Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Op.37a (Primakov, Pletnev)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 มิ.ย. 2024
- Most pianists who play The Seasons do them a pretty big disfavour -- you get the sense that they don't take the pieces seriously, and so the suite's melodic invention, its harmonic tangents and deliciously orchestral articulation, all get lost in a rather lazy sentimental soup. It's easy to understand why this suite is played this way -- we know for certain that Tchaikovsky didn't really put much effort into them (he was more preoccupied with Swan Lake and Francesca da Rimini at the time), and they were composed to order (hence the rather odd title "The Seasons" instead of "The Months" -- the title and epigraphs were provided by the commissioner.)
Pletnev's recording of the suite is rightly regarded as a classic -- even a reference recording, and so I'll not waste time lavishing it with even more praise. What I want to draw attention to is Primakov's recording, because it's both relatively unknown and (to my ear) some distance ahead of Pletnev's. If there's one standout quality of Primakov's playing it's his ability to revel in the most microscopic details: it might be the harmonic turns in January or the counterpoint in February, the rubato in the countless melodic retardations/suspensions so typical of Tchaikovsky's style or the voicing in the apparently prosaic passage at 28:41 -- but it's all utterly surprising and totally persuasive. Primakov's playing highlights one of the most alluring qualities of Tchaikovsky's piano music: its orchestral nature. The piano was never Tchaikovsky's element, and he struggled mightily when composing for it. Even the simplest Tchaikovsky pieces are hard to play, because he wasn't a pianist and the pieces sit awkwardly under the fingers. So it's not so surprising that when listening to these pieces, it's almost ridiculously easy to imagine them as pieces scored for orchestra, Tchaikovsky's natural element -- there'll be a passage when you might say, "Oh, this is where the French horns come in," or, "Ok, I see, the second violins would take up this pizzicato line, and this bit goes to the woodwinds", and so on. Try it: it's weirdly fun, and Primakov's colouration is absolutely spot-on for the exercise.
Primakov:
00:00 - January
04:48 - *February
07:42 - March
10:27 - April
13:01 - May
17:21 - *June
22:08 - July
23:55 - *August
27:20 - September
30:05 - *October
35:01 - November
38:15 - December
Pletnev:
42:07 - January
48:26 - February
51:19 - March
54:12 - April
56:41 - May
1:01:04 - June
1:06:24 - July
1:08:21 - August
1:11:56 - September
1:14:47 - October
1:20:40 - November
1:23:48 - December - เพลง
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Guys, I also wrote a piece, it’s Called the Months, it’s made up of 4 pieces: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn.
Christoph Graupner did something similar too! But he made a suite (being exaclty, a partita) to each month of the year. It's named the "Monatliche Clavier Früchte", GWV 109-129.
ur so fun roleplaying as a dead composer, bet nobody thought of that
Funny how all the replies on this completely ignore the joke
@@NandrewNordrewtrue
😂
31:52 how can someone compose such a heartbreakingly beautiful melody? October is pure sweetness.
I would like to think it’s more bittersweet than pure sweetness 🥲 it’s like singing but his heart was stretching and painful
@@kumo-kun1831 yes you're right! It's definitely bittersweet!
I performed it more than once, And for me that's a lot because I haven't played piano for a long amount of time, and I try to avoid performing pieces more than once, but Tchaikovsky's pieces are an exception, He is one of the best melodic writers
It is here, as so often, played too slow. It's Andante, not Adagio, not Largo... The slow tempo adds to the "lazy sentimental soup".
@@oritdrimer4354sadly there isn’t much repertoire of his for us pianists
25:31 the cadence is so beautiful, reminds me of the sky and clouds, Tchaikovsky was truly a master of hiding rich lyrical beauty within an otherwise simple motif.
June man... hits you with the feels
I discovered Primakov today. What a beautiful interpretation- crystal clear staccatos, perfectly graded crescendos, has life in his performance itself.
I can close my eyes, and I can see myself floating, or falling, or lying and staring at the sky. I can picture the world during each of the months, be it hot or cold, lovely or chaotic.
