Long live the CD, with its physical presence, its colourful accompanying booklets with glossy photographs and most informative dialogue engaging us with the composers, conductors and musicians allowing us to experience fine orchestral music whenever we choose.
Totally gratifying is the recent release (November, 2024) of Dvorak Symphonies 5 & 6 by our beloved Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Both the high energy of first class musicianship and the warm and vibrant acoustic of this well-mastered recording exude from this very appealing recording, an ideal gift for summer listening. Program notes reveal that this is the second album released in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra and LSO Live, and is the first in a new cycle of Dvorak’s Symphonies on the MSO’s own record label, sharing the journey of the composer’s symphonic development across his nine symphonies. The MSO’s Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, Jaime Martin, refers to sharing a personal nostalgia when hearing the music from one’s homeland, his own childhood memories and feelings of the New World Symphony being most significant.
Symphony No. 5 in F major is given a fresh and sunny exposition. We sense a lightly orchestrated pastorale, with short themes derived from Bohemian folk song and dance, lyrical and colourful without being programmatic and dramatic. There is an apparent simplicity in the orchestration, with moments of quietude, yet Martin keeps a buoyancy and magnetic forward energy at all times, highlighting distinct elements such as the vigorous jollity in short staccato fanfares and dotted rhythms from the horns, and enhancing delicate soft closing statements or adding some extra power in final crescendos. Dvorak’s fine sense of classical form is clear, and he has a pleasing command of orchestral colour, with a fine instinct for the sonority of each instrument. Nature, beauty and a certain innocence in short folk-like melodic shapes are charmingly portrayed through woodwind solos (take a bow oboe and horns) in many pleasant, sensuous moments. The fourth movement Allegro molto pleasingly brought jubilant fanfares from MSO brass with more dramatic timpani rolls.
Here is a performance that is not only most enjoyable and musically delightful, but can also be streamed on MSO.LIVE
With Symphony No. 6 in D major, Dvorak showed a growing maturity and bravery in orchestration, bringing more dramatic devices into a broadened classical structure, but the central elements of repetition of folk motifs, pure and sweet, highlighted solo romantic instrumental melodies and hemiola accented dance rhythms, all continue to pay a tribute to the Bohemian national spirit. Martin puts his foot down with consistent drive and deep understanding, his enthusiasm drawing a wide palette of colours from MSO soloists and tutti sections. The first movement Allegro non tanto highlighted the horn section’s syncopated chordal accompaniment, setting the foundation under heart-lifting, inspiring rising melodic lines. Animated staccato strings added some nationalistic pride and determination, almost a rhythmic urgency in this symphony, building grandiose climaxes with increased power and drive from dance beats. Smiling strings added warmth, heart, sentiment and beauty in sighing motifs and the personable lyricism and simplicity of folk melodies. The perfection of solo instrumental work admirably set a mood of repose and stillness in episodes of interplay between woodwind and brass, in particular solo oboe calls with heart-touching horn echoes, creating much pastoral beauty in the second movement Adagio. A furious Scherzo (Furiant): Presto suggested a more rustic traditional Bohemian dance with striking emphasis on irregular dance accents, and, with brass reinforcements, an accelerating galloping full orchestra completed the homeward journey of the fourth movement Finale: Allegro con spirito. The closing Presto section was indeed a Royal and celebratory close in full fortissimo!
Through both symphonies, what stands out is the high quality sound production, the lushness of strings, the freedom Martin gives to soloists for touches of rubato and individual expression, and the dreamy space given to the often sparse textures in Dvorak’s score for repose and reflection. Martin has authoritatively tweaked the tempos, dynamic contrasts, crescendos and timbral colour to captivate any listening audience with his fresh and vigorous approach. With both symphonies recorded at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, it is a recording to be proud of: colourful, expressive and very fine summer listening.
Image supplied.
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Julie McErlain reviewed “DVORAK SYMPHONIES 5 & 6”, played by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and recorded at Arts Centre Melbourne Hamer Hall, and released in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra and LSO Live in November 2024.
