Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; The Seasons ("January"-"June" [Hybrid SACD ]
Tchaikovsky's symphonies are red meat for the The Philadelphia Orchestra, whose classic recordings of them stretch back to its great days under Stokowski and Ormandy. Eschenbach's Fifth doesn't resemble theirs, but it's sturdy enough to stand on its own. Tempos are relatively measured, allowing details to emerge from the orchestral texture. Climaxes have the appropriate weight, and the final movement really takes off, with vibrant brass and a rousing ending. The orchestral playing is first-class, with a remarkably mellifluous horn solo in the Andante cantabile and colorful winds in the Valse vying for interest with the rich, warm strings that have long been the orchestra's glory. This won't dislodge such acclaimed Fifths as those by Markevitch and Mravinsky, but it's a viable alternative view to those and other long-time favorites. Eschenbach rounds out the disc with the first six solo piano pieces from The Seasons, gracefully played with a sprightly Carnival (February) and a gorgeously Chopinesque Barcarolle (June).-- Dan Davis