The waltz from "December" (Christmas) makes me thinking of being in a snowy winter afternoon, by fireside, drinking a glass of hot chocolate with spices.
My personal favourite.
october is perfection
i play it ^o^
I love October. It's my favorite. It's so absolutely beautiful. It really is perfection, eNocHi.
eNocHi fucking truuue. Love that so much
It's unbearably sad.
Adele Farough it’s raining here in the UK and I am preparing ‘October’ for when I begin college this September, the weather is perfect for practicing this piece. The slight noise of droplets through my open window just adds to the piece.
The Barcarolle (June)...one of the most beautiful melodies in piano literature. 17:28
I like May
😊
It's so much like a Chopin nocturne, which you don't hear Chopin in Tchaikovsky too often. I think of it as sort of a combination of both nocturnes in Op. 37, with the A section being Op. 37 No. 1 and the B section being Op. 37 No. 2.
I play it myself, and I believe both of them are starting off to quick… but I agree, it ist one of the most beautiful pieces!
I find the July melody is quite beautiful too, very modern.
Tchaikovsky was a true genius of he musical world, you’re able to be captivated into the world he imagines through his music, a prime example is June, you can feel as if you’re on a swaying boat on a deep blue sea, drifting with the waves, December feels as if you’re roaming the streets of winter, looking onto the festivity and playfulness of the season, love it!
He was definitely a genius when it came to music, but a bit of an idiot when it came to differentiating between months and seasons.
Beautiful.. Love all the seasons sooooo much. In Octorber, the October is in my ears, and my heart.
Great to have this one back 😌
I'm very grateful not only for the comparative voices and the joy of hearing these pieces back-to-back but also for your insightful comments on Tchaikovsky's piano writing. It's interesting that I disagree with you on both counts! That, (i) Primakov's account is superior and (ii) that Tchaikovsky's piano writing is bad. Even the much-maligned G Major piano sonata deserves more than the occasional performance - once you subscribe to the fact that this is not Schumann or Grieg, the piano music has a great deal of charm. You have to take him on his own terms - as a symphonist, he wasn't a Brahms or even a Dvorak but he never intended to be. He moved the symphony out of German hands and made a lasting impression on Western music, right from the opening of the First G minor Symphony.
The other matter (who gives a better account of these works) is entirely subjective and I would almost call it a draw: each 'winning' on certain aspects of phrasing and performance.
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to hear these pieces in contrasting performances. Personally, I prefer Richter to either of them (!) but again, that's a debate for another day.
All good wishes from England.
😊
Somehow I have the same view. But I must add that the influence of Schumann is very obvious, and I would disagree with this quote "Even the simplest Tchaikovsky pieces are hard to play, because he wasn't a pianist and the pieces sit awkwardly under the fingers." I have played Tchaikowsky concerto b flat for my master exam, I must admit that the whole texture is very clear, not as difficult as Brahms would do it (in his own beautiful way) Tchaikowsky makes everything pure and transparent, no sufficient voices, chords etc, all themes are "made" so simple and recognizable... His symphonies stand very close to Beethoven-s in this matter, in my opinion.
I love it! Tchaikovsky is in my blood. I used to live one hour away from his hometown Votkinsk, where he was born and lived the first 8 years of his life. Tchaikovsky is the best composer ever!
Natalia Dagenhart -- I agree! I too lived nearby...in Yonkers, New York....and always considered Tschaikowsky to a Giant....like Beethoven, Wagner or Chopin. [My Father was born in Poltava, Ukraine]
My piano teacher assigned me May yesterday and I'm looking forward to it.
These are great for sight reading practice. Primakov's playing brings out a lot of nuance in the pieces I never ever realized was there.
I discovered these works around a year and a half ago when I listened to Ashkenazy's recording, which I recommend. That's also what got me into listening to many other of Ashkenazy's recordings, including the complete Chopin works, and I became a huge fan of his musicianship. I've listened to this suite countless, countless of times, almost as much as I've listened to Chopin's Etudes, Waltzes, Mazurkas, and Nocturnes. I love them so much. I've learned both April and December, and would say that May is my favourite.
lol apr and dec are my fav
I can't find the words to describe the comfort October brings to my heart... Thank you for introducing me to this Primakov recording of it- very well done.
