★★★★★ Tchaikovsky from Italy to join the best? Yes, really.

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4 -6

The last three Tchaikovsky symphonies are masterpieces of the highest caliber, but they've been recorded so often that sometimes the listener becomes exhausted. It's no fault of Tchaikovsky's, but the library is crammed full of readings that sound practically the same.

So when a British conductor joins with an obscure Italian orchestra to record these symphonies, it would seem wise to pass by. But Antonio Pappano defies all odds, and this set is ready to be stacked up against the best. His secret is a natural, lyrical flow that builds the drama without wallowing in it. There is a ring of authority to the orchestra's sound that is captivating and hard to resist. But they're playing for beauty, and for once Tchaikovsky is completely stripped of gloom and doom. These are refreshing, exuberant readings.

That's not to say that Pappano avoids Tchaikovsky's melancholic brooding. There's more soul here than usual, actually, only it is liberated from the typical heaviness. Pappano found a way to use the balletic tendencies of the symphonies to build the intensity. There's pulsating passion with no trace of schmaltz. Since so many conductors play this music for sheer brilliance, the inner depth, sensitivity, and intuition applied by Pappano brings a breath of fresh air.

I'm at a loss to fully express my enthusiasm. All I can say is that this set joins my favorites from Bernstein, Karajan, Gergiev, and Jurowski. Yes, it's that good.