but with a high level of
vibrato and euphonium-like tone. Indeed the wind section, in particular,
suffers from less than state-of-the-art sound production, as, after the famous
slow movement horn solo, it comes as a bit of a shock to hear a very reedy
oboe then a metallic sounding clarinet enter in direct contrast to the rich
plumminess of the horn. The last to enter at this point, however, is the
fine sounding bassoon who could well be a player from the European/American
school.
The contrasts continue. After a rather lumbering first movement, the Symphony's
slow movement is beautifully shaped by Fuente and he achieves a remarkable
feeling of calm which occasionally rises to the mesmeric. It's also good
to hear the important tympani part given due prominence (Tchaikovsky uses
no other percussion instruments in the Fifth).
The final movement could be described as straight-laced, but the orchestra
and conductor conspire to produce a real feeing of nobility and the final
pages raise the temperature within the confines of an essentially classical
reading.
The overture is less good with the love music failing to take wing. Nevertheless
the CD's sound is good and there are many interesting sights, some interestingly
new, to be seen along the journey. Worth buying for a different view.
Simon Foster
Performance
Sound
