Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 / Debussy: Rhapsody No.1 / Janáček: Sinfonietta

What a series of performances! The Tchaikovsky symphony is completely out of this world, both with a trenchant worldly view of the fast music and a loving heart-on-sleeve interpretation of the slow movement, one of the miracles of Tchaikovsky's work. The Finale is irresistibly done, on all counts a truly magnificent performance that receives thunderous acclaim from the audience. Truly vintage London Symphony playing throughout sets the seal on a unique recording. The Debussy Rhapsody features a brilliant Gervase de Peyer and the London Symphony is also beautifully attuned to the dreamy, sensuous music. Finally we have an explosive Sinfonietta that takes the cake for utter magnificence. The recordings are astonishingly clear and I would urge all music lovers to grab hold of this disc that is truly unique and a fine memorial to Kempe's art as a conductor of greatness. Copyright © 2002, Gerald Fenech