This mid-price Dvorak pack comes into direct competition with Sir Colin Davis's outstanding Philips Duo compilation of the last three symphonies (which I enthusiastically welcomed in August). Next to the glories of that set Sawallisch's achievement rather underwhelms, I'm afraid—certainly, on this showing, the German maestro can hardly be ranked amongst the most communicative Dvorakians on disc.
Sad to report, both the Seventh and Ninth are accorded comparatively earthbound treatment (as well as some disappointingly opaque, bass-heavy engineering). True, the Philadelphians respond with some typically well-upholstered, disciplined playing, but there's almost an air of complacency about proceedings, and I found both accounts crucially lacking in the spontaneous tensions and natural ebb and flow of the very finest performances. The Eighth goes conspicuously better, though. There's an extra application and flexibility on show (glorious, golden-toned cellos at the very outset), and Sawallisch's agreeably unmannered conducting brings with it no lack of concentration (strikingly so in the slow movement, I thought) as well as some refreshingly clean-cut textures. Yet, for all the intelligence of this thoughtful, often impressive reading, it must be conceded that it rarely tugs at the heartstrings in the irresistible Barbirolli or Kubelik manner.
Sawallisch's extra item offers exceptionally generous measure in the shape of a more-than-decent account of the Cello Concerto. Soloist Natalia Gutman hasn't quite the presence and personable charm of this lovely work's most memorable protagonists, but she plays with sensitivity and intelligence all the same. Sawallisch and his Philadelphians accompany watchfully (in the first movement's orchestral introduction, the lyrical secondary material is really most beguilingly shaped), and overall this makes pretty enjoyable listening. The recording both here and in the Eighth Symphony is more flattering (with slightly less glare on high violins), though neither pro-duction boasts exactly the last word in helpful transparency.'