Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29 - Coronation March Russian National Orchestra & Mikhail Pletnev

• Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Symphony No. 3 in D Major Op. 29 (1875)
• 1 I. Moderato assai - Allegro brillante 13:58
• 2 II. Allegro moderato e semplice 06:25
• 3 III. Andante elegiaco 10:55
• 4 IV. Scherzo 05:45
• 5 V. Allegro con fuoco 08:55
• Coronation March (1883)
• 6 Festival Coronation March 05:46
• Total Runtime 51:44

Info for Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29 - Coronation March

Nowadays, Tchaikovsky’s first three sym- phonies seldom appear on the concert programmes, whereas his symphonies four to six – in other words, the symphonies generally recognized as masterpieces – are regularly included. And thus the three early symphonies share a fate that none of them have necessarily earned. After all, each in its own individual way is a worthwhile symphony: the composer certainly did not consider them to be preliminary works, a type of precursor to the later symphonies. From 1866 to 1878, Tchaikovsky taught harmony at the Moscow Conservatoire and during this period, he composed – among other works – his first three symphonies, namely in 1866, 1872, and 1875. And for Tchaikovsky, the journey leading to the symphony was not an easy one: on the con- trary, he trod a painful path before tapping into this high-end genre. This is proven, on the one hand, by the amount of time and energy he put into the creation of his sym- phonies, which was characterized by serious doubts about their quality; or, on the other hand, by the fundamental reworking of his second symphony, despite the success of its première. However, Tchaikovsky had a much easier time with his Symphony No. 3 in D.

The Russian National Orchestra's Tchaikovsky recordings have met with critical praise since Pentatone began releasing its widely acclaimed Tchaikovsky series. Conductor Mikhail Pletnev has turned the RNO into an exceptional Tchaikovsky ensemble, leading to such rave reviews as “the most exciting interpretations of the work you’re likely to hear” (Classical Candor).

''[This] is a knockout recording... one of the finer issues in Pletnev’s latest round of Tchaikovsky symphonies... It’s among the conductor’s best outings.''

'Pletnev has a particular affinity for Tchaikovsky, both as conductor and pianist... Now we have this dynamic reading of the unjustly neglected Polish symphony—no lack of energy here and as usual the Russian orchestra is in top form.“ (Audiophile Audition)

'Mikhail Pletnev's cycle of the six numbered Tchaikovsky symphonies for PentaTone... is now completed by this splendid account of Symphony No.3. The sheer beauty and realism of the sound is apparent from the symphony's opening bars... The orchestral image remains rock-steady throughout, and the recording gives the sound the warmth and richness that has also characterized the earlier issues in this cycle... Pletnev's response to the dance characteristics present in four of the five movements of this symphony is especially engaging and the extra impetus of his performance as a whole, notwithstanding the spectacular sound, will surely make it a clear first choice for many listeners... Highly recommended.“ (Classical CD Review)

Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev, conductor

Mikhail Pletnev
After his studies at the Central Special Music School, Mikhail Pletnev entered the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1974, where he studied with Jakob Flier and Lev Vlasenko. Aged only 21, Pletnev was the Gold Medal and First Prize winner of the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

He has since appeared as soloist with the major orchestras under conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Chailly, Valery Gergiev, Zubin Mehta, Kent Nagano and Kurt Sanderling. In 1990, following the collapse of the Soviet system, Mikhail Pletnev was able to realize his dream of forming the Russian National Orchestra. Under his artistic leadership, the RNO has become known as one of the world’s leading orchestras.

Although his conducting career is primarily focused on the RNO, he also makes appearances as a guest-conductor with such prestigious orchestras as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berliner Sinfonieorchester and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In September 1999, Pletnev was appointed the RNO’s Conductor Laureate and his collaboration with the orchestra has continued in many of its recordings and concerts. In February 2003, he conducted the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Berliner Konzerthaus for the official opening of the Russian Year of Culture.

Mikhail Pletnev’s recordings and live performances as a pianist have proved him an outstanding interpreter of an extensive repertoire. As a composer, Pletnev’s works include the Classical Symphony, Quintet for Piano and Strings, Triptych for Symphony Orchestra, Fantasy on Kazakh Themes for Violin and Orchestra, and Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra. In December 1998, the world première of his Concerto for Viola and Orchestra took place in Moscow, with Yuri Bashmet as soloist.

His stature in Russia was formally recognized in 1995, when he was awarded the First State Prize of the Russian Federation by President Yeltsin. In 2002, he again received this honour from President Putin.

The Russian National Orchestra
has been in demand throughout the music world ever since its 1990 Moscow premiere. Of the orchestra’s 1996 debut at the BBC Proms in London, the Evening Standard wrote, “They played with such captivating beauty that the audience gave an involuntary sigh of pleasure.”

The first Russian orchestra to perform at the Vatican and in Israel, the RNO maintains an active international tour schedule, appearing in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Guest artists performing with the RNO on tour include conductors Vladimir Jurowski, Nicola Luisotti, Antonio Pappano, Alan Gilbert and Carlo Ponti, and soloists Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Lang Lang, Pinchas Zukerman, Sir James Galway and Joshua Bell, among many others. Popular with radio audiences worldwide, RNO concerts are regularly aired by National Public Radio in the United States and by the European Broadcasting Union.

The orchestra has made several recordings for PENTATONE. The RNO’s recording of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Beintus’s Wolf Tracks, conducted by Kent Nagano and narrated by Sophia Loren, Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev, received a 2004 Grammy Award, making the RNO the first Russian orchestra to win the recording industry’s highest honor. The orchestra’s Shostakovich cycle on PENTATONE is widely acclaimed as “the most exciting cycle of the Shostakovich symphonies to be put down on disc, and easily the best recorded” (SACD.net).

A regular visitor to the Schleswig-Holstein, Gstaad and Rheingau festivals, the RNO is also the founding orchestra of Napa Valley Festival del Sole, Festival of the Arts BOCA in Florida, and the Singapore Sun Festival, and resident orchestra for multiple seasons of the Tuscan Sun Festival in Cortona, Italy.

In recognition of both its artistry and path-breaking structure, the Russian Federation recently awarded the RNO the first ever grant to a non-government orchestra.

Booklet for Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29 - Coronation March