Best available performance of No. 6
Michael Steinberg | Rochester, NY USA | 03/22/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Martinu's symphonies suffer from the fact that the first five are very good, but the sixth--the "Fantasies Symphoniques"--is a masterpiece. Seemingly rhapsodic but with the iron logic of a compelling dream, it's a work unlike any other in the repertoire. Jarvi's performance is the first on CD to stand comparison with the premiere recording, by Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony, who commissioned the piece in 1956. Belohlavek's Chandos disk is beautifully played, but lacks the intensity this piece needs to convey its hallucinatory lucidity. Jarvi's performance of the Fifth is fine as well, but it's the Sixth that lingers in the mind."
Superbly performed and recorded
YIP Alex | 02/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Martinu symphony no 6 is one of the greatest symphony in the last century and Jarvi gave a wonderful performance. Only on Supraphon conducted by Neumann can be compared with this version. Anyone investing in this disc will not be disappointed."