Dvorák Orchestral Works

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Antonín Dvořák

Label: Chandos

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: CHAN8510

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World' Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Neeme Järvi, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
My Home Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Neeme Järvi, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Composer or Director: Antonín Dvořák

Label: Chandos

Media Format: Cassette

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: ABTD1220

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World' Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Neeme Järvi, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
My Home Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Neeme Järvi, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Composer or Director: Antonín Dvořák

Label: Chandos

Media Format: Vinyl

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: ABRD1220

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World' Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Neeme Järvi, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
My Home Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Neeme Järvi, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Jarvi and the Scottish National Orchestra have produced some superb performances for Chandos in more exotic repertory: here as the second release in their Dvorak series—the first, Symphony No. 7 was reviewed in March on ABRD1211; CD CHAN8510—they tackle a much-recorded staple work of the central repertory. The sheer beauty of the playing as well as the high drama of the reading at once put it among the strongest contenders, particularly when, as ever, the Chandos recording is of demonstration quality. If Jarvi's view is less high-powered than Dohnanyi's with the Cleveland Orchestra (Decca), that only reflects the extra Dvorakian warmth he finds, an ability to relax in the sunnier moments. So the opening introduction at once establishes the spaciousness of Jarvi's view at a very slow speed with lyrical, persuasive phrasing. More than usual he makes it into nature music, hardly ominous at all. The main Allegro starts relaxedly but then in a fiery, volatile way brings the sharpest of contrasts, so that the climaxes are every bit as exciting as Dohnanyi's. The third subject—with the usual relaxation of tempo—finds the flute rather too distantly balanced, a point underlined by the gently, breathy tone-quality, but generally the Chandos balancing of wind soloists is to my ear ideal. In the finale, for example, the lovely clarinet solo is all the more tenderly expressive thanks to its natural balance behind the strings. The strings themselves sound all the sweeter and more radiant thanks to the recording balance and the mellow acoustic, which yet allows fine detail through.
In the Largo Jarvi adopts an exceptionally slow tempo, and though that adds to the cor anglais soloist's problems over phrasing, the string playing is ravishingly beautiful, with the solo string passages towards the end naturally balanced, not spotlit. Jarvi sustains his slow tempo superbly, making the Largo the weightiest movement of the symphony, set against readings of the other movements, which regularly reflect Dvorakian joyfulness. The Scherzo is much less fierce than with Dohnanyi—rhythms are more lilting, not just in the episodes but in the main theme too. The finale starts with a moment of less-than-crisp ensemble, but the bold swagger of the music, its underlying warmth, are what matter, and the tension of the performance is unflagging. On LP the Kondrashin issue (also on Decca) recently issued at mid-price has four Slavonic Dances conducted by Dorati as a coupling, the Dohnanyi has none and does not even observe the exposition repeat which Jarvi does. The Overture, My home, may be on the short side, but in Jarvi's exuberant performance its dance-rhythms are captivating.'

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