Customer Reviews

Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"; Martinu: Symphony No. 2

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Paavo Jarvi became the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's musical director in September 2001, and this makes the 8th CD release since then. The CSO is always fighting for the proper attention in the (long) shadows of the Cleveland Orchestra, but with Maestro Jarvi at the helm, this orchestra is reaching new heights.

This recording (68 min.) showcases Dvorak's universally loved (and my personal favorite) Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, better known as the symphony "From the New World", and the recording is A grade all the way, both technically and from a musical sense. I have the LA Philarmonic Orchestra's CD of the same symphony, and even I, not a classical music expert, can hear the difference between the two, the CSO's recording is simply superb. The other symphony on this CD is Martinu's Symphony No. 2, which I personnaly found a curious choice. Other than both composers being from the (now) Czech Republic, I don't see the synergy, not that Martinu's symphony is "bad", but it just doesn't measure up to Dvorak. As an aside, the liner notes from Kyle Gann are very insightful.

I am rating this CD 5 stars on the strength of the impaccable offering of the "New World" symphony. For another superb CD of Paavo Jarvi and the CSO, check out 2003's release of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" complete suites from that ballet, among others, but there are other CDs on the Telearc label worth checking out as well. The CSO is one of America's best kept secrets, you won't be dissappointed!

This is an excellent performance of the Martinu Second Symphony - his shortest symphony, commissioned by and dedicated to the Czech community in Cleveland where it received its first performance under Erich Leinsdorf. It is the only Martinu' symphony which has not yet been recorded in a performance conducted by Jiri Belohlavek, though two different recordings under him are announced for future issue, one made in Prague and the other in London. Paavo Jarvi's father has also recorded the work with the Bamberg Orchestra. Radio recordings of the premiere in Cleveland and of a performance conducted in London by Karel Ancerl and one in Prague by Rafael Kubelik exist but so far as I know have never been made commercially available. Of the existing recordings, this Cincinnati one is the most persuasive - well controlled, lively and sensitive, with excellent playing from the orchestra - and can be strongly recommended. The symphony is full of fun and the opening of the last movement after the similarly paced third is a wonderful surprise.

This CD is part of a series where the orchestra performs a less well-known twentieth century work alongside a standard concert-hall classic. The choice of works is fine here, since both symphonies where written by Czech composers during time in the USA, and Martinu loved Dvorak's music - but the New World has been recorded many times and this performance, though mostly good, would not rank especially high. One peculiarity is the hiccuping rhythm the conductor imposes on the second melody in the first movement - I don't know of any reason for this and it sounds most peculiar, and most unattractive, spoiling a beautiful lilting phrase. Paavo Jarvi has made a previous recording of the New World symphony, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London - although he doesn't impose the same trick there, in that performance the same passage is also delivered in a very eccentric and unnatural way, slowing down and speeding up, so it is obviously a passage he has difficulty with. Classic performances such as those under An'cerl and Kempe (who also recorded the work with the Royal Philharmonic as well as other orchestras) play the passage wonderfully, with a little easing of tempo but phrasing beautifully as written.

However the Martinu makes the CD very much worth buying and for the most part the Dvorak is also enjoyable and shouldn't put purchasers off. I guess many buyers will already have the New World in their collections anyway. Perhaps the companying issuing this CD would consider a reissue of this Martinu alongside another Martinu orchestral work.