The opening of Romeo and Juliet is a little subdued; other conductors have made more of this remarkably original introduction (particularly considering that it is an early work). But once the piece gets going the adrenalin really starts running and the feud music is very exciting. The appearance of the great love theme isn't so subtly handled as in some versions; Ashkenazy pauses fractionally long but again there is a climax of great ardour. The recording is superb: open and spacious, wide ranging and resonant in exactly the right way. That is very apparent at the opening fanfare of the Capriccio italien, which sounds wonderfully resplendent. The charming, if slightly vulgar 'echo' theme is nicely paced and the violins decorate it elegantly there is a splendidly overwhelming climax, the brass gorgeously sonorousthen the marcato strings set off in exhilarating fashion with the swinging lyrical melody which follows keeping up the impetus. After Tchaikovsky's moment of melancholy the end is extrovert, with the reprise of the main theme as sumptuous as you like and the closing pages exuberant in their energy. This would bring the house down at a concert.
Francesca da Rimini has plenty of excitement too, with some lovely wind playing in the lyrical central section. Perhaps the polyphonic string climax representing the lovers's passion does not wring the heart as in Stokowski's dell'Arte version (4/88), but the closing inferno sequence blazes with damnation—the furies of Hell are not to be scorned here. It was an inspired idea to end the programme with the wistfully delicate Elegy one of Tchaikovsky's most lovely and most fragile string themes. It is played with much grace and poignancy.
If the readings of Francesca and Romeo are not quite as distinctive as the very finest in the field, overall this record will give much satisfaction and the sound is very much in the demonstration bracket—one of the best Tchaikovsky recordings I have yet experienced on CD—the weight in the bass balancing the brilliant upper range thrillingly.'