Symphony No. 6 in B minor 'Pathétique'

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Evgeny Mravinsky / Leningrad Philharmonic

1960 Part of a 4-6 set recommendation

Gil's first choice for the set. 'One of the classic recordings... a no-holds-barred outfit.' This is the 'reference version.'

Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic

mid-70s Part of a 4-6 set recommendation

A good alternative set. 'Lush and beautiful' string sound. The 6th was 'a Karajan specialty.'

Apple Music

Carlo Maria Giulini / Philharmonia

1961

'A top choice.' A 'spiritual conductor... more expansively... starts it more gradually... but this one really is powerful.'

Apple Music — Symphony No. 6 within a Tchaikovsky collection.

Mikhail Pletnev / Russian National Orchestra

c. 1990s/2000s

'A different type of interpretation... a little bit more reserved... a little bit more cold... but it really works well.'

Teodor Currentzis / Musica Eterna

2015

'A maverick. This is ballsy Tchaikovsky... they play the hell out of this piece... milk the drama.' Gil finds it 'somewhat eccentric... but so damn impressive.'

Apple Music

Ferenc Fricsay / Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

1959 Stereo recording

Gil likes this one 'even better.' It's eccentrically slow but 'one of the great Pathétiques on record... very well recorded... really a special recording.'

William Steinberg / Pittsburgh Symphony

1954

'A really... solid interpretation. It checks all the boxes... lyricism, the drama, incredibly played.'

Wilhelm Furtwängler / Berlin Philharmonic

1938 Studio recording

'Very famous... very patient, very eloquent... brings home the emotions... just gorgeous.'

Wilhelm Furtwängler / Berlin Philharmonic

1951 Live in Cairo

'Noisier, but it is more present.' The 'emotions hang out more... one of Furtwängler's greatest recordings.'