Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 'Pathétique' (with Schoenberg - Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31)

"The Schoenberg, placed first, puts everyone through their paces, and the results are admirably focused and clear textured; indeed, the recording yields up an unusual amount of detail as the polyphony is picked out with almost microphonic precision. It's a highly exciting performance, treating the work as a bravura concerto for orchestra...Lyricism could hardly be in short supply in the Tchaikovsky"
(BBC Music)

"This splendid recording of Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra...displays their consummate harmonious communality in their interpretations of these two pieces...The WEDO expertly embody both the exuberance of the penultimate movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 (the "Pathetique") and the melancholy beauty of its framing outer sections."
(The Independent)

"a disc that readily attests to [Barenboim's] strengths as a conductor who can inspire orchestras to interpretative heights...Barenboim's art [in the Schoenberg] is to show how essentially musical it is, triggering traditional emotions of excitement, wistfulness and, dare one say, romantic yearning... [He] also has a firm grip on the dramatic shape of Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony."
(The Daily Telegraph)

"In Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra, Barenboim encourages his young players to draw out every romantic gesture hidden within the score."
(The Times)

In 1999, Daniel Barenboim founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with the late literary critic, Edward Said. On this first of many projects on Decca Classics to partner Barenboim with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are two blockbusters: Tchaikovsky's Pathétique symphony and Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra . The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performs this challenging repertoire to high international standards.

The Independent opened its rave review of a Barenboim- West-Eastern Divan Orchestra London evening by saying, "Simply sensational! The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra scored a bull's-eye".