Logan Vrankovic hi
Well gee, August is most certainly funky!
I loved learning these pieces as a piano student. In my pre-college lessons I was lucky enough to learn April, July, and December. They were wonderful pieces to learn and to play for recitals and competitions.
I agree. When I was around 12 I had learned April, May, and December. They were my favorite pieces to play but at the time I remember being somewhat frustrated because I wanted to play more advanced and higher level pieces. As a now 18 year old I have a newfound appreciation for them and wish I had been more thoughtful of the pieces while I was learning them.
i have always thought the seasons are the most underrated pieces in piano literature.
I should be played more often.
Jacob Opper, you will be played your entire life
@@lefinlay lol
I don't know if it's underrated in piano literature, but it's definitely not underrated in schools and conservatory.
Literally every classical pianist has played some of those in their early ages.
I agree they are low rated but imo they should stay so, they suck
Love the pomp and fire of September; that one will always be my favorite. I will agree with the comments that Primakov's recording is more endearing.
September, you could hear the brass in that piece.
I still remember playing April when I was kid. This was the beginning of my road, it was hard for me initially 12 years back. I was struggling with the sound, articulation soo much and couldn't handle the tempo correctly, didn't had the right interpretation for it... When I am looking back now, I am happy that I still made these steps, trying, failing, but continuing. If I hadn't tried so much in Tschaikovski, Chopin, Rachmaninoff , if I didn't fail them purposely, frustrate myself until limit, then maybe I would never had grown out of my skin.
Today I am listening to myself and also to other interpretors and I am happy to hear the real music behind the master's minds.
Haven't played Tchaikovski for a long time now, so I will prepare the whole Album as a remembrance to my start and play it on my concert in winter this year.
There's nothing healthier to an aspiring performer, I find, than playing music outside of one's comfort zone. Pieces you feel either you can't play well or you feel like you don't understand (as long as it is not technically so hard it can cause injuries/futile practise).
August and October are so beautiful!!!!😍😍😍😍
yes
Esther Colja ähm ich wollte fragen ob du das auch gut fandest dass du das gut geschrieben hast
Also findest du das gut weil ich habe nämlich gerade auch eine andere Nachricht bekommt die alle Kinder mögen vier Kinder wieder fragen sich was ist das denn für ein Lied Lied Lied schon ein schön dass du gekommen bist frage mich ob du wirklich Edona bist
Esther Coleman Josi ich finde das nicht gut ne was du gerade gemacht hast du sagst es nein das finde ich nicht gut und meine Jahresuhr bleibt niemals stehen alle Jahreszeiten wiederholen wir wieder Lieder alle Kinder können uns nicht fragen hey du hast gesagt kenne ich nicht fragen was laberst du denn da für einen Scheiß ja wir können doch labern oder nicht
Why is no one talking about March it's speechless :o
March is probably the easiest of the 12 movements technically but it's so beautiful.
i feel the same. Im listening och playing only march...
sounds so Schubertian
I know and understand next to nothing about the genre. Over the last 10 years since I started listening to small bits of the music I have grown to love three ?composers (don't know if that's how they are viewed) Chopin, Bach, and Rachmaninoff. Have listened to lots of different composers from your channel recently looking for others who might give me the feelings I get from those three, I think I have found him. It's not a comparison with the others, it's just Tchaikovsky has hit the spot. I have no idea why. Thanks for your channel, I'm slowly getting lots of education.
Ravel, Sorabji, and Debussy are my top three favorite composers.
I know I am late here, but I have the same feeling you have with them (not so much Bach - nevertheless he is a great composer). I have been playing piano for arount 12 years, and in all that time I have been searching composers like them. Because of thise I will recomend you some pieces of composer which I love, some are comtempany, other are really old. Fran liszt (consolation no 3; un suspiro; Romance S169/R66a - Romance, S169/R66a; ), Nobuo Uematsu (To zanarkand piano collection; Mistic forest piano collection; Bran Ball soulless villaje piano collection); Scriabin (etude D minor op 8 no 12); Schubert (impromtu op 90 no 3); Saint Saens (danse macabre)...... tell me what you think and if you want more recomendations or have some for me.
