Tchaikovsky ~ The Seasons - Vladimir Asheknazy: Piano

Much of Tchaikovsky's piano music is trivia written for the salon, so a pianist must select carefully to hold our interest. Ashkenazy plays the entire series commonly mistranslated as The Seasons (it should beThe Months, of course), pieces Tchaikovsky ground out under pressure for a monthly magazine. The pressure seems to have inspired him, as these are lovely miniatures. The additional pieces are also lovely, especially the Berceuse from Op. 72 (Tchaikovsky's last piano music), a breathtakingly beautiful piece. Best of all, Ashkenazy plays this music with total sympathy and a kind of rich piano tone he doesn't always exhibit, convincingly caught by Decca's engineers. Tchaikovsky completists may want to look elsewhere, but this is as fine a single-disc selection of his piano music as you will find. Vladimir Ashkenazy plays with much conviction and brilliance these lesser known works composed for the piano by Tchaikovsky. Undoubtedly the best is his performance of the Berceuse, the composer's last work for the piano, but those of the "The Seasons" are rich in pathos and other complex emotional shading too. Without question, Ashkenazy's performances of these works are compelling reasons why they should no longer be neglected.

tracks
01. Meditation, Op.72 No.5 (5:29)
02. Polka Peu Dansante, Op.51 No.2 (4:46)
03. Aveu Passione (3:07)
04. Tendres Reproches, Op.72 No.3 (3:18)
05. Berceuse, Op.72 No.2 (6:37)

Les Saisons, Op.37A 

06 Janvier. Au Coin Du Feu (5:10)
07 Fevrier. Carnaval (2:35)
08 Mars. Chant De L'alouette (2:53)
09 Avril. Perce - Neige (2:40)
10 Mai. Les Nuits De Mai (4:50)
11 Juin. Barcarolle (5:25)
12 Juillet. Chant Du Faucheur (1:42)
13 Aout. La Moisson (3:05)
14 Septembre. La Chasse (2:27)
15 Octobre. Chant D'automne (5:17)
16 Novembre. Troika (2:57)
17 Decembre. Noel (4:19)

Novembre: Troika

 Decembre: Noel