CCMusic.com

Tchaikovsky's early trio of symphonies have long lived in the shadow of the three that followed. Following his acclaimed Mariinsky DVD of the final three symphonies, Valery Gergiev conducts outstanding performances of these early works with the London Symphony Orchestra. Tchaikovsky's early symphonies are full of rich expressive melodies, something for which he had a natural talent. They contain influences of Russian nationalism and folk tunes, particularly in the second (Little Russian) and the first (Winter Dreams), which hints at a Russian landscape. The choreographer George Balanchine exploited the dance-like nature of the third by using it as the basis for the final part of his ballet masterpiece, Jewels. Gergiev will visit the USA in October with the Mariinsky Orchestra and conduct gala performances with the World Orchestra for Peace in New York and Chicago.