Radio 3's latest essay in completism pairs Tchaikovsky with Stravinsky. There is much to be said for a week-long intensive survey of one or two composers' outputs.
It introduces listeners to little known music, affording relief from endless repetitions of Cuban Overtures, Petites Suites, Fingal's Caves, and that bloody Bolero. It gives us the chance to reassess the work of individual composers. It helps us to recognise versatility and range. And it reveals some stunning performances - I caught only the last minute or two of Martha Argerich in Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto as I woke up one morning, and was nearly rocketed out of bed.
But I'm not sure that the pairing of Tchaikovsky with Stravinsky was wise. Indeed I'm far from sure that I want to hear all of Stravinsky's music, ever. Tchaikovsky has his faults: he can be brash, bombastic, maudlin, and downright vulgar, especially when he is being patriotic. But, more importantly, his music is full of warmth and generosity of spirit. His melodies are sensuously eloquent, he can write with gracious delicacy, with wit, and with infinite charm.
Stravinsky has great qualities too, especially, I'm coming to feel, when he is closest to Tchaikovsky. He too can be witty, and tender, and dramatic. The Firebird, Petroushka, Apollo and Pulcinella are wonderful scores, and I've been hearing some charming songs. But all too frequently when his music has been on the air I find myself longing to get back to his great predecessor. Too often, Stravinsky's acidulated stutterings grate, his cerebral austerity refrigerates the mind.
The presenters have done their best to make it all palatable, Gianandrea Noseda's idiosyncratic introductions to the symphonies nicely blend information with critical appreciation. Sandy Burnett, Sean Rafferty, and Petroc Trelawny are professionally polished and engaging as ever. (But where is Tommy Pearson?) On the other hand some of the unremittingly repeated trailers are embarrassingly awful, as increasingly on this station. What about Haydn next? By himself.