Chopin, Bach, and Rachmaninoff are some of the greatest composers the world has to offer. If you grow to love them, eventually you will learn to appreciate most other composers as well.
i’m only ten and i’m playing these pieces, but mozart is meh favorite
It’s wonderful you’re learning more about classical music. Don’t pick favorites or limit yourself. Favorites are for children. Just keep exploring. There’s a never ending supply (literally)
Something about Primakov's pedaling is so sensitive. Even something as simple as the way he uses the pedal to make the fifths in the left hand in the middle section of June resonate, Primakov makes sure it is compelling. No gesture goes unnoticed, which is interesting considering how comparatively unfocused Tchaikovsky seemed to be on these miniatures.
A good pianist does not simply play the notes, but they also create their own music. Ideally, a performance is 50% the composer's work, and 50% the performer's.
Thank you Ashish for making these and so many other wonderful pieces available to so many of us. Bless you.
As always the very informative introduction by Ashish Xiangyi Kumar enhances the pleasure of listening to this music -- thanks again !
October song seems to alike to "Les Feuilles Mortes" (the Dead Leaves), a beautiful French song sang by Yves Montand. Not only do their titles relate to each other, what with Fall and all, but, you can just feel as if the piece tells the same story as the song, about all the nostalgia of "all the good times we've shared during summer". It's amazing how close the two are in spirit
10:27 April
i love june 17:20 very much
june makes me feel calm.. it sounds little bit melancholy and so reminiscent that i can’t help thinking my childhood
Brilliant performance. Every phrase, every note is speaking.
Tanya
I loved the part of the movie "The Orphan" when the girl was playing the August's song.
IKR, but she's not a girl anyway lol
@@namn.2466 she is a girl actor!
It's a piece
thank you Kumar , for your great introduction to this music which i have heard about before , but not listened to, and for the intro to Primakov!
I remember I only once crushed the scoresheet during my whole pianistic life and it was in primary school when (propably) April didn't want to sound like I wanted... haha but well after a while I straigtened the score and never ever after done this... ;)
We put this record in art school. We painted their feelings to the music of Tchaikovsky.
The Troika (November) is the first part of this collection that I ever heard, and it remains my favorite part. It's the horses, I'm sure. the whole suite is lovely beyond description, whatever you think of Tchaikovsky.
March is no doubt the best month of the year!
moje ulubione to listopad i grudzień :)
Thanks, you really are great at introducing me to new pieces!
September is my favorite. I can only imagine it arranged for orchestra...
I used to play the barcarolle, June, but did not know it was part of this full suite. It is unusual ("un-pianistic") for a piano player, under the fingers and the sequence of techniques, but Tchaikovsky is one of the greatest musical souls, and it is your part to conform to him. Much appreciation for Mr. Primakov and Mr. Pletnev and our host, Mr. Kumar. I came here through hearing Dennis Matsuev play May, as an encore after Tchaikovsky's 1st piano concerto (kinor65 channel). Recommended!
not2tees, I think a pianist is at liberty to play how they like. Sure, the piece should be played accurately, but it is about channeling your soul too. Also, whichever method is easiest for you. I have much smaller hands than Liszt say, so I can’t use most of his fingering
November is my favorite. It is so jolly and fun : )
Up to now, Pletnev has been my go-to for all things Russian and transcribed, but no longer. Not only is Primakov the better colorist, he's by far the better conductor of this suite, with better tempi, clearer voicing, smoother melodies. The music breathes and builds momentum in the right places. Bravo.
In these pieces, the voice-leading is extremely important.
Great ! Thank you for posting!
woahh, your recordings and descriptions are awesome! you've earned Sub ;-)
oh my god december is the best thing Ive ever heard
wow great idont know this song is beautiful when i saw this score i didnt feel it but now i see score i know how to play this song
May I ask you, what is the difference between op.37a and op.37b? I surmise that 37b is another, less played, edition, but I am not sure. So what is the main difference please?
