If one has listened to the Ashkenazy-orchestrated version of Pix at An Exhibition on Decca records, one must hv wondered what the hell has gone on w Mr. Ashkenazi in this pc. In the Pix rendition, he sounded so authoritative, original and determined. Here in Francesca da Rimini, just Note how much action he uses in conducting, which just doesn't get heard on the orchestra. When I heard this work in my youth, those seemingly spiraling chords repeated from the woodwinds to the strings then to the brass, made me really think of hell. To me, that was how good this work was. Just as well, that love theme of Francesca and her lover, fully developed in the middle section, is at best over-shadowing Romeo and Juliet's love theme, coz here the Francesca love theme gets this bass drum repeatedly striking, and the ascending theme seems to repeat incessantly. Too bad that hellish sound and the incessant love theme both get hidden from their true orchestral colours here. If Ashkenzay doesn't make one cry listening to his rendtion, one shd go to Mravinsky's.
Do you love me Francesca You know I do Then say it Say it loud Say it clearly Say it unmistakenly I have said it You only could not hear My dear You were not listening Though my words were glistening They flew from my mouth In a declaration A demonstration Like no other But you did not bother To heed them Oh my Francesca Do not say it so Do not cry for recompense No Let me go Let me be Let me see the world Unfurled Let it Let it Let it end with you Then That Will do
Замечательное исполнение великого Ашкенази, но у не менее великого Светланова все же, на мой взгляд, "Франческа да Римини" еще лучше! У Светланова - эталон!
..think i heard a story that this is the piece tchaikovsky picked to be played when he received his honorary doctorate in cambridge.. don't know if he conducted but i love the thought of those dignitaries getting their socks blown off with this.. 🙂
I thought Ashkenazy didn't like Tchaikovsky's music or just disliked the first piano concerto. Some exciting moments here if not as individual as some othet conductors.
I agree with Neil Hazell (below) that this is a poor interpretation from a fellow Russian, Ashkenazy. At its best, this piece is one of Tchaikovsky's most terrifying creations, second only to the 6th symphony. Listen to Mravinsky's version, here on RU-vid, that will make your hair stand on end. Those seemingly random chords at the end really do come at you when you least expect them and it certainly isn't a walk in the park!
@michaelpaulsmith4619 everywhere I go, I see you. You comment on souvenir de Florence by Janine Jansen & friends, road to Tchaikovsky, Rococo variations by Mischa, piano concerto no.3, which you question why it is still being played :v and numerous other Tchaikovsky performances I cant remember, you must be a Tchaikovsky scholar or sth
Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the performance, but the performance didn't match the intensity of the conducting. He was iiiiintense. If they had played the way he conducted, it would have been vicious. And spit went flying at the end. wow. That's intense.
There's little point in a conductor throwing himself around with passion and getting caught up in the ferocity of the music if he is unable to communicate it to the orchestra, or worse, they ignore him.
