Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov

Tchaikovsky Swan Lake, Op.20 [selections]
Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances, Op.45

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri Temirkanov

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD229

A good account of the Rachmaninov, which though not overplayed, is to be heard more often nowadays.

But why Swan Lake excerpts?

Played well enough, and perfectly good for background music whilst ironing, says my wife, but what's the point when the ballet is given so often and is freely available in several intriguing DVD Swan Lakes?

We'v got three of them (Paris, Covent Garden & Matthew Bourne) marvellously varied, and I'd say CDs of Tchaikovsky's ballet music are no longer a sensible option?

Peter Grahame Woolf

For a full review recommending this CD see Classical Source