On Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 2:59:03 AM, Gerard wrote:
>
> I see that ClassicsToday has a review in it's "insiders" section; the
> opinion there seems to be "dull" and "utter pointlessness".
> Opinions on amazon are the opposite of that.
From Classics Today:
<< Big Boxes: Belohlávek's Dull Dvorák, Again
Review by: David Hurwitz
Artistic quality 7
Sound quality 8
Jirí Belohlávek must be a nice guy, because he invariably turns in "nice" performances: pleasant, unadventurous, faithful to the score-but insightful and exciting? Not so much. The utter pointlessness of this release is underlined by the fact that Belohlávek recorded symphonies Nos. 5-8 with this same Czech Philharmonic for Chandos, and no one much cared. As you can hear in comparing the first-movement climax of the Seventh Symphony, those recordings were, on the whole, better than these, even if they were nothing particularly special. They were at least relatively more impulsive, with better textural differentiation and bolder phrasing and accentuation.
Of course, the Czech Philharmonic can play this music in their sleep, and at times it seems that they are doing just that. These recordings were in fact licensed to Decca by the orchestra (the symphonies at least), and since there isn't anyone left at the major labels who knows much about Artists and Repertoire management, they have in effect become distributors, sticking their "brand", for what it's worth, on pre-packaged projects and then arranging for their general dispersal (I hesitate to use the words "marketing" and "sales"). So the fundamental question of whether or not Belohlávek deserves another shot at this music never arises. Anyway, let's look at some of the specifics.
The First Symphony is one of the best things in the set (alongside the Sixth): very fleet tempos, especially in the first two movements, and a refreshing lightness of texture. The same is true of the scherzo of the Second, but the opening movement and finale are sluggish and slackly phrased. So it goes with the finale of the Third, an undistinguished Fourth, and a surprisingly pale account of the Fifth. Compared to classic versions by Rowicki, Kubelik, Kertesz, or even Neumann with this same orchestra, Belohlávek comes across as a pale imitation. The last three symphonies have received too many great recordings, from the likes of Szell, Dohnányi, Harnoncourt, Colin Davis, Mackerras, and others for these routine interpretations to hold much appeal. Almost everything sounds underplayed. It's really that simple.
The concertos, though, fare somewhat better. Garrick Ohlsson plays the original version of the Piano Concerto with style and sensitivity, and he's only slightly let down by Belohlávek's timidity in the outer movements. Frank Peter Zimmermann does a lovely job in the Violin Concerto, and for whatever reason the accompaniments here sound distinctly more alert. So too with the Cello Concerto (available separately): Alisa Weilerstein plays with vigor and a wide dynamic range. The second subject of the first movement is memorably rapt, the finale's elegiac coda poetic but flowing and not too sentimental. She is, however, far too closely miked: her entrance in the first movement will make you jump out of your seat.
Some of these discs are amazingly long: 84-plus minutes, and they may not track on older players. The sonics, generally, are soft-focus, like the interpretations. Those wonderful Czech winds cut through cleanly, and Belohlávek deserves credit for securing transparent balances below mezzo-forte. If only he did the same when Dvorák gets going at full tilt, we'd really have something. As it stands, this is just second rate.
Recording Details:
Reference Recording: Symphonies: Rowicki (Philips)
Decca - 478 6757 CD >>