TCHAIKOVSKY. Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. * 74. "Pathetique". Marche slave, Op. 31. Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado.

CBS Masterworks digital ® M42368; MT42368;(F) MK42368 (54 minutes) TCHAIKOVSKY. Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op.

* 74. "Pathetique". Capriccio italien. Op. 451. °Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/ Lovro von Mataöiô; bprague Symphony Orchestra / Jiff Bélohlávek. Supraphon/Counterpoint Gems ® (F) 2SUP0008 (59 minutes). Item marked 8 from 110485 (12/71), b new to UK. Selected comparison:

Oslo PO, Jansons LP (1 /87) ABRD1 158 0 (5/87) CHAN8446

It is a sign of the times in this age of CD that both these issues of the Pathétique come with a coupling. With Mataèié on Supraphon it is a particularly generous one, a characteristically crisp and vigorous account of the Capriccio italien conducted by Jii Bélohlávek. Though the Supraphon recording for the fill-up is much more modern, it is there—surprisingly more than in the symphony— that I am troubled by the lack of bloom on high violins and the boxed-in quality of the brass. Making some allowance for the fact that this is a bargain issue, the sound is more than full-bodied enough to let you enjoy a strong and refreshing. reading of the symphony, persuasively rhythmic and beautifully played. The only point that might be seriously controversial is that MataiC takes an aggressively militaristic view of the second half of the march movement, adopting a fiercely clipped style, but it builds to an outstandingly exciting climax, even more tense than Jansons's (Chandos).

It is in the relative lack of tension, not just in relation to Mataéié and Jansons but next to his own earlier Vienna LP version for DO (2530 350, 7/74—nla), that Abbado's new Chicago record proves disappointing. Even the slow introduction, markedly faster than before, fails to establish necessary tension, and throughout the performance I have been surprised that the ensemble of America's leading orchestra is relatively slack here, far less crisp and refined than that of Jansons's Oslo orchestra, let alone the Czech Philharmonic or the Vienna Philharmonic for Abbado before.

I wondered whether this might be in effect a long take, but if that is so it still lacks the spontaneity which such a course should bring. Marginally faster than last time in all but the march movement, Abbado in such great melodies as the second subjects of the first and last movements not only sounds casual but pushes ahead too readily in forced, unnatural-sounding, stringendos. When I remember criticizing Abbado's earlier version for his relative detachment, this new account emphasizes that quality still further. The lack of bite is the more disconcerting, when the recorded sound is a little muffled, lacking the sharpness of focus of the DG Vienna sound of 1973. The Marche slave, given a more open, spontaneous-sounding reading than the symphony, makes a welcome bonus, but hardly affects a recommendation. Each time I use the fine Jansons version as my yardstick, I come away with an even higher regard for a totally satisfying version of a much-recorded symphony, the more compelling for presenting what Tchaikovsky wrote so directly and precisely with dynamic shading followed meticulously. But for a bargain Mataèiô is well worth considering, despite the dated sound. E.G.

TCHAIKOVSKY. The Nutcracker—ballet. Ambro- ® Sian Singers; London Symphony Orches- tra / André Previn. Classics for Pleasure ® CFPD4706 (two records, nas);

TC-CFPD4706. From EMI SLS834 (1/73).

This was always an outstanding performance, but originally the EM! analogue sound seemed rather plushy, bringing at times a veneer of blandness to the overall effect. The remastering has been entirely beneficial, adding life to the opening scene and power and bite to the climaxes, while the many characteristic dances, showing Tchaikovsky's orchestration at its most felicitous, are admirably vivid. The playing is enjoyably affectionate and polished throughout and full of life. Perhaps the frisson-creating big climbing scalic string tune at the end of Act I, before the delectable "Waltz of the Snowflakes", has rather less warmth than before, but overall this excellent set sounds newly minted. A real bargain, and the cassettes are very good too. 1.M.