Search - Dmitry Shostakovich, Eduardo Mata, Dallas Symphony Orchestra :: Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad", Op. 60

Not a definitive approach

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 03/14/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am a great admirer of the music by the late Eduardo Mata and the Dallas Symphony. I have heard wonderful Prokofiev, Ibert and Stravinsky from this pairing.



I cannot extend that admiration to this justifiably withdrawn production, however. To state it as simply as possible, the approach Maestro Mata adopted to the monumental "Leningrad" symphony is just too pretty. He tries to make beautiful music out of a score that represents the heroism of Russians under attack by both Hitler and Stalin.



There is little reason for you to approach this CD unless you want to hear an inappropriate performance of this music. The Dallas players do their best but the direction is simply wrong."

A reading to be proud of, and in excellent sound

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/21/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mata was a talent lost to the music world when a light plane he was piloting crashed at killed him en route to Dallas; he was 52. Mata left no exceptional recordings that I am aware of, but he was critically admired and worked for major labels. Dorian isns't one of them, but the small independent company, well known for excellent sonics, gave this shostakovich 7th excellent sound, as clear and full as one could wish for.



The previous reviewer argues that the interpretation is too prettified. Actually, the climax of the famous march in the first movement is among the most brutal I've ever heard. Its impact is all the more powerful thanks to the recording's deep bass. Accusations of cautiousness could be made elsewhere, perhaps, but Mata is no more guilty than, say, Mariss Jansons in his account for EMI. I doubt that anyone hearing this performance blind would guess that it came from a second-tier American orchestra. Everything feels strong and well constructed. In all, a good reading in more than good sound. Audio buffs sohould take note."