Neeme Järvi is one of the most recorded conductors of our time and has just recently completed his first cycle of Tchaikovsky symphonies for the BIS label. He does so with "his" orchestra of 22 years, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. The last three symphonies of Tchaikovsky are offered here and all have been met with critical praise. Le Monde de la Musique wrote about the Fourth, "Järvi grants the work its full magnitude," while the Fifth is "striking in its dramatic and architectural cohesion." The Guardian noted that the Sixth "packs a powerful punch with a dazzling performance of the march and some gut-wrenching climaxes in the finale." These symphonies are part of the pantheon of the greatest orchestral works of any age and their popularity lies in their greatness and incredible scope of expression, emotion and visceral impact.

Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, was written between 1877 and 1878 and is dedicated to Nadezhda von Meck, Tchaikovsky's silent patron. At her request, Tchaikovsky wrote program notes explaining the symphony. Tchaikovsky described the work's Fate motif, which he wrote was "the fatal power which prevents one from attaining the goal of happiness."

Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, which begins in deathly sadness but ends in a jubilant mood, was first performed in 1888 under the baton of the composer himself. Tchaikovsky had reservations about the work, worrying that it was "too colorful, too massive" and speculating that he had reached the end of his creative career. Unsure of himself all his life, he nevertheless continued to compose.

Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique" is his final symphony, completed at the end of August 1893. The composer led the first performance in St. Petersburg on October 28 of that year, nine days before his death. The Russian translation of the title means passionate or emotional and one certainly hears a symphony that runs the complete gambit of emotions — with musical quotes from the Russian Orthodox church, a waltz in 5/4 time and a majestic march in the brass.

Järvi and the symphonies of Tchaikovsky have a connection. As a student of the legendary Yevgeni Mravinsky, whose Tchaikovsky interpretations are still considered among the greatest, Järvi recordings are firmly rooted in the great Russian tradition. A noteworthy find that shouldn't be missed!

—J. Maxwell Fletcher