# Your favorite Tchaikovsky symphony? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678 "2011-01-15T03:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/1 "2011-01-15T03:31:06Z")
I’ve been listening to all 6 Tchaikovsky symphonies the past few weeks. Pick your favorite and perhaps name your favorite recording. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/2 "2011-01-15T03:33:31Z")
Don’t forget the un-numbered, albeit lesser, “Manfred” Symphony in B minor, op. 58 (1885), composed in between the Fourth and Fifth symphonies. My favorite is unquestionably the Sixth. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/3 "2011-01-15T03:36:55Z")
I went with #4, but it was very close as I also really love the first symphony. My favorite recording of the 4th is the Cleveland Orchestra with Lorin Maazel, one of the early Telarc digital recordings. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/4 "2011-01-15T04:09:01Z")
#6. A pathetic choice, I know. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/5 "2011-01-15T05:44:43Z")
Overall, it’s #6. But there are a few individual movements from earlier symphonies that are just as great. And my favorite recording is the Oslo Philharmonic with Jansons. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/6 "2011-01-15T06:42:03Z")
I just got back from a gig where we played our flute and guitar arrangement of the Andantino from #4, so that’s the one I’ve got to go with. But my usual favorite is #6, the Pierre Monteux recording of which was (along with Ormandy’s recording of _Pictures at an Exhibition_) one of the first two classical albums I ever owned. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/7 "2011-01-15T07:16:56Z")
Pathetique. I wrote my college thesis on this symphony (the “yes, you are going to die” paper) and I listened to it during my last LSD trip, which gave me an all new appreciation for it (watch out for trolls about 9 minutes into movement 1). Not that it isn’t an amazing piece, but I’ve never really been that attracted to Tchaikovsky’s first 5 symphonies. The Little Winter one has its moments, but the other 4 are pretty much forgettable for me. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/8 "2011-01-15T14:37:12Z")
I voted for Pathetique, although Leonard Bernstein’s recording of #4 is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/9 "2011-01-15T15:18:00Z")
Manfred is actually my favourite of the seven. For the poll I picked the 6th. Overall not a huge Tchaikovsky fan though. [My take on all seven](http://artrock2006.blogspot.com/2010/08/tchaikovskys-symphonies.html). ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/10 "2011-01-15T17:04:12Z")
4, 5, 6 are all amazing. Went with 5 for the underdog choice. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/11 "2011-01-16T01:47:55Z")
I have the Fifth on a raggedy old audiotape and listen to it over and over again. For most symphonies I like this part or that, but not the whole thing. For the Fifth, though, I swear I love every note. ---
**Author:** ![otterhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@otterhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otterhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/12 "2011-01-17T21:11:20Z")
How about Tchikovsky’s orchestral suites? He made 4 of them, and they are all a delight. No 3 is my favourite, love the theme and variations part. Did anyone know them already? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EanPPpzUkTU/hqdefault.jpg "John Barbiolli Tchaikovsky Theme and Variations from the Suite No. 3 rec 1942 Part 1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EanPPpzUkTU) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/13 "2011-01-18T04:38:15Z")
There’s a special place in my heart for the 2nd Movement of the 4th. I played violin as a kid, and we played this movement in the school orchestra. The teacher auditioned the first violins, and I got to be concertmaster for the first time. Not a technically challenging piece, but I had great intonation. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/14 "2011-01-18T04:50:44Z")
Yes, I also like the orchestral suites. Actually they remind me more of his ballets than his symphonies. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/15 "2011-01-18T06:28:24Z")
I love George Szell’s recording of number 4. Especially the final movement. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/16 "2011-01-18T09:49:21Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > I love George Szell’s recording of number 4. Especially the final movement. Szell’s recording of just about anything is great. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tchaikovsky-symphony/567678/17 "2011-01-19T04:10:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Szell’s recording of just about anything is great. Amen. His Handel Water Music and Music for Royal Fireworks is big, bombastic, and absolutely historically inaccurate. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙂