Sir Colin Davis: Dvořák – Symphonies no.6-9 (24/192 FLAC)

Composer: Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Bedrich Smetana
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis, Sir Simon Rattle
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: LSO Live
Catalogue: LSO0571
Release: 2024
Size: 11.2 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Dvořák: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
01. I. Allegro non tanto
02. II. Adagio
03. III. Scherzo (Furiant). Presto
04. IV. Finale. Allegro con spirito

Janáček: Sinfonietta
05. I. Fanfare. Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso
06. II. The Castle, Brno. Andante – Allegretto – Maestoso – Tempo I – Allegretto
07. III. The Queen’s Monastery, Brno. Moderato – Con moto – Tempo I – Prestissimo – Moderato
08. IV. The Street Leading to the Castle. Allegretto – Adagio – Presto – Andante – Presto – Prestissimo
09. V. The Town Hall, Brno. Andante con moto – Maestoso – Tempo I – Allegretto – Allegro – Maestoso – Adagio

CD 02
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70
01. I. Allegro maestoso
02. II. Poco adagio
03. III. Scherzo. Vivace – Poco meno mosso
04. IV. Finale. Allegro

Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
05. I. Allegro con brio
06. II. Adagio
07. III. Allegretto grazioso – Molto vivace
08. IV. Allegro ma non troppo

CD 03
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 ‘From the New World’
01. I. Adagio – Allegro molto
02. II. Largo
03. III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
04. IV. Allegro con fuoco

CD 04
Smetana: Má Vlast
01. I. Vyšehrad (The High Castle)
02. II. Vltava
03. III. Šárka
04. IV. Z českých luhů a hájů
05. V. Tábor
06. VI. Blaník

Multiple-disc packages usually aren’t cheap, and sets of live performances recorded over several years are often risky propositions, because sound quality and performance values can be inconsistent from one disc to the next. Were it not for Sir Colin Davis’ reliable and solid interpretations and the generally high caliber playing of the London Symphony Orchestra in these concert recordings of Dvorák’s symphonies Nos. 6-9, this three-disc compendium could easily be dismissed for more trustworthy studio versions. The reproduction overall is a little stuffy and not remarkably vivid; the acoustics of the Barbican are not particularly resonant (especially with a full audience present); and sound levels vary between the somewhat muted 1999 recordings of the Symphony No. 8 in G major and the Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World,” and the much clearer 2001 recording of the Symphony No. 7 in D minor — the most riveting of the set — and the 2004 recording of the Symphony No. 6 in D major. Yet with some patience, and diligent adjustments of the volume, this collection is satisfactory for its competent music-making, and worthwhile as an introduction to Dvorák’s major symphonies. Davis’ Philips twofer with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (without the Symphony No. 6) might also suffice for beginners’ purposes, though, and at a considerable savings.