Even the beginning captivates me!
Thank you Ashish Xiangyi Kumar for this precise performance of the “October” from Tchaikovsky’ s Seasons performed by . GENIUS Mikhail Pletnev. It is absolutely lovely!
its increible the fresh melodi come to my heart june is wonderfull
10:27 April Snowdrop clearly reflects its title... Another magnificent piece from Tchaikovsky... I think this piece should get much pore recognition.
I heard Martha Argerich is now performing these this year! Hope we can make get a recording out of this, I bet her interpretation would give these pieces a whole new interesting dimension...
волшебное звучание
согревает
March and June sound sooooo good!
It pains me how the most beautiful piece, Barcarolle, June, brings the most feared and sad times in 2020.
It makes me interested whenever I feel or smell the possibility that relatively modern composers might have been inspired by some familiar melodies or mood of some classical pieces. Tchaikovsky's February reminds me John Adams' Hallelujah junction and Erik Satie's Sonatine Bureaucratique .
악보도 보여서 좋고 다 좋네요^^~~~
Both wonderful renditions of a lovely piece. Primakov has the finer sensibility.
One day I'll be able to play songs like these. One day
Beautiful 😍😘
... Exquisite...
17:21 June 30:05 October
고맙심더~~~~♡♡♡
How amazing, two-year time condensed into 1 hour and a half.
Awesome! My son played June before.
I agree with you that too many so-called pianists simply don't play these pieces with full conviction and thus do Tchaikovsky a disfavour. Sadly, for many years, I got the wrong impression of this opus because of those half-hearted attempts. Today, because of Richter (who only recorded nos. 1, 5, 6, 11?), Pletnev and Primakov, they are now among my top favourite piano pieces. Thank you so much for sharing them here.
The great Tchaikovsky
Sigh.... it’s amazing 👏👏👏
That is called a high quality.
October!
Cool, he quotes the 1812 overture in September :)
Any opinions on the rolled chords - or lack thereof - in the "June" barcarolle?
to me rolled chords are an unnecessary distraction in june.
No one
Not even a single soul
Tchaikovsky: put the title of the suite as the seasons but write the name of each as months
pls
read
the
descriptoin
The original title, properly translated, is actually "Times of the Year."
This is what 2020 could have been like.
00:00 january
Wow thanks I couldn't find it
Ah my favorite season... July
I like it
Une mélodie superbement interprétée !
It sounds glutinous. Rich emotion enough to focus on listening.
19:22 Sounds like His first Piano Concerto.
I love September!!!!
April/ august(harvest)/ october.... These are my babies🙏🤗♥️
07:42
1:08:21 23:55
1:14:47
Primakov:
00:00 - January
04:48 - *February
07:42 - March
10:27 - April
13:01 - May
17:21 - *June
22:08 - July
23:55 - *August
27:20 - September
30:05 - *October
35:01 - November
38:15 - December
Pletnev:
42:07 - January
48:26 - February
51:19 - March
54:12 - April
56:41 - May
1:01:04 - June
1:06:24 - July
1:08:21 - August
1:11:56 - September
1:14:47 - October
1:20:40 - November
1:23:48 - December
cheers
No se nada de piano pero, es simplemente Excelente ¡¡
The microphone placement is so different in these recordings!
Mug bellas de lo major de Tchaikowsky
May is lovely
♡ March ♡ April ♡ May ♡ June ♡ October ♡
I think Primakov playes a bit better than Pletnev. In his play is more fun, energy and feeling
April, June and October are my absolute favourites!
October....my favourite.
The ending pf the january is therefore elegant and pretty
WOW that December is played so uneven and fast! I find that this piece is better when played slower, it is a waltz so it should be more steady!
17:21
35:01
13:01 May
I rather dislike Primakov's interpretation of January, but August is quite nice.
Pletnev's recording of January from '04 (not this one) is absolutely perfect.
Yeah, it seemed off.
same, I kinda dislike Primakov's interpretation of January and December, I find them a bit too fast