It’s a slow trek across the snow in Valdimir Fedoseyev’s rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Winter Daydreams symphony. With a leaden pulse that never varies, the first movement struggles along like a team of overburdened Huskies. There’s a drag on the orchestral sound as well, with the trumpets seemingly unable to penetrate Fedoseyev’s thick, hazy texture (the bland recording doesn’t help). Fedoseyev creates a rapturously meditative atmosphere in the second movement’s introduction, but dissipates it by his sudden shift to faster tempos for the main melody. The remaining two movements are pretty mundane, but at least the trumpets find their way out of the gloom for the festive finale. It’s good to have excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s rarely heard Snow Maiden included on this disc, by why leave out the introduction, with it’s exquisitely beautiful melody? (Imagine Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream without the overture!) Michael Tilson Thomas’ recently reissued Boston Symphony recording (on Deutsche Grammophon) is an excellent first choice for the symphony, while the Snow Maiden is worthy of your investment in any of the several complete recordings currently available. [12/28/2000]
