Symphony no.6 in B minor ‘Pathétique’ is the culmination of Tchaikovsky’s symphonic canon. It charts a monumental course from its opening – the longest symphonic movement he ever wrote – through a powerful march-scherzo to a shattering, lamenting finale. The fantasy-overture after Shakespeare’s Hamlet is an insightful character study. The much-admired Tchaikovsky recordings of the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Maurice Abravanel – who brought the orchestra to prominence as one of America’s most distinctive and respected – were originally released in 1974.

The Elite Recordings for VOX by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be amongst the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings.

Also available are the Utah/Abravanel recording of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no.5 with the 1812 overture (VOXNX3023CD), and their Symphony no.4, and Romeo and Juliet coupling (VOXNX3022CD).

The recordings were originally released in 1974 and so are coming up to their 50th anniversary.

2023 marks both the 120th anniversary of Maurice Abravanel’s birth and the 30th anniversary of his death. Abravanel served as music director of the Utah Symphony from 1947 to 1979, leading the ensemble to international prominence through live radio broadcasts and over 100 commercial recordings. Notably, he conducted the first complete recording of Gustav Mahler’s nine symphonies by an American orchestra.

Produced by Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz these VOX recordings are acknowledged as Audiophile classics.

‘… a fresh and direct No. 4 (fine string playing in the pizzicato scherzo, and again a very good finale) … and impressively cogent, urgent renditions of the two Shakespeare pieces: Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.’ – ClassicsToday.com on complete symphonic cycle by the Utah Symphony and Maurice Abravanel on VOXCD5X3603.

‘As a complete set of symphonies coupled to a mostly fine selection of other popular orchestral works, Abravanel’s achievement sports more consistency than most, at a price that’s well-nigh unbeatable.’ – ClassicsToday.com

‘[Abravanel’s] VOX recordings have resulted in a remarkable range of recorded music … [and is] one of the more enlightened aspects of the recent recording scene in the United States … standard classical repertoire, such as the Tchaikovsky symphonies … are straightforward, clearly executed and absolutely honest…’ – Conductors